(Newswire.net — April 19, 2014) Portland, OR — When we think of depression we usually think of it starting with an event such as a tragedy of some type, but new evidence shows that there are some other causes that can catch us by surprise.
– 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’.
– High Fructose Foods: Whether from corn syrup, sugar or even an overabundance of fruit. Causes both depression and schizophrenia.
– Artificial sweeteners and colorings. Both have been shown to impact mood.
– Gluten: Found in grains.
What can we do about these causes?
We can’t avoid all tragedy in our lives, but we can take other steps so that the bumps and bruises of life don’t put us over the edge and keep us down for extended periods of time. Here are a few suggestions to try.
– 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 (EFT)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?
There is growing evidence that while some people seem to get some relief from a variety of medications the side effects can be worse than the underlying depression. Natural methods can work just as well, without those side effects. Those side effects can be pretty bad.
– Psychotic breaks where the user acts out in violence, harming themselves or others.
– Insomnia
– Deeper Depression
– Cancer: There has been a strong link noticed between antidepressants such as Paxil and breast cancer.
Source: http://www.enrichgifts.com/Depression-Causes-and-Solutions-s/842.htm