Easing Depression

Depression is its particular demon (as in cruelty). Its causes can stem from the same origins of anxiety, panic, and phobias, and your amygdalae are directly involved. The amygdalae are two tiny organs in your brain responsible for managing your emotions.

On November 20, 2013, researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine released a study showing "…that the size and connectivity of the amygdala can predict the degree of anxiety a young child is experiencing in daily life…a larger amygdala can equate to higher anxiety in childhood…prolonged stress and anxiety during childhood increase the risk of someone developing anxiety disorders and depression later in life." You can read the article here.

What is Depression?

To depress is to sadden, make less active, and lower in value. Depression is defined as a hollow or low place, a low spirit, and less activity (not as busy). However, depression is not an emotional or mental condition. It's a physical one that can make you feel emotionally or mentally "low". Many people say they are depressed when, in truth, they are sad. Sadness or feeling emotionally upset or numb is not the same thing as depression, even though you can certainly feel these things when you are depressed.

You can become depressed due to neurotransmitter (chemical) imbalances in the brain. While scans can be performed with equipment to view how your brain is operating, there are no actual tests to check for chemical imbalances in the brain. However, medical doctors often treat Depression with antidepressants, in hopes of returning neurotransmitters (natural chemicals) in the brain to a normal range. So what causes the imbalance in the first place It's never an easy answer but it often comes down to toxicities and deficiencies. See Causes of Depression below.

When you are depressed, it is easy to convince yourself that nothing helps and nothing is ever going to. Depression isn't the same thing as victim-mentality, where you set yourself up to fail, always the loser (victim) or abused. No. It's more of a shut-down of emotion. Your mind goes to a place of dark numbness and avoidance.

It's crucial when you are depressed to change this thought pattern of believing nothing helps and that nothing ever will. But you need to sleep, exercise, and eat right to have the energy to change your thoughts. Being asked to sleep well, exercise, and eat right when you feel this way is the dilemma of the vortex of Depression. However, setting goals, engaging the senses, and enlisting support from others, such as friends, family, priests, therapists, or group members, can help. It's essential to have people around you who care about you, support you emotionally and will hold you accountable.

Atypical Depression includes weight gain, sleeping too much, fatigue, weakness, and feeling anxious. Sad and hopeless, with thoughts of suicide most days.

Dysthymia (Mild, Chronic Depression) symptoms are the same as for Atypical Depression, but your being tired or rundown is noticed by others.

Postpartum Depression is typically caused by hormonal imbalance after giving birth or miscarriage, usually appearing in the 4th week after giving birth.

Those with Bipolar Depression (Manic Depression) experience mood swings from the euphoric highs of mania to major depression lows. Symptoms can include grandiose delusions and paranoid rage.

People with Seasonal Depression (SAD) get depressed during certain times of the year when the sun is farthest from the Earth. Most people can erase their Depression by taking vitamin d3 and increasing the dosage during the darker months of the year. Also, see Sleep Disorder.

Psychotic Depression involves psychosis, hallucinations, and hearing voices (a break from reality).

Serotonin Syndrome is when you have too much serotonin in the brain and is usually a dangerous result of taking prescribed antidepressants.

Causes of Depression

The following is a partial list of causes of Depression.

Ongoing stress, constant worry, chronic anxiety, and negative self-talk
Medical conditions
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Hypothyroidism
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Endotoxins (toxins secreted from dying micro-organisms)
Heavy metal toxicity
Chronic yeast infection
Adrenal abnormalities (either very high or very low stress hormones)
Antianxiety and antidepressant medications
Antihistamines (over-the-counter and prescribed)
Anti-inflammatory agents (for injuries and arthritic conditions
Anti-seizure medicines (for epilepsy)
Birth control pills
Blood pressure medication (Anti-hypertensives)
Chemotherapeutic agents (for cancer treatment)
Corticosteroids (a synthetic version of adrenal stress hormone used for conditions such as asthma, arthritis, and eczema)
Recreational drugs, such as nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines
Alcoholism (alcohol is a depressant)
Consuming imitation sweeteners, excessive sugar, caffeine, alcohol, or carbonated beverages
Imbalances in the microbiome
Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Herpes Simplex Virus
Sugar imbalances
Over-the-counter medications, alcohol, nicotine, and recreational drugs, which you may feel offer you a temporary "high", may also contribute to your Depression.

Allopathic Medicines Used to Treat Depression

Typically, Depression is treated with psychotherapy and medications. While medication will rarely ever work to erase panic attacks and phobias, it may help alleviate Depression, especially Manic Depression.

The following is a list of medications, with brief descriptions, that doctors are currently prescribing for anxiety and Depression.

Benzodiazepines create a sedating effect that relaxes muscles and creates drowsiness and lethargy.

Tricyclics (TCAs) act to increase serotonin-norepinephrine in the brain by keeping it around longer (basically acting as antidepressants, which are SSRIs)

SSRIs are antidepressants that keep serotonin and other "feel-good" chemicals in the brain around longer.

MAOIs are a type of antidepressant that prevents the breakdown of serotonin and noradrenaline. When symptoms don't respond to Benzodiazepines, Tricyclics, or SSRIs, monoamine oxidase inhibitors are administered.

It's important to understand that doctors don't know how these work, and there is no scientific proof that antidepressant drugs work. It's hoped these drugs will bring some order and balance to natural feel-good chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, GABA, and dopamine, and keep them hanging around longer to balance your mood. This approach doesn't work for everyone. Symptoms get worse in some people from taking these medications, such as increased anxiety, insomnia, thoughts, and actions of suicide. There can be terrible side effects. If you are prescribed medication and feel worse, tell your doctor.

An Alternative Approach to Depression

An alternative approach to treating mild to moderate Depression is to approach it more naturally by reducing or erasing physical symptoms, correcting negative thought patterns, and facing avoidance behaviors. Sleeping, exercising, taking supplements, and eating a balanced diet are essential, especially those that are suitable for your blood type. These lifestyle management changes will help you gain the strength to change your thought patterns. Changing your thoughts or addressing avoidance behaviors will only be possible by making behavior changes. The Depression will remain. Sense-based activities can be of immense help.

Supplements for Depression

Tryptophan or 5HTP
L-Theanine (found in green tea)
SAM-e
B Vitamins (particularly methyl folate, B-6, and B-12)
Vitamin D
Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids

Herbs for Depression

Herbal adaptogens, such as Saint John's Wort, clary sage, and holy basil

Essential Oils for Depression

Lavender, neroli, sweet orange, lemon, geranium, lemon balm, ylang ylang, and rose.