Sleep and PND and Tranceformed

Sleep!

I remember feeling so tired yet I could not sleep. It was my thoughts racing and irrational thoughts that were keeping me from falling asleep and staying asleep. The sleep deprivation of having a baby at first was bad and then the insomnia became intolerable.

I was desparate for sleep and a solution!!

I have found a band-aid that may help other mothers.
Go to www.tranceformed.com.au and check out their CD which is a hypnosis CD that can give you a quick break in the day to help keep you going until you can start to stop those intruding thoughts happening. It is called the nanny nap for mums.

Don't forget to email me at info@beatpostnataldepression.com if you want any further information or need help.

Have a great day and sleeping.

Hugs
Tracey

Journalling

A Garden of Thoughts: My Affirmation Journal

Click on the above picture to view this journal by Louise Hay.

How Does Journaling Compare to Other Stress Management Practices?:

Unlike more physical stress management techniques such as yoga or exercise, journaling is a viable option. And, although some prefer to use a computer, journaling requires only a pen and paper, so it’s less expensive than techniques that require the aid of a class, book, teacher or therapist, like techniques such as yoga. Journaling doesn’t release tension from your body like progressive muscle relaxation and other physical and meditative techniques, however. But it’s a great practice for overall stress reduction as well as self-knowledge and emotional healing.

Journaling is a term coined for the practice of keeping a diary or journal that explores thoughts and feelings surrounding the events of one’s life. Journaling, as a stress management and self-exploration tool, is not the same as simply recording the happenings in one’s life, like keeping a log. To be most helpful, one must write in detail about feelings and cognitions related to stressful events, as one would discuss topics in therapy.

What Are The Benefits of Journaling?:

Journaling allows people to clarify their thoughts and feelings, thereby gaining valuable self-knowledge. It’s also a good problem-solving tool; oftentimes, one can hash out a problem and come up with solutions more easily on paper. Journaling about traumatic events helps one process them by fully exploring and releasing the emotions involved, and by engaging both hemispheres of the brain in the process, allowing the experience to become fully integrated in one’s mind.As for the health benefits of journaling, they've been scientifically proven. Research shows the following:
• Journaling decreases the symptoms depression, arthritis, and other health conditions.
• It improves cognitive functioning.
• It strengthens the immune system, preventing a host of illnesses.
• It counteracts many of the negative effects of anxiety

Here's to great journalling. Remember it's yours and your creation.

Tracey

Copper and Post Natal Depression

Here is something to think about. I heard this from a Kinesilogist as well and here is an article I found on the internet about how Copper levels can affect women who have just given birth.
It is worth looking at which multivitamin you are taking as this could be contributing to excess copper in your system. If you visit a Naturopath you can also have hair samples taken to see if you carry an excess in your body.

Here is the article for you to read.

Copper supplement and element information by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Copper is a mineral crucial for health maintenance. Copper is an essential nutrient, excesses or deficiencies of which cause impaired cellular functions and eventually cell death. The metabolic fates of copper and iron are intimately related. Systemic copper deficiency generates cellular iron deficiency, which in humans results in diminished work capacity, reduced intellectual capacity, diminished growth, alterations in bone mineralization, and diminished immune response. Copper is required for the function of over 30 proteins, including superoxide dismutase, ceruloplasmin, lysyl oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase, tyrosinase and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. However, copper excess can also be harmful. It is suggested not to exceed 2 mg of copper intake a day.


Copper and postpartum depression
Women with a history of postpartum depression tend to have unusually high levels of copper in their blood. The body's regulation of copper levels may be involved. Blood copper levels are significantly higher among women with a history of postpartum depression compared with non-depressed women and those who'd suffered depression unrelated to childbirth. Some women may have a problem in the body's built-in system for clearing excess copper.
During pregnancy, a woman's copper levels normally go up, more than doubling, before normalizing after childbirth. In women who develop postpartum depression, copper levels do not normalize for some reason -- most likely because of a genetically determined flaw in the protein that regulates copper levels. Persistently high copper levels might contribute to postpartum depression because of the metal's role in brain chemistry. Excess copper in the brain, can alter the balance of dopamine and norepinephrine, two mood-regulating chemicals.

Copper in food
Copper is normally consumed in animal organs like liver, and in shellfish, nuts, legumes, some fruits, potatoes and chocolate. Drinking water that travels through copper pipes can also contain copper.

Copper RDA or Suggested Daily Intake
The U.S. daily recommended intake of copper is 0.9 milligrams.

Copper Deficiency
During the past decade, there has been increasing interest in the concept that marginal deficits of copper element can contribute to the development and progression of a number of disease states including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Deficits of copper nutrient during pregnancy can result in gross structural malformations in the conceptus, and persistent neurological and immunological abnormalities in the offspring. Excessive amounts of copper in the body can also pose a risk.

Toxicity
Acute copper toxicity can result in a number of pathologies, and in severe cases, death. Chronic copper toxicity can result in liver disease and severe neurological defects. The concept that elevated ceruloplasmin is a risk factor.
In China, dumplings are served by millions of families during the annual Dragon Boat Festival. The glutinous rice dumplings, or "zongzi", are wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves and shaped like pyramids, but some unscrupulous manufacturers are using copper-based chemicals to keep the leaves green. The leaves dyed by copper sulphate or copper chloride contain metal elements which will penetrate into the zongzi and cause harm. Some zongzi may contained 30 times more copper than the national standard.

Copper and Depression
Magnesium and copper are important modulators of NMDA-receptor activity. Recent data indicate that disturbances of glutamatergic transmission (especially via NMDA-receptor) are involved in pathogenesis of mood disorders. Magnesium deficiency, the same as disturbances in turn over of copper, are related to a variety of psychological symptoms especially depression. There are many reports indicating significant changes in blood levels of magnesium or copper during a depressive episode.

Copper can contribute to the formation of damaging free radicals in the body while low magnesium may also contribute to inflammation. Low zinc levels may impair immune function, while zinc also shields the body from free radicals. Epidemiology, May 2006.

Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate (Cuppric Sulfate)

Copper and Prions
The main proteins associated with Alzheimer's and prion diseases (amyloid precursor protein (APP) and prion protein (PrP(C)), respectively, have binding sites for copper and it has therefore been suggested that they play a role in copper metabolism.




Have a great day.

Regards
Tracey

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you. You may not be feeling so 'happy' at the moment if you are feeling depressed. Just try to appreciate the little things. Write down what you are grateful for today. A cup of tea in bed, making it out of bed, walking outside, a smile from your baby or child.
If you still need some help visit www.beatpostnataldepression.com and you will receive emails with free info and reports.

Hugs and kisses to all the mums.

Tracey