Self-Help Books Instead Of Pills

According to the US National Committee for Qualitydon't have clear goals, or a system in place to reach
Health Assurance, more than 11 million Americansthose goals once we clarify them.
(about 1 in 20) have major depression. Interestingly,Taking Back Control
only about half of these are still taking medication six"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people
months after being diagnosed. If these wonder drugssay you cannot do." --Walter Bagehot
are so great, why do so many people stop takingThe first step in gaining control of one's life, one's
them? Could it be that they are not getting thehealth - physical, mental and emotional - and one's
results they want or people are getting fed up withdestiny is a very simple one... to make the decision to
the unwanted side effects?do just that! The good news is that you don't have
As no single antidepressant has been shown to beto do this on your own; others have trodden the
any more effective than any other, the choice ofsame path, faced the same (or similar) challenges and
which drug to prescribe is often based on theirtriumphed; reaching goals they previously thought
different side effects! These often include weightwere only pipe dreams, and living the life they
gain, headaches, nausea, stomach pain, loss of libido -thought was only possible for others- who were
and the list goes on.more privileged, clever or got the right breaks. And
All forms of depression affect a person's thoughts,many of these individuals then chose to share the
actions and physical health, and this is a condition thatmethods they found worked best for them, to
is experienced by an ever growing number in ourinspire and genuinely assist others to achieve a much
society.higher level of happiness and success in their lives -
Fortunately, today, more and more people areon every level.
turning to other (healthier and less expensive) options"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live
to overcome depression (& other debilitatingthe life you have imagined." --Henry David Thoreau
conditions), including relaxation methods, exercise,One such person is Genevieve Dawid: international
enjoying music, reading inspiring books, doing theirconsultant and mentor - to both individuals and blue
own research to find out what works for them,chip corporations. To achieve the wonderful success
counselling, and natural medicine.that she now enjoys today though, Genevieve first
The habit of taking pills to make oneself feel better -had to overcome far more obstacles than the
to have more energy, to relax, and to experience aaverage person - born with feet both the wrong
general feeling of well being - is now a widelyway round, orphaned at birth, dyslexic (difficulties in
accepted, daily habit/ ritual in many Westerncorrectly reading and interpreting written words) and
countries. The downside is that the underlyingdyspraxic (severe difficulty performing tasks requiring
condition or reason behind the need or desire forfine motor skills such as drawing or writing) and
drugs does not change or get better as a result ofdiabetic - to name just a few of her challenges.
taking pill, and of course all the unwanted sideWith a wonderful support system from her adoptive
effects. However, there are alternatives, and theparents, and a true indomitable spirit and inborn highly
good news is that these options come withoutpositive approach to life and all it threw at her,
negative side effects, and are not habit forming!instead of giving up, or resorting to drugs (by far the
The Physical Sideeasier option!) with great persistence, Genevieve
While it is true that conditions in our physical bodiesovercame her many challenges. Later on she also
sometimes need prescription drugs, (or naturalexperienced harassment from some senior
alternatives) to counteract the effects of imbalanceexecutives in response to her dyslexia when working
which lead to high levels of stress, organicas a consultant in London, the deaths of several
weaknesses, painful muscles, and even disease, it isclose family members, including her own triplets, and
also true that there is much that we can do to helpthe severe depression that followed, which she
ourselves and our bodies feel and work better. Muchdescribed "like being down the darkest of holes." In
of this is related to the way we think, the dailyspite of all this, she always "knew" there was light at
choices we make, and the emotions that wethe end of the tunnel...
regularly experience.Instead of throwing in the towel she continued to
Mental & Emotional Healthlook to the future, learned how to think differently
As humans it is natural to desire the good things lifeabout things, and developed a unique blueprint for
has to offer: vibrant health, energy, goodgoing beyond daily obstacles, and most importantly,
communication with others, a great job, financialattracting everything that she wanted to have in life
abundance, the home, the car, wonderful vacations,--boldly following her dreams.
and of course the ideal relationship. However it isNow she has the luxury lifestyle she previously only
difficult to be successful and reach our goals whendreamed about; including the man, the car, the
our mind and emotions are out of balance; when wehouses, the vacations...!