One in four American women are on prescription drugs for stress, insomnia, anxiety and depression. Antidepressant use in the United States has increased nearly 400% between 2005 and 2008, according to a survey conducted by the CDC, with women three times more likely to use antidepressants than men. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 15 million American adults suffer from major depression, and 40 million more have anxiety disorders.
Most patented antidepressants "work" by boosting the levels of mood-regulating neurotransmitters in the brain. Although the FDA and other licensing authorizes have approved SSRIs and other antidepressants for the treatment of depression, there are doubts about their clinical efficacy.
Meta-analyses of antidepressant drugs have reported only modest benefits over placebo treatment according to a meta-analysis published in PLoS Medicine. A new study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, revealed that antidepressant drugs work no better than talk therapy, placebo pills, or basically anything else, at relieving depression.
In yet another study with 2500 people, researchers at the Yale University School of medicine found that 20% of those taking Cymbalta and similar drugs for depression may actually do worse than people who are given placebo pills not containing any drug.
No One is Drug Deficient Antidepressants are handed out like candy, do not address the root cause of depression, and in reality, do more harm than good. There’s even a designer antidepressant, Pristiq, for women experiencing menopausal symptoms!
Side Effects of Antidepressant and Anxiety Drugs
* Diabetes * Immune dysfunction * Increased risk of heart disease
* Nausea * Psychosis; Anxiety * Decreased bonding w/partner
* Dizziness * Weight Gain or Loss * Detachment from reality
* Male Infertility * Constipation or Diarrhea * Increased risk of stroke
* Decreased libido * Brittle bones * Suicidal ideation
* Headaches * Insomnia * Weakness and fatigue
Aside from their side effects, antidepressants can alter the biochemistry of the brain, and can be very difficult to discontinue. They should never be used long term (longer than 3 months) because they change plasticity in the brain.
Depression is a Sign that your Body and Life are Out of Balance.
Triggers and Factors to Consider with Depression & Anxiety
| * Addictions: Sugar; Alcohol; Drugs | * Gut dysfunction |
| * Amino acid deficiencies | * Heavy metal body burdens. |
| * Candida and/or parasites | * Lack of protein intake |
| * Chronic viral or bacterial infections | * Pharmaceutical meds (common in the elderly) |
| * Carbohydrate sensitivity | * Psychological stress |
| * Dental poisoning. Moldy environments. | * Thiamine and other B vitamin deficiencies |
| * Poor methylation | * Vitamin D and sunlight deficiency |
| * Essential fatty acid deficiencies | * Diet lacking in nutrients and wholesome foods |
| * Food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances. Gluten intolerance. Hypoglycemia. | * Hormone dysfunction. Even though blood tests show ‘normal,’ subjective indications reveal otherwise. Most common: Hypoadrenal and Hypothyroid |
Important Tidbits…..Did you know? - Bacteria in the gut can increase your risk of depression.
- Inflammation drives depression to depleting serotonin.
- Inflammation in the gut = an inflamed brain which puts you at risk for depression and dementia.
- A study in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology founds that nursing home residents taking SSRIs increased their risk of falling by 300 percent.
- The second brain is through the gut. The majority of serotonin is made in the gut, NOT the brain.
- Low folic acid is related to depression in the elderly.
- There is an association between depressive symptoms and zinc deficiency.
- Statin drug use is linked to depression and diabetes.
- Low levels of LDL cholesterol are associated with a significantly increased risk of developing depression in men.
- Depression has also been linked to an inflammation marker in blood called C-reactive protein (CRP).
- There is an inverse relationship between vitamin D status and depression.
- There is a connection between depression and diabetes.
- What happened in your early childhood, in utero, and even sometimes before conception, through epigenetic effects, can influence your innate biochemistry and cause you to be more susceptible to depression. It’s so important to remember that if life’s unexpected left turns seem to weigh heavier on you than on others, it’s not your fault. And there are certainly things you can do to make yourself feel better.
Safer, Effective Ways to Deal with Depression & Anxiety. Address the Root Cause.
Fix Your Gut Over 2/3 of neurotransmitters are made in the gut. The majority of serotonin, 95%, is made in the gut, not the brain. If your gut is inflamed or not functioning optimally, production of serotonin will be impaired and the end result is depression.
Exercise If a person with depression chooses just one therapy, exercise is it. Exercise is the number one cure for depression across the board. Scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that moderate and intense daily exercise works just as well as antidepressant drugs. For women who had a family history of mental illness, moderate exercise worked best. For those who had no family history, intense exercise was more effective. More intense exercise was most beneficial for men in general. While aerobic exercise will temporarily increase feedback to the brain, anaerobic weight training produces more of permanent affect.
Full spectrum lighting. Sunlight without sunscreen 20 minutes daily
Yoga, Qi gong and meditation. Connection with Source (God).
