Overcoming Depression

Ours is a culture prone to overwork, stress related illness and "just getting on with it." Unfortunately, this has major repurcussions for not only our physical health but also for our mental health too. Depression is a common mental disorder that presents with a combination of physical and mental symptoms. The World Health Organisation calls depression "a social and economic timebomb that will overtake heart disease as a major cause of disability".

These problems can become chronic or recurrent and affect a person's ability to function effectively in the world.

Signs and Symptoms

• depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
• feelings of sadness and guilt almost every day
• chronic fatigue
• insomnia or excess sleep every day
• loss of appetite or weight gain
• feelings of worthlessness
• low self esteem
• inability to concentrate
• anxiety
• lack of motivation
• diminished interest or pleasure in rejuvenating activities
• nervousness
• despair
• loss of sexual desire
• irritability
• chronic headaches

One of the major controversies regarding depression is that the medical, drug based model regards depression as a disorder of brain chemistry as opposed to having any other physiological basis. But according to the American Journal of Psychiatry ( 1981; 138: 629 - 635 ), over half of all cases of depression have as their causative factor issues other than that of brain chemistry and emotional or psychological causes. These include :

Possible Causes Or Contributing Factors

1. excess stress
2. nutritional deficiencies
3. poor diet including increased caffeine, white sugar, white flour and additives
4. hormonal disorders in men and women : especially adrenal, thyroid and pituitary / pineal
5. food allergies
6. excess drugs either social or prescribed
7. hypoglycaemia ( blood sugar imbalances )
8. environmental toxicity
9. genetic predisposition
10. heavy metal toxicity
11. lack of rejuvenating activities
12. intestinal dysbiosis
13. psychological factors

We believe that addressing the potential physical causes of depression is an important first step in managing depression successfully.