A problem can not be solved at the same level of thinking that created it.
– Albert Einstein
While mental health and depression may not be the sexiest topic around, in my opinion it is a topic worth discussing for the following reasons:
- It is common – An estimated 1 in 10 US adults report depression costing the US economy between 17 and 44 Billion dollars a year.
- It is taboo to discuss – Depression and mental health conditions are relatively common. However, discussions about their cause and treatment are not.
- The conventional medical approach to this disease doesn’t work! Drug therapies are based on the theory that depression is caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemical substance released at the end of a nerve cell) in the brain and a resultant imbalance in the “feel good” hormone serotonin. The medical solution to the assumed imbalance is psychotropic (relating to or denoting drugs that affect a person’s mental state) medications.
In my view, there are many problems with the medical “solution” of psychotropic medications. Three major ones:
1. It just is not true 🙁
Recent research has demonstrated no link between depression and a neurotransmitter or brain chemistry imbalance. (Lacasse & Leo, 2005); (Valenstein, 1998).
2. It does not work 🙁
According to CBS News and 60 minutes, since the introduction of Prozac in the 1980s, prescriptions for antidepressants have soared 400 percent, with 17 million Americans currently taking some form of the drug.
But how much good is the medication itself doing? “The difference between the effect of a placebo and the effect of an antidepressant is minimal for most people,” says Harvard scientist Irving Kirsch.
The 60 Minutes interview continues:
Lesley Stahl: So you’re saying if they took a sugar pill, they’d have the same effect?
Irving Kirsch: They’d have almost as large an effect and whatever difference there would be would be clinically insignificant.
3. Not only do the solutions not work, they actually make the problem worse.
Some antidepressants actually increase your risk for violent thoughts and behaviors, including suicide. Also, psychotrophic meds have been shown to increase the rate of child suicide.
Antidepressant drugs are also associated with side effects such as diabetes, immune system dysfunction, stillbirths, brittle bones, strokes and death.
And, of course, you may never guess the one thing nearly ever mass shooter over the last 20 years has had in common . . . Yes taking psychotropic meds.
Watch first 60 seconds to learn more about the “side effects” of these medications.
As Einstein says in the quote at the top, this problem has not, and will not, be solved by looking at the effects, we must first find the cause.
To find the SOLUTION, we must first identify the CAUSE.
To begin to talk about the solution for depression, we first need to define the problem.
The BASIS OF DEPRESSION IS LOSS OF GAME.
Loss of any game, whether it be voluntary or involuntary, can trigger depression.
What do we mean by game? Game can be defined as:
- An activity providing entertainment or amusement; a pastime.
- An active interest or pursuit, especially one involving competitive engagement or adherence to rules.
- A business or occupation.
Defined so, life can be seen as a composite of games. For example, life may include the game of family, the game of business or work, the games of raising children, the game of love, ect. . .
Simply put, we can see life as a series of games.
Thus, depression sets in when we experience the loss of one or more of these games.
What would be an example of a game ending? Leaving your old friends and moving to a new city would be one, ending a relationship would be another, even graduation from high school would be the end of the game of going to high school.
The loss of a game – any game – whether voluntary or involuntary can trigger depression.
This includes not only games that end shockingly or suddenly – as in the break up of a relationship or being fired from a job, but also games that end on a big win. For example the Olympic athlete who retires after successfully winning the gold medal is prone to experience “loss of game” if they don’t:
- Acknowledge their role as a competing olympic athlete is over and
- Find or create a new game, activity or purpose to focus on in the future.
So, as this example illustrates, the solution to “end of game” is two parts:
- Acknowledge and process the game that has ended
- Find a new game you want to play.
What else can you do to support the above process?
Below are 5 lifestyle choices that support optimal brain and nervous system health.
Healthy Fats – Your brain is 60% fat. So, to create a healthy brain we need to eat and digest healthy omega 3 fats, including DHA and EPA.
Food sources include – Nuts (especially cashews, brazil nuts and macadamia nuts), coconut oil, olive oil, olives, eggs, grass fed beef, wild alaskan salmon, cold water fish (wild and not farm raised), free range chicken, free range eggs, as well as avocados.
B Vitamins – B vitamins are crucial for optimal energy production. In fact, they are involved in 100s of reactions that support the conversion of food into ATP, the body’s energy currency. Because the brain is responsible for 25% of the body’s energy requirements at rest, there is a direct relationship between B vitamins and brain health.
Also, B vitamins are required to manufacture neurotransmitters which are vital to brain function.
Further, a lack of B vitamins and elevated homocysteine levels have been shown to increase the rate at which our brain atrophies (shrinks)!
Food sources of B vitamins include kombucha, potatoes, bananas, lentils, chili peppers, tempeh, beans, nutritional yeast and brewer’s yeast (without the alcohol).
Minerals – The alkaline ash minerals, namely Magnesium, Calcium and Potassium, are crucial to deliver optimal energy levels to the brain and assure the healthy transmission of nerve impulses.
Also, Zinc is especially noteworthy for its role in neurotransmitter synthesis and studies have linked low zinc levels with an increased risk of depression.
Food Sources of Magnesium, Calcium and Potassium include Leafy green vegetables, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, artichokes, spinach and pumpkin.
Food Sources of Zinc – Spinach, oysters, beef and lamb, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds and Cashews.
Exercise – While technically not a mineral or nutrient, exercise is incredibly important for the brain. In fact, exercise had been shown to:
- Improve mood in people with mild to moderate depression
- Work as well (if not better) with longer lasting benefits than anti-depressants
How does it work?
Exercise increases circulation in the body and triggers the release of endorphins in the body. Endorphins are known to improve immunity, decrease pain and promote an overall feeling of well being. More here
Chiropractic – The chiropractic adjustment is intended to align the spine and stimulate the brain and central nervous system. Simply put, more optimal spinal alignment results in better nervous system and brain function. More here
Holistic health care is the future of medicine.
However, this coming paradigm of holism which considers us as composite beings, body, mind and spirit, and not just a collection of atoms, has not yet been embraced in the treatment of depression.
Because of this, the treatment results for depression are not as successful as they could be.
By taking a holistic approach, checking for “end of game”, along with supporting the body through optimal nutrition, exercise and proper alignment, the result will be addressing the true cause of depression along with a sharper, healthier brain and happier nervous system!