Support the body with appropriate nutrition for stress, anxiety and depression
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Specifically, essential fatty acids,
vitamin D, vitamins B6 and B12, folate, thiamine, magnesium and zinc.
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Other supplements: GABA, glycine, SAM-e, Inositol, phosphatidylyserine, phosphatidylcholine, tyrosine, 5-HTP (If you use 5-HTP, be sure to use with B6 phosphate), adrenal support. ***Please read notice at end of this article
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Low zinc has been linked to depression in women. An easy trick to tell if you're low in zinc is to take a look at your fingernails. If you see white spots under the nails, chances are you are low on zinc. Other tests for zinc deficiency include
serum alkaline phosphate values, and the aqueous zinc taste test
(contact me for instructions). -
Low vitamin B levels increase risk of depression in men and women.
Food is a Drug! Ditch the sugar, gluten, bagels, cereals, pasteurized dairy products, wheat, soda, HFCS, and processed foods. Consume a low glycemic nutrient-rich, whole food diet. A high glycemic diet depletes the brain of necessary fuel stores because of rapid blood sugar fluctuations resulting in insulin spikes and higher cortisol secretion intensifying existing problems.
Avoid low calorie diets which are often associated with depression due to vitamin and amino acid deficiencies. Be sure to include healthy fats and plenty of quality, organic, animal protein (full of amino acids) at every meal.
Attitude of Gratitude. Log in a Gratitude Journal Those that express gratitude through logging things, people or an experience in a gratitude journal are happier, more optimistic, and tend to exercise more.
Deal with your stressors and find a type of stress relief that best works for you. Tips to Manage Your Stressors
Bodywork Craniosacral therapy, Chiropractic, Massage, EFT, Osteopathic manipulative therapy, Acupuncture
Write in a Diary. Expressive writing is especially helpful for those who have experienced a traumatic event. Spend anywhere from 2-10 minutes a few times per week writing your thoughts and feelings. Expressing your story through writing in a diary provides increases happiness, encourages a solution, and boosts psychological and physical well-being.
Blood Chemistry Analysis Evaluate your metabolic status and determine nutritional deficiencies or excesses
Urinary Neurotransmitter Testing Check total body load
Amino Acid Therapy Amino acid imbalances are linked to everything from depression to fibromyalgia. Most depressed individuals have low levels of amino acids. Amino acids work well as neurotransmitter precursors and agonists, but they take time to work. And, just as important, make sure to look for the cause of your low levels. Quite often, that cause turns out to be hypochlorhydria or low stomach acid.
Consider how your choices and circumstances may be affecting your outlook on life. Look at your environment, your sleep patterns, your diet, how you spend your time, and with whom you spend it. Be kind to yourself. Love and nurture yourself. Take some time to find what feels good and right for you. With some deep reflection, supportive guidance, and hope you can feel good again – in body, mind and spirit.
Contact me to determine the specific plan that works for you. My Ultimate Personal Plan is a personalized lifestyle plan designed specifically for you that promotes natural hormone balancing with healthy and delicious menu options, a nutritional supplement protocol, exercise and dietary recommendations, lifestyle suggestions and guidance, and optional ongoing support. Guaranteed Results!
Copyright © Paula Owens
Reproduction of my articles are permissible ONLY when instructions found at the bottom of blog are followed.
*** IMPORTANT: If you’ve noticed depressive symptoms consistently for over a month, please see a medical professional, preferably a trained psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. Suicidal thoughts or attempts and obsessing about death are serious warning signs that need to be addressed immediately.
*** Never stop any medication without the guidance and direction from your physician.
*** The information in this article is offered for informational and educational purposes only. There is no replacement for professional medical treatment and advice, and you are urged to consult with your physician before pursuing any treatment or supplement regime.
Sources:
- New England Journal of Medicine. 2009 Jan 15;360(3):225-35.
- Pick, M. 2011. Are You Tired and Wired.
- Vreeland, C. Nutritional Perspective on Neurologic Conditions. January 21, 2012
- http://bit.ly/vjbLCM Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, online November 29, 2011.
- Kirsch I, Deacon BJ, Huedo-Medina TB, Scoboria A, Moore TJ, et al. (2008) Initial Severity and Antidepressant Benefits: A Meta-Analysis of Data Submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. PLoS Med 5(2): e45. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050045
- http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-mental-health-supplements-20111205,0,6917033.story
- http://wwwapps.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america.shtml
- http://www.cchrint.org/2011/12/20/study-antidepressants-actually-cause-many-people-to-have-worse-depression/
Genetically Modified foods are foods derived from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) which is from a process in a lab where genes are taken from one species and inserted into another in an attempt to obtain a desired characteristic or trait.
A conventionally grown apple would be: 4021 
