How Depression Is a Physical and Mental Challenge

Depression has become the most common form of disease on the planet, with an estimated 350 million people around the globe suffering from clinical depression. 

Within the United States, alone, about 16 million American adults suffer from a major depressive episode, every year. Risk of depression also increases greatly into the senior years.

Depression is a mental illness that goes beyond just mental aspects, especially as we age. It is a condition that is far from just “in your head.” 

The effects that we see of depression often qualify as physical. For many of us after the age of 50, medical bills qualify as a major expense, and a leading cause of bankruptcy. 

Learning how to effectively counter and treat depression can help you manage health bills in a much better way. 

Here are some of the ways that depression is a physical challenge, as much as a mental one...

The mental effects feed the physical

The reason that there are intense physical effects of depression is because the mental effects of depression tend to have a physical impact. 

When a person engages in troubling behavior because of their depression, it is liable to impact their health in a negative way, which makes the mental effects of depression even worse. 

In this way, depression functions as a cycle that perpetuates itself.

Triggers problematic behavior

The mental aspects of depression are factors that can impact behavior, often in a troubling way. This means that people who are depressed will often engage in problematic or damaging behavior that they might otherwise not partake in. 

One of the most common ways this happens is in drug use, which is commonly triggered by depression. It is far too common that people who struggle from substance abuse began on that path by attempting to self medicate with drugs or alcohol when they were in the midst of a depressive episode. 

Aside from substance abuse, depressed individuals also tend to engage in other destructive behavior, such as sex addiction.

Connection to psoriatic arthritis

In 2017, a study found that there was a close connection between clinical depression (as well as generalized anxiety disorder) and psoriatic arthritis, which is a type of arthritis that people who also suffer from psoriasis, which is a skin-disorder that causes rashes and blotchy skin. 






This study, published in Journal of Investigative Dermatology, found that there was a mind-body connection between individuals who suffered from psoriasis.

In the past, people believed that cases of psoriasis led to people developing depression, but it turns out that it can happen the other way as well, where people develop depression and then psoriasis, due to their depression. 

A major reason for this is that depression can impact inflammation, which leads to psoriasis. For this reason, people with depression have a higher risk of developing arthritis.

Tie to weight gain

When a person is feeling depressed, it can feel pointless to do anything productive. For this reason, people’s activity levels decrease when they are experiencing depression. 

This causes a cycle where people with depression produce less dopamine, which makes them feel even worse. 

During this mental cycle, it is common for people to struggle with weight gain, as they are burning less calories and probably have unhealthy eating habits (such as binge eating).

Decreased sex drive

As stated above, some people who suffer from depression will engage in risky sexual behaviors as a means to cope with their mental state. 

However, it is also common for people in relationships who are depressed to experience a major decrease in sex drive. This decrease in sex drive can also be matched with avoiding hygienic behaviors. 

When this happens, it can make an individual even more depressed, which makes it a continuous cycle that they must struggle to get out of.

Link to insomnia

Sleeping habits are also affected by depression, and it is liable that a person who suffers from depression will also struggle with cases of insomnia, which means that they will feel even more tired and fatigued throughout the day. 

Even if they do get enough sleep throughout the day, people who suffer from depression often have a hard time getting into a deep sleep, even when they are oversleeping, which means that their sleep isn’t actually recharging their body.

Everything You Need to Know Before Buying General Insurance

The term general insurance refers to the different insurance contracts that do not fall under life insurance. They include; motor insurance, two-wheeler insurance, and fire insurance just to mention a few. It covers the tangible assets that are prone to damages and should be insured to protect their economic value.

Therefore, general insurance products are designed to offer protection against unprecedented contingencies like loss or damage of assets. However, just like life insurance covers, general insurance covers attract premium charges that are paid monthly or as agreed with your insurance provider.

Ways to Calculate Premium for a General Insurance

In order to determine the premium amount you are required to pay, your insurance provider must determine your insurance policy’s value. Hence, the lower the policy’s value and risk, the lower the premium rates. 

