This section of the magazine has been created to help people better understand the most common medical conditions that affect thinking and feeling. The public is often very confused about the nature and treatment of mental illness. They are also very suspicious of psychiatric treatments, so many are suffering needlessly from correctable conditions.

Here we will explain all the psychiatry that you need to know to remove the mystery, misunderstanding, confusion and stigma attached to the mood disorders, namely, Depression, Anxiety and Manic Depression. Hyperactivity and other common mental conditions are discussed. You will then be able to recognize and understand these conditions and know how to get help. You will have the tools to help yourself or a suffering loved one return to normal functioning. You will also be better able to support someone going through the treatment process by giving them a reason to be hopeful.

Medical research in recent years has provided physicians with very effective tools to treat these common conditions. These treatments however, are not reaching the people who need them because of the lack of awareness and misunderstanding of the general public.

The current situation is similar to the era when eye glasses were first introduced. They were a very effective treatment for blurred vision but they were not well received by the public since people had no idea that they themselves had blurred vision and could be helped with glasses. Most had learned to live with their poor vision and ridiculed those who did wear glasses. Those who tried the glasses couldn't believe the improvement and wished that they had started wearing them years before. Their vision became normal but they had to live with the stigma attached to wearing glasses.

"In those days people thought they could function well with poor vision"

Now we are dealing with problems of "blurred" thinking, which are invisible to an observer. Even the sufferer doesn't know that he is not thinking as clearly as he should be. The victim is so accustomed to this disability that he doesn't think he needs help. He is then resistant to the suggestion that he could be helped and even ridicules those who do go for help. This site will allow anyone to "measure" their thinking pattern (take our "Am I normal? Mood Disorder Self Test ") and determine if there is any "blurring" which could be corrected. This information of course, does not replace a proper evaluation by a physician or counsellor but it will assist in the evaluation process.

We hope that your visit here will help you in the journey to emotional freedom.

The text of this section contains excerpts from "Healthy Moods".

The cartoons are reproduced from "Why do I feel so down when my faith should lift me up?" illustrated by Rev. Jim Keddy

Copyright Dr. Grant Mullen. No part of this website can be reproduced without the written permission of the author and publisher.