How to avoid a reoccurrence of depression

depression

I’m currently reading an interesting book about depression and the overwhelming research about the misuse of antidepressants. The research is becoming clearer all the time:

Antidepressants are not as effective as the drug companies have reported, (only about thirty percent success rate).

Thank about that last statement. I hope you see the self-interest that is obvious.

This is one of a number of books I’ve read over the last five years or so. More and more research supports that exercise accomplishes the same thing as antidepressants and that we should view depression as a symptom of something in our life we need to discuss, not obliterate with medication. I will state here what I’ve stated often, and what this book reiterates,

There has never been research that supports that lack of serotonin causes depression. Not one. Not ever.

In fact, some studies suggest that excess serotonin is released during a depressive episode which is what causes the depression. This book I’m reading, “A Mind of Your Own” by Kelly Brogan, M.D., flew off the shelves last year. While I already had read much the same information from other books, this author also explores the connection between our gut health and inflammation both of which are getting a lot of attention from many other resources.

And here’s something else you need to know. First of all a confession. I’ve never been into the gluten-free diet or the natural products phenomena. But a recent report from the FDA saying they are banning antibacterial ingredients from soaps has brought me on board. They’re being banned because the anti-bacterial ingredient can be absorbed into our skin and affect our hormones just like the hormones in our chicken, milk, etc. Men and women both are affected by this but women to a larger degree.

So I am becoming a believer. Not the crazy kind but the kind that says this whole subject of going more “natural” is worth considering.

In case you are wondering why you didn’t know about the overwhelming research about antidepressants and depression, here’s why. Your doctor doesn’t know all this. How can they? Doctors cannot be expected to keep up with the research on every drug on the market. So where does your doctor get their information?

Yep, a pharmaceutical rep. And where does that pharmaceutical “rep” get their information? From the pharmaceutical company, who is concerned about what? Their profits first of all. 

I don’t mean to demonize these pharmaceutical companies. Where would we be without their research? All I’m saying is like any private corporation, they wouldn’t exist without profits. And perhaps not as much of their profits is given to research like we’ve been led to believe. Have you ever know a pharmaceutical rep? They’re extremely well-compensated with lots and lots of “bennies”.

Most people would prefer to take a pill. Most people prefer a quick fix. They demand their quick fix from their doctor. They want their depression gone today. They want their pain gone. I understand that completely. Been there done that. But as with most things in life, anything worth doing usually requires effort on our part.

But no one is going to care as much about your health as you are. And, unless you are mentally incapacitated in some way, no one else is as responsible for their health as you are.

(I refer you back to these two posts.)

More about depression in the days ahead.

God bless and I hope you have a good day.