“Physical pain is a sign something ain’t right.
Mental pain, in my opinion, is the exact same thing.”
Robert Whitaker, Author of Anatomy of an Epidemic and Pulitzer Prize Nominee
Mental and emotional problems can interfere with one’s life in every aspect. Depressive disorders are associated with poor work activity, disrupted sleeping patterns, bad eating habits, and can put a toll on family units and social life. Anxiety and stress have become acceptable diseases of the 21st century, linked to fast lifestyles and demanding jobs. More than 1 in 20 Americans are depressed, according to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and 20% of adults will suffer from some type of mood disorder that requires treatment over their lifetime (1).
The diagnostic criterion for depression is set forth by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition as follows….
Depressed moods or loss of interest or pleasure most of the time for 2 weeks plus 4 or more of the following:
According to the Canadian Medical Journal, there are often errors in the diagnosis or treatment of the disease, and only 33 percent of patients receive proper treatment. Errors may be associated with insufficient questioning which leads to failure to receive enough information from the patient to give a proper diagnosis. Appropriate psychological therapies for patients are unavailable and most of the time antidepressant drugs are prescribed for therapies. In fact, the number of Americans taking antidepressants doubled in a decade, from 13.3 million in 1996 to 27 million in 2005 (2).
Besides the extensive list of side effects that accompany antidepressants, there have been multiple research studies done concluding that antidepressants seem to work no better than sugar pills! For example, according to the psychology researchers Irving Kirsch and Guy Sapirstein of the University of Connecticut, patients placed on a placebo (a mock pill) improved 75%. In other words, three quarters of the benefit from antidepressants seems to be a placebo effect.
It has even been suggested that some people might need several antidepressants to respond to treatment. However, it may take 12-14 weeks to reach full effect. The staff at Mayo Clinic quoted this process as “trial and error” along with survey findings that found 80% of general practitioners know they are overprescribing antidepressant drugs (3).
More serious health problems associated with the use of antidepressant medications have been noted. These include diseases such as diabetes, immune dysfunction, stillbirths, brittle bones, stroke and death. The National Institute of Mental Health quotes, “Research over the past two decades has shown that depression is an important risk factor for heart disease along with high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure.”
Depression can be caused by numerous factors. However, much of depression is regulated by a part of the brain that governs mood. The brain’s behavior is influenced by what we provide it. Being able to control symptoms like anxiety, apathy, fears, and feelings of worthlessness depends on the environment we provide. There are other natural ways to consider that can help alleviate depression. These strategies have nothing but positive effects and are inexpensive to implement.
Don’t know where to start? Getting a thorough blood work-up and toxic element testing will shed light on dietary changes you need to make, target areas you may need to supplement and help to objectively monitor your progress.
If you or someone you know is feeling depressed, or have any thoughts of suicide call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a toll free number at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or call 911.
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