According to The National Institute of Mental Health
depression strikes about 18.8 million
American adults per year. Most people with a depressive illness do not seek
treatment and many do not recognize that
depression is a treatable illness. Perhaps this is because of the downfalls of many current treatments. Antidepressant medications can be very expensive for those without insurance and they can cause many side effects including: dry mouth, constipation, bladder problems, sexual problems, blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, insomnia and agitation. Many
drugs are prescribed and expected to be taken indefinitely and some can cause severe side effects when you stop taking them like sudden suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Psychotherapy is often prescribed along with antidepressants. This is a form of talk therapy that has many different approaches and types of therapy including individual, group or
family therapy. The
problems with psychotherapy are that it may take a long time to achieve results and it tends to have an 80% relapse rate. Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT or Shock Therapy) is usually used as a last resort or for those who have a life threatening form of
depression or for those who can not take medications. Doctors are not even sure how exactly it works or why it can be effective. Electric impulses are sent through the brain causing seizures. For full benefits several sessions are required and there are side effects, including memory loss. Herbal treatments for
depression are being studied, though there do not seem to be any conclusive results yet. St. John’s Wort has been viewed as a suitable alternative for
depression and seems to
work like an MAOI inhibitor. Studies show conflicting results on its effectiveness and it does have side effects including sensitivity to sunlight and it can have adverse reactions when taken with other medications like oral contraceptives. SAM-e (S-adenosyl-methione) shows promise as a fast acting antidote to depression. SAM-e was introduced to the
United States in 1999 after being backed by 40 studies done in Europe. It has none of the side effects of conventional
depression medications and many find it more tolerable than the usual SSRI drugs. SAM-e increases the action of dopamine, serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain thus elevating mood and reducing depression. Rhodiola rosea also shows a lot of promise in alleviating
depression symptoms. Only a small number of clinical trials have been done, much more research need to be done. Patients taking Rhodiola expressed that it seemed to add spice to their lives and enabled them to be happy again. The herb enhances the ability to tolerate
stress and boosts the levels of neurotransmitters that
play a role in regulating mood, energy, and the ability to enjoy life without the negative side effects of conventional antidepressants. Dr. David Edelberg an internist and medical director of The
American Holistic Center in
Chicago says the first step for someone with
depression is to eliminate sugar, processed foods, caffeinated
foods and alcohol which can all worsen depressive
symptoms because of their effects on the body’s biochemistry. Dr. Allen Magaziner a nutritional medical specialist also recommends eating more
foods that are high in protein such as turkey, chicken and fish. Dr Steven Fahrion says to fight off
depression you need to do something that is active that gives you a sense of control. Studies have shown the many benefits of yoga and the improved state of mind that yoga creates can combat
depression symptoms. Numerous studies have shown
exercise to be an excellent antidote to
depression that seems to
work better than medication. James Blementhal, a Duke University Psychologist and co author of the 2000
study on
exercise and
depression says “we still don’t know the mechanisms behind this…but we do know it works.” Relaxation, meditation, and acupuncture all show promise in treating those with mild to moderate depