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At first, it may sound strange and almost laughable; social networking depression. Unfortunately, as the internet age continues to play out, more and more people are actually beginning to suffer depression due to social media usage. In fact, major news outlets such as Fox News, MSNBC, and The Huffington Post have all recently run stories regarding doctors warning of the coming wave of social media depression cases.

Essentially, this type of depression is brought on by the way that social media allows people to be perceived. Many social media sites allow users to post pictures, comments and updates about their lives. Of course, most people only choose to use photos that make them look happy, updates that talk about all of the good things in their lives, and comments that emphasize their friendships, leading people to perceive their lives as great. And speaking of friends, many social media sites also show the number of “friends” a user has, leaving those with fewer friends to question their own status in terms of popularity.

The issue with social media depression is one of human nature. Virtually no one posts pictures or updates depicting the sad, angry, foolish, or depressing times in their lives. Instead, most people will choose to highlight the happy times, leading others to feel inadequate for not being as happy or for not having the life that someone else has. Of course, the truth is that everyone has ups and downs, but as people spend more and more time on social media sites, they can become disillusioned with the reality of the situation.

And while social media depression may be a new trend, it certainly is not a new ailment. Depression brought on by perception accounts for a large portion of all depressive cases. Many people that are depressed, or that are predisposed to depression, compare themselves and their lives to others’ lives. If they feel that they don’t measure up, the depressive symptoms can kick in, leading to isolation, sadness, loneliness, and a host of other problems.

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression of any kind, it is important to seek help. Medical professionals are available to offer medications as well as counseling to battle depression, and there are many natural approaches to take as well. Keep in mind that depression is a serious condition and that it is not to be taken lightly and the sooner treatment is sought, the quicker you can start to feel relief.

Caffeine affects different people in different ways. We’re all used to the regular soda side effects such as a bloated stomach and insomnia, and know the risks of increased diabetes; however, few people realize that the symptoms they may blame on thyroid disorders may actually be the result of too much caffeine.

Some of the symptoms of too much caffeine include restlessness, an increase in urine output, fast heartbeat, muscle twitching, and an uncontrolled stream of thoughts or speech. Because these symptoms mirror those of a thyroid condition, they can easily be mistaken for such. If you are already experiencing problems with hyperthyroidism, caffeine is likely to worsen your symptoms.

Studies have shown that your consumption of caffeine can play a role on your TSH levels, meaning that the soft drinks and coffee that you guzzle throughout the day may be causing your thyroid to function in the wrong way.

Since caffeine removes calcium from your bones, it can make menstrual periods more unpleasant for women, especially if they already suffer from uncomfortable PMS because of their thyroid condition. Even healthy women who don’t consume caffeine on a regular basis are advised to take calcium supplements to improve their health and relieve menstrual symptoms such as headaches, cramps, and pain during their period.

In some cases, excessive amounts of caffeine have been shown to change the menstrual cycle, causing periods to become irregular. Since menstrual changes are also a symptom of a thyroid condition, this is just another way that caffeine mirrors hypo or hyperthyroidism.

A lack of calcium not only hurts you during your menstrual period, but can also increase your risk of getting osteoporosis. Since those with thyroid problems already have issues with their calcium levels and are at risk for developing osteoporosis, large amounts of caffeine are definitely a major health risk.

If you suffer from a thyroid condition and are currently taking medication to regulate your levels, large doses of caffeine may be lowering the benefits of this treatment.

The effects which caffeine could be playing on your body are tremendous. Whether caffeine is causing your thyroid problems to become worse or simply mirroring the symptoms of a thyroid condition, caffeine should be removed from your diet as soon as possible. For many people, cutting down or completely cutting caffeine out of their lives takes away most unpleasant symptoms within a matter of weeks. If you do not find relief after limiting your caffeine intake, look into natural medication or talk to you doctor.

We are all aware of the growing problem our country has with drug addiction. Although we have grown accustomed to seeing reports about teenagers who abuse their bodies with cocaine and meth, our nation is currently being hit with an alarming amount of people who have growing addictions to prescription medication. While some of these addicts started using drugs for recreational effects, a huge percent of them became hooked while using the medicine prescribed by their physician or doctor for symptoms of pain or other conditions.

How Does This Start?
As mentioned in a previous post, doctors are quick to prescribe medicine for any condition that they see. A journey to the clinic for one small ailment may result in a handful of prescriptions for problems you didn’t even realize you had. A recent study found that, in some schools, future veterinarians devote more time to studying pain control than medical students. How does this addiction get started? The answer is simple: Doctors have become too quick to pop a bottle of pills at anyone who comes in their office – regardless of the effects these medicines may cause. Because of their lacking knowledge of alternative treatments, doctors are likely to prescribe drugs for any condition that they could cure.

What is Addictive?
If you believe that you are too strong to suffer from an addiction, think again. Even those who can withstand the psychological dependency of prescription drugs are still likely to suffer from painful withdrawal symptoms. One man from the United Kingdom states that he has suffered withdrawal symptoms from a prescription drug addiction up to eight weeks after he discontinued use. These symptoms can be just as painful and serious as withdrawals from illegal drugs.

Who Suffers?
Prescription drug addiction can hurt anyone of any age, race, or social status. You don’t have to have a background or history of drug addiction to become hooked on prescription drugs. From the teenager in high school to the homemaker across the road – prescription drug addiction can happen to anyone who uses an addictive medicine for medical or recreational purposes.

But They’re Safe…Right?
If you believe that it is relatively safe to overuse prescription drugs, then think again. Along with over-the-counter products, prescription medicines make up the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Using these products for a short period of time isn’t safe; using them indefinitely can be fatal.

Although it is impossible to avoid drugs in all situations, the growing number of people addicted to pain pills and other prescription medication should point out that going natural is the best way to combat any illness or disease. If you suffer from painful or unpleasant symptoms, look into natural medicines and alternative life choices which may be able to relieve your symptoms without the fear of addiction or withdrawal.