Depression and Anti-Depressants

The numbers of people taking anti-depressants continues to climb every year.  Though the side-effects are well documented, many people, who claim they have no side effects do not have information on the cellular damage.  Maybe they are so depressed they could care less?

I'm not being cheeky here.  I have had bouts of depression and it is NOT fun. My (then) doctor wrote a prescription for Prozac in a flash, no discussion, just here ya go lady!  I often wonder if I had somebody to talk to at the time if I'd even have gone to him for help.  I should have known it would be a "magic" happy pill shouldn't I? 

After one week on this pill, I developed hives - everywhere.  I called him and he said to stop taking it but it would take awhile to get out of my system.  Wonderful.  Just what I needed.  Something ELSE to get bummed out about.  I decided then and there that drugs were not the solution and got busy researching alternatives.  Since I'd used so many alternative medicine "fixes" I just needed to find one for this issue.

The problem with being depressed - well, one of them - is that you just don't care about anything, cannot make yourself "think happy thoughts", and have no motivation for anything.  Let me tell you, negativity breeds more negativity and that cycle is mighty hard to break.  Sure drugs (for people who are not having obvious side effects) may improve their moods but I ask you at what cost to your biology? 

Dr. Andrew Weil (Father of Integrated Medicine) says "Depression is a state of high energy turned inward, negative.  You will never come to terms with depression if you try to disown it or suppress it.  The way to emotional freedom is to own your depressions, appreciate them, and transform them.  You will then be able to use constructively all the energy that they contain."

Own it first.  Realize this fallow time may be a signal from your body to start rehabilitating your food choices, get exercising, and focus on how you can help someone else less fortunate.  There are plenty of less fortunate all around you.  Often getting our minds off of ourselves and getting involved in helping others is the quickest cure of all!

Some natural, non-drug alternatives are St. John's word (Hypericum perforatum).  It was used in folk medicine for the treatment of many ailments, including mood disorders.  Dr. Weil says to take at least 300 milligrams three times a day.  The full antidepressant effect will not be felt for about two months.  (Watch sun exposure.)  SAMe is another choice which works a bit faster.  I also tried eating two Brazil nuts a day.  Sounds weird but there is a nutrient in them that affects moods.

Studies have been done on anti-depressants, like Prozac, that show they contain chemicals that will speed up tumor growth.  While not causing tumors per se, why would anyone take this chance?  The drugs are all chemicals, and not natural ones your body knows how to break down and use to it's benefit.  So it makes you "happier" for now but what is this chemical soup really doing for your long-term health?

In his book "Never Be Sick Again" Raymond Francis M.Sc. says "Unfortunately, when drugs cause disease, we have all been trained not call it disease but we use the deceptive term "side effects".  In 1984 the drug industry attempted to obtain a legal exemption from the liability laws that apply to virtually all manufacturers.  Why?  Because even the people who make the drugs know they are not safe; "all prescription drugs are unavoidably unsafe" argued the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association.  Of course, this wording is not used in drug advertisements aimed at the public."

The consumption of processed or fast foods affect your cells in ways that lead to ill health and yes, sometimes depression.  Clearly, eating healthy when you are feeling down is usually not on the top of the a persons list of things to care about, but it is critical.  A diet too low in complex carbs can actually CAUSE serotonin depletion and depression.  Eat plenty of raw fruits and veggies, whole grains, seeds (see my blogs on Hemp and Chia) and nuts.  Take a good multiple B vitamin that has all the B's plus folic acid.

AVOID diet sodas or any products containing the artificial sweetener Aspartame (in NutraSweet, Equal, and other products) because this additive can possibly block the formation of serotonin and cause depression  in people who are already serotonin deprived.  This sweetener should, in my opinion based on years of research, be off the market anyway - it is poison!  Also avoid foods high in saturated fats - meat, fried foods, such as hamburgers and fries which lead to sluggishness, slow thinking and fatigue.  They interfere with blood flow by causing the arteries and small blood vessels to become blocked and the blood cells to become sticky, clumping together, and results in poor circulation to the brain.

Going for walks, riding a bike, going to the gym, any 30 min. a day exercise will really help depression.  I didn't immediately jump in and do this, but whenever I'm beginning to feel like I may be making another trip down that dark hole of depression I make sure I get off my butt and exercise.

If you, or someone you know is going thru a bad time, whether they are on drugs for it or not, I hope you will find this information helpful and pass this along.