Depression is not a Prozac deficiency

We all get the blues from time to time in response to life events. Occasional bouts of sadness help us appreciate the good times. Most of us bounce back within a day or two or maybe even a week or two. But sometimes we get “stuck” in that feeling of being unable to cope, and that leads to depression.

 

Symptoms of Anxiety

  • Abdominal discomfort
  • Diarrhoea
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Dry mouth
  • Fear you’re losing control of your actions
  • Frequent urination
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability or anger
  • Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tightness or pain in chest 

Symptoms of Depression

  • A slowdown in physical movements
  • Changes in eating habits
  • Changes in sleeping patterns
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Dwelling on the past, particularly on errors you think you’ve made
  • Fatigue
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Loss of interest in sex
  • Loss of interest in usually pleasurable activities
  • Loss of self-esteem, and feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, pessimism, worthlessness, guilt and emptiness
  • Memory difficulties
  • Profound, persistent irritability
  • Profound, persistent sadness
  • Restlessness
  • Social withdrawal
  • Thoughts of suicide or death
  • Unexplained crying
  • Unexplained headaches, stomach upset, or other physical that are not helped with a standard treatment
  • Unexplained weight gain or loss

  

Severe, clinically recognizable depression affects one in five people at some time in their lives. They may occur one at a time or in combination. They generally come upon you gradually, and can be brought on by a crisis. These are all signs of anxiety, which occurs when your brain begins sending messages to your body to prepare for the “freeze-fight-or-flight” response, as you can see on the “Symptoms of Anxiety” listed above. Most of us are able to take adversity in stride, yet clearly some people are more resilient than others, depending on genetics, personal history, and lifestyle. Are there ways to handle the difficult times? 

In a word, “yes.”

Brain chemistry is the vital link between your mind and body. Depression, anxiety, panic, obsessions, addictions and memory loss are too often considered to be a matter of “mind over matter.” 

Friends, family, and sadly, even therapists, will tell you that self-discipline, extensive psychotherapy or even prescription medications (drugs), are the ways to kick these mind-states. This could mean, perhaps, that instead of being psychologically damaged, you may simply be low in certain nutrients!

[People consuming Processed Food diets were much more likely to develop depression]. British Journal of Psychiatry 2009 Nov; 195(5): pp 408-413 

Most mainstream medical doctors overlook the fact that mood, behaviour, and mental performance all depend on your balance of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of the brain. 

There are hundreds of neurotransmitters. These are the main players: Acetylcholine, Adrenaline, Dopamine, Endorphins, GABA, Melatonin and Serotonin.

When neurotransmitters are out of balance, you may feel depressed, anxious, stressed and unmotivated, or have other mental problems. Certain medications, including antihistamines, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, narcotics and recreational drugs can affect your brain chemistry.  

  • Drugs are toxic
  • Detoxification requires/utilizes many nutrients
  • Over time, this causes nutrient depletions
  • Reuptake inhibitors actually accelerate depletion of neurotransmitters
  • Drugs change the structure of the brain: cause a “down regulation” of neurotransmitter receptors
  • Drugs are highly addictive; difficult to discontinue
  • Bartholoma, P et al., “Neuronal cell death induced by antidepressants.” Biochemical Pharmacology April 15, 2002; Vol. 63 (8): 1507-1516.
  • Andrews PW, et al., “Primum non nocere: An evolutionary analysis of whether antidepressants do more harm than good.” Frontiers in Psychology, April 24, 2012, Hagen, 2003; Horwitz and Wakefield, 2007; Kirsch et al., 2008.

We need sufficient amounts of the key neurotransmitters to stay centered, calm, and happy. In depression, there is a lack of mood-stabilizing serotonin and noradrenaline as well as dopamine, the brain chemicals associated with motivation and pleasure. They are made from the amino acid, tyrosine.

Millions of people are taking prescription drugs for depression and anxiety. These drugs are not safe and have been showing not to be as effective in most cases! “While the benefit of antidepressant medication compared with placebo can be significant in severe depression, it may be minimal or non-existent in patients with mild or moderate symptoms [“Antidepressant Drug Effects and Depression Severity” (JAMA. 2010;303(1):47-53. doi:10.1001/jama.2009)] 

Some research has shown that having a positive outlook can improve your quality of life and give your health a boost. You may also need to find ways to let go of some things in your life that make you feel stressed and overwhelmed. Make time for things you enjoy. Relaxation methods, such as meditation, yoga, Tai Chi and listening to music, are useful ways to bring your emotions into balance. To have good emotional health, it’s important to take care of your body by having a regular routine for eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep, and exercising to relieve pent-up tension. Avoid overeating and don’t abuse drugs or alcohol.