Table of Contents  
   
Preface xi
Introduction 1
   
Part I: What Everyone Should Know About Depression  
   
Chapter 1: Clinical Features of Depression in the Elderly 10
1.1. Symptoms of Depression 10
1.2. Family Relationships 15
1.3. Memory for Depression 16
1.4. Different Factors in Late Depression 17
1.4.1. Stress 18
1.4.2. Brain Blood Circulation 19
1.4.3. Memory Deficit 20
1.4.4. Pain 21
   
Chapter 2: Depression and Brain Functions 23
2.1. Thoughts 24
2.2. Behavior 27
2.3. Emotions 28
2.4. Cognition 29
2.5. Inside the Brain 30
2.6. Sensory Deprivation 31
2.6.1. Sight 35
2.6.2. Hearing 35
2.6.3. Taste 35
2.6.4. Sense of Body Position 35
   
Chapter 3: Depression and Organ Functions 37
3.1 Depression: Playing with Death 37
3.2. Autonomic Nervous System 41
3.3. Heart and Circulation 43
3.4. Respiratory System 45
3.5. Musculoskeletal System 47
3.6. Gastrointestinal System 49
3.7. Selective Endocrine Organs 52
3.8. Kidney 52
3.9. Immune System 53
   
Part II: Fighting the Depression – A Battle For Life  
Chapter 4: Successfully Overcoming Depression: A Working Model 55
4.1. The Way out of Depression 55
4.2. Balancing Stress 61
4.3. Sensory Activations (The SNAIL Model) 62
4.4. Physical Activities 63
4.5. Cognitive Training 66
4.6. Improving Digestion 67
4.7. Homework 68
4.8. The 9 Rules to Overcoming Depression 69
   
Chapter 5: Activation and Restoration Brain Functions 70
5.1. Playing with Sensors 70
5.1.1. Concentration on the Fingers 72
5.1.2. Concentration on Drinking Water 75
5.1.3. Hand and Eye Coordination 76
5.1.4. Hand and Leg Coordination 85
5.2. Meditation 86
5.3. Visualization 87
5.4. Attention and Concentration Training 90
5.4.1. Tennis Ball Rolling with Counting 90
5.5. Examples of Memory Training Exercises 91
5.5.1. Real Objects 92
5.5.2. Cards 92
   
Chapter 6: Activation of Selective Bodily Systems 94
6.1. Cardiovascular System 94
6.1.1. High Heels 94
6.1.2. Warm Hands 97
6.1.3. Warm and Cold Hands 99
6.1.4. Hand Contrast Bath 100
6.2. Respiratory System 101
6.2.1. Breathing Activities #1 101
6.2.2. Breathing Activities #2 102
6.2.3. Breathing Activities #3 103
6.3. Musculoskeletal System 103
6.3.1. Muscle Relaxation 103
6.3.2. Muscle Stretches 104
6.3.3. Unequal Weight Bearing 106
6.3.4. Hand Exercises #1 106
6.3.5 Hand Exercises #2 108
6.3.6. Hand Exercises #3 108
6.3.7. Hand Exercises #4 109
6.3.8. Triangles 112
6.3.9. Spine 112
6.4. Gastrointestinal System 115
6.5. First Aid Kit for “Acute Depression Attack” 122
Concluding Remarks 129
Appendix 1 132
Selective References 141
Useful Web Sites 142
Acknowledgments 143
About the Author 145