Uncommon Sources of Depression

Anyone suffering from depression can tell you what a vicious cycle it is. You want to get better, but you can't because you are depressed. And the less you do to get better, the more depressed you become. And the more depressed you become the less you feel like eating right or exercising or taking steps to get the help you need. And repeat.

Below are some not so common causes of depression. They are at least worth further investigation on your part and then discussion or testing on your doctor's part. This summary is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis but rather to serve as a springboard for further exploration.

Thyroid trouble - One significant effect of hypothyroidism is depression. More than a few women have said that their doctor checked their thyroid and it is fine. If that is true, but still feel depressed, fatigued, have dry skin and inability to lose weight, ask for a more comprehensive panel. Thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto's or Grave's Disease do not show up in the basic preliminary tests; yet there are additional thyroid tests that will reveal an improper functioning thyroid gland.

Acidosis - low pH. Many people do not even know what that is. As many as 90% of the population has been or will have a low pH (potential of hydrogen). It essentially means your body is out of balance and it is too acidic. This can be detected with saliva or urine tests. The paper test strips needed to determine pH level are available over the counter at a low cost.

Heavy metal poisoning - This can be detected through hair analysis. Mercury and aluminum are examples of heavy metals that can cause a host of troubles, including depression. Aluminum is present is cosmetics, deodorant, microwave popcorn and a plethora of other surprising sources. Heavy metals bind, which mean merely eliminating the metal from your environment or diet will not necessarily alleviate all problems. The metals must be forced out. Chelation and homeopathy are two methods to eliminate such metals.