Insurance premium rates differ from one insurance company to another. That is why experts recommend shopping around before choosing to work with one general insurance provider.

The amount of insurance premium charged by insurance companies is determined by the industry statistics and mathematical calculations done by insurance underwriters. Therefore, the premium quotes you get from sites like Coverfox.com may differ slightly from the actual premiums to be charged. 

A customer’s statistical data like age, health, and life history all determine the amount of premium to be charged. This is because all prospective insurance customers go through the insurance underwriting process to determine their risk level.




The insurance underwriting process entails investigating genetic family diseases, and analysis of motor vehicle and medical information records. Once all the statistics are gathered, the information is analysed by an actuary, who predicts the likelihood that you will make a claim on the general insurance policy you buy. The higher the probability that you will make a claim, the higher the premium to be charged.

Other factors that are used to determine the premium amount to be charged include; the general insurance cover you choose, additional policy benefits, previous incident or claim history, eligible discounts, how you prefer to pay your premiums (annually, monthly, or quarterly), applicable government taxes and levies, and how much cover you require.

Note that calculating the correct insurance premium is complex because insurance companies must balance between the capability of the customer to make regular payments, likelihood that the insured risk may arise, and their ability to cover the costs of the claim.

Find the Best Offers on General Insurance Online

The best general insurance offer is one that covers all your insurance needs and charges a reasonable premium amount that you can afford without straining. The cheapest insurance offer is not always the best. So, how do you find the best general insurance offers online?

1. Online insurance comparison sites

Online insurance comparison sites like Coverfox.com offer detailed explanations about different insurance providers in the market. They explain the different general policies, their features, and pros and cons. 

Additionally, they offer reliable general insurance quotes for different companies as per your requirements to compare and pick the most suitable insurance coverage

With such information, you are able to access and determine the insurance provider who offers an all-inclusive cover that caters to your needs at a reasonable price.

2. Go through insurance company websites

Almost all general insurance providers have active online presence. Therefore, a search through their websites will not only give you information about their different policies, but you will also find previous customer reviews. 





Customer reviews state whether the insurance provider pays claims on time as per the agreed terms. They also define how inclusive the insurance policies are, whether they have additional benefits, and at what cost.

Last Thoughts

General insurance is broad. Hence, there is a lot to learn about it and its premium calculation methods. The best way to understand if a general insurance cover works in your favour or not is by conducting a specific research. 

For instance, if you want a motor insurance cover, research about the best motor insurance providers, their average premium charges, and claims payment procedures.

Apart from getting premium quotes online, narrow down to three insurance providers and request for actual premium quotes. Though online resources are reliable, it is always advisable to seek clarification from insurance providers before making your decision.

4 Financial Steps to Protect Yourself from Bankruptcy

Dealing with overwhelming debt can be a serious burden. Dealing with bankruptcy, however, can often be just as frustrating. Bankruptcy can do a number on your credit, after all. If you want to safeguard yourself from all of the stresses of bankruptcy, these financial tips can be highly effective and useful.

Work on a Budget

Assess the amount of money you use on a monthly basis. Set up a budget that can keep you accountable and focused. Tell yourself that you won’t go over your designated budget no matter what, too. 

If you want to take charge of your monthly spending patterns, maintaining a budget can make a strong foundation. You can handle your spending by using cash for anything you get. You can do so by throwing all of your credit cards away as well.

Say Goodbye to Frivolous Purchases

Viewing your purchases in a totally new light can help you steer clear of bankruptcy. Refrain from buying anything you absolutely do not need. If it’s not rent money or food, then there’s a strong chance that you can cut it out. 

Say goodbye to eating out at restaurants. Say goodbye to cigarettes, costly cable television packages, movie theater trips, spa pampering days and more as well. 

You can even save money by cancelling your fitness center membership. Jogging at the park can be just as effective.

Reach out to a Bankruptcy Lawyer

Attorneys who have bankruptcy expertise can supply you with comprehensive insight that can potentially help you keep filing at bay. 

If you want advice from a legal professional who knows all of the pitfalls that get people on track to bankruptcy, a lawyer consultation can be a superb idea. Book a consultation with a bankruptcy lawyer who possesses a blue-chip track record.

Put Your Property up for Sale

Putting property up for sale can often help people who want to stay far away from bankruptcy. If you have a vacation home that no one occupies, you can think about selling it. 

If you have a vehicle that you rarely use, you can consider putting it up for sale, too. Contemplate any and all items you may have with high value. Selling rare antiques may help you dodge bankruptcy filing.

The thought of bankruptcy shouldn’t make you lose your cool. If you’re calm, you may be able to think your way out of a scary debt situation. The answer is to think things through rationally.

Mistakes To Avoid While Applying for Business Loans

Businesses today are largely synonymous with business loans. It would be a monstrous gaffe to assume that business loans are only taken when the business has hit a rough patch. 

Business loans are also meant to sponsor business expansion plans. Unfortunately however, business owners often end up committing a string of mistakes while applying for these loans. 

Loans make for a crucial “decision” impacting the fortunes of your business—irrespective of whether you are securing them to fulfill your expansion plans or to tide over present financial difficulties. 

There are times when a wrong step can actually go on to derail short-term or long-term goals. Here’s a look.

Thinking that they can actually access these business loans only when they are struggling

Yes, it’s true that many businesses do apply for high-interest quick online loans like the ones from Lendgreen to get around $1000- $1500 credited to their accounts in no time. The fast loans help them to see through short-term financial crunch. 

However, as has already been mentioned above, business loans can be secured to plan your business expansion prudently as well. All your lenders would want you to do is furnish a thorough business plan. 

They want to find out whether you understand your business well or not—whether you know how it will make money or not. If you are able to provide a business plan which demonstrates your goals clearly then you would actually be considered seriously by your lenders.

You are not aware of your credit rating

Before applying for a loan you should be prudent enough to secure due information about your credit rating. There are many business owners who are simply not aware of where exactly they stand as potential debtors. All you need to do is approach one of the major credit bureaus to find out about your exact scores.

In fact, credit scores make for one of the common reasons why businesses are so frequently turned down by lenders.

Your financial records are not up-to-date

Most of the businesses out there are never ready with their precise and up-to-date business records when they are approaching lenders. This makes it difficult for lenders to measure the exact position of the business. 

Businesses as such can expect to be greeted by any one of the two types of responses – their application will either be rejected. Or else, they will actually be asked to invest more time to prepare their business records. 

Instead of wasting time thus, it is much better to prepare yourself properly before meeting the lender. Make sure you are getting your balance sheets, business activity statements and profit and loss statements up-to-date. 

Based on the scale of your business, you might as well be required to furnish your personal financial details as well.

Not reading the fine print thoroughly before signing

Blame it on your over–excitement (to have finally secured access to the money you need so badly) or anxiety (associated with repayment), there are times when entrepreneurs just don’t read the terms and conditions thoroughly before signing the agreement. 

This one makes for a major mistake – quite simply because it may lead to grave financial troubles later on. Make sure you’re not committing this mistake at any cost. Do not sign without making sure that you have actually understood each and every clause very carefully. If you have doubts, don’t forget to ask the lender before signing.

Real Coins: The Traditional And Safe Way To Invest

It’s no secret that the financial market can be volatile, especially now with the rise of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Since the U.S. markets are so unpredictable, leading 70% of investors to lose money in 2015 alone, more people are now seeking out other trustworthy, dependable ways to invest their hard-earned cash. 

Now, the focus is returning to making solid investments in ventures that will actually lead to returns, rather than testing out a trendy but precarious track, like crypto.

Even if you are new to investing, one venture that will almost always be worth your time, energy, and money is buying gold coins. Nowadays, since we are all so used to trading through online stocks and bank accounts, real money has become rather obsolete. 

But investing in something that is both solid and reliable—like gold coins—has a number of advantages and may be the wisest strategy to bolster your bank account.

Benefits of buying gold and other hard metals

Buying coins like 1 ounce gold American eagle or Canadian Gold Maple Leaf has always been a smart option for traditional investment plans. There are a number of undeniable advantages to buying gold coins, including the fact that it is a bulwark against inflation. 

Plus, gold tends to go up in value while other investments decline, which provides a stabilizing effect for your investment portfolio.






Another advantage of buying gold or other hard metal coins as an investment is that you don’t have to pay any capital gains tax on the coins until you sell them. If you do not want anyone to know about your investment, buying coins is an entirely individualized process that you can keep to yourself. 

And while this concern is unlikely to happen, in the rare case that the U.S. markets would face massive currency devaluation, investors could use gold and silver to buy and sell.

How to purchase and keep gold coins

If buying gold coins is something that interests you, you will want to make sure that you purchase the coins from a reputable financial institution or dealer. Just as you would be aware of cheats when making other investments, you should always be on the lookout for coin scams. 

If you decide to purchase the coins from an individual or someone you may not exactly trust, you should have the coins’ authenticity verified before you actually buy them. This way, you can avoid handing over large sums of money for gold-plated copper or lead.

It is important to know that U.S. gold coins come in one-tenth, one-quarter, one-half, and one-ounce denominations. Most dealers will make you pay a premium over the price per ounce, which is how they make a profit off of the transaction. 

If you buy gold coins that are less than one ounce each, you will pay a much higher premium. It is generally a safe bet to buy bullion coins, including the American Gold Eagle, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf or South African Krugerrand.

Unless you have researched and are knowledgeable about collector’s coins, you should stick to buying bullion coins. As a rule of thumb, you don’t want to get carried away with buying gold coins—instead, designate 5 to 15% of your investment portfolio to showcase hard assets, like coins. 

That way, a majority of your portfolio will still be in stocks, growth funds, and other investments, which is the best way to generate a healthy balance of both return and risk.

Without having to worry about the volatile financial market, people can invest in hard assets like gold coins and reap the many benefits of gold’s hedge against inflation in order to augment an individual investment portfolio.

How to Save Money on Internet Service Every Month

The Internet is practically indispensable for people in modern society. People rely on it to take care of bill payments. They depend on it to get access to the latest news developments. 

They even use it to receive local temperature and weather updates. If you love the Internet but want to save on your monthly Internet expenses, you need to test these suggestions out.

Do Significant Research

Don’t ever assume that your Internet service provider is the cheapest one around. Take the time to research other providers that are available in your region. Online price assessment devices can help you figure out which providers may be better value for your money. 





If you discover a cheaper option, reach out to your current provider. Inform the staff member on the line about your discovery. You may be able to get access to an even better monthly rate.

Search for Promotions and Deals

Be on the lookout for exciting promotions and deals that may be accessible to you through Internet service providers. If you score a terrific deal, you could end up paying less for service for a significant stretch of time. 

Some companies offer deals that are good for as long as a full year, believe it or not. If you want to continue saving big, talk to your provider once the deal period is coming to a close.

Find out if You’re a Subsidy Candidate

There are many subsidies out there that can help people decrease their satellite internet for streaming costs. You may just be a good candidate for one. 

If you want to reduce your speedy satellite internet service costs considerably, subsidies may be able to help you achieve that goal. 

There are subsidies for public housing residents. There are even subsidies for households that fit into certain income brackets.

Decrease Your Internet Speed

You can also minimize your monthly Internet costs by decreasing your speed. Don’t assume that higher is always better. It’s not always necessary for people. If you don’t do a lot of video streaming on the Internet, you may not even realize that your speed is any different than it was before. 

The majority of households out there are A-OK with speeds that are in the range of 20 to 30 MBPS (megabits per second).

If you want to decrease your Internet service costs monthly, you should have no issues. There are many convenient and practical options. It’s just a matter of being proactive and learning about them.