Doctors Notes
Matthew Robinson, ND Treating Depression Naturally
by a loss of interest in many of life’s activi- ties. These feelings can affect the way we think and behave, and can even lead to physical problems. It can become difficult to accomplish normal daily activities, and in some extreme cases people may feel that life is not worth living. Depression can also be brought on by chronic long-term medi- cal conditions that negatively impact one’s lifestyle.
D
Nearly twenty million Americans suf- fer from depression. In the winter months, a lack of exposure to sunlight can trigger episodes of depression.
epression is a mood disorder char- acterized by a persistent feeling of sadness or low mood, accompanied
Depressive feelings are a normal reac- tion to certain life experiences and situa- tions. Major changes in lifestyle such as loss of a loved one, loss of employment or end- ing a relationship can bring about tempo- rary sadness. These feelings are normal and expected after such major events. However, they should be transient and improve over time. If the depressive feelings are persistent this may be a sign of major depression.
Conventional Treatment
The most common therapies used for depression are psychotherapy (talk therapy) and prescriptions such as Selective Sero- tonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs
are drugs that are designed to keep more Serotonin in the synapse (a signaling point between brain cells). Serotonin’s activity in the brain is widely considered to be respon- sible for positive feelings and good moods. Therefore, most drugs used to treat depres- sion act to increase or mimic the activity of serotonin.
Health as Balance A major philosophy underlying the
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work of naturopathic doctors is the idea that health is balance. When viewing an indi- vidual patient as a complex biochemical, physiological and microbiological environ- ment, it becomes apparent that in order for the whole to maintain optimal function the systems must exist in balance with one another. Changes in one part of the body or system can have dramatic effects on another, causing the whole to be impaired. Therefore, when all the parts are functioning optimally in balance with one another, the whole is in a state of health. When looking at the human body in
this way, it allows us to see that diseases or symptoms can have dramatically different causes from one person to the next. Adap- tations in an individual may be caused by variation in the environment of the organ- ism. Adaptations very often occur when components are missing that are necessary for the activities of the organism. These are the essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Adaptations also occur when the organism is burdened by too many compo- nents that it views as waste products. These may be normally formed by the activities of the organism or be due to external con- tamination, such as heavy metals or toxic chemicals. In short, give the body what it needs and take out the garbage.
Finding the Underlying Cause of Depression and Restoring Balance
As mentioned above, the most common treatment for depression involves pharma-
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