Depression - Causes and Solutions

• Lack of vitamin D, especially if you also have Type 2 diabetes. This can be a major factor in Seasonal Affective Disorder.
• Chronic Sleep Loss
• Lack of Exercise
• Overload of Responsibilities
• Socializing with negative people. Even reading about others with depression can cause symptoms.
• Not socializing enough. Loneliness has been shown to be a large cause of depression.
• High levels of inflammation in the body. There are biomarkers that can be measured in the blood in people who are depressed showing increased levels of inflammation in the body. NSAIDS can actually make this worse, instead of better.
• Poor Nutrition. There are several factors that combine to become ‘poor nutrition’.

What can we do about these causes?

• Herbal Teas made for depression: Most contain a combination of Ginseng, St. John’s Wort, Rosehips, and Milk Thistle. Even the act of sitting quietly and drinking the tea helps.
• Get probiotics. These can be found in supplement form, or in fermented foods. Make sure the food has not been pasteurized AFTER the fermentation process. That kills the good bacteria.
• Herbs: Just like the tea there are certain herbs that reduce inflammation and/or lift mood. Turmeric is one of them. It has been found to be as effective as Prozac, without the side effects.
• Prayer and Meditation: Again, the act of sitting quietly alone is of benefit. If you talk to a higher power and acknowledge their role in your life, and their love for you it benefits even more. The key doesn’t seem to be in what you say or think about, so much as doing it on a regular basis.
• Energy Medicine: This is a new field that many of us don’t understand, but seems very helpful in this area.
• Supplement with D3 and B12.
• Check for sodium deficiency.
• Get regular exercise.
• Get some sleep.
• Include mood boosting foods in your diet. These include Dark Chocolate, high quality protein, bananas, coffee, turmeric, purple berries, and omega 3 fats.
• Practice Emotional Freedom Technique. This combines a form of acupressure with positive reinforcement. It restores your body’s bioenergy balance, enhancing both physical and emotional health.

Do we need pharmaceuticals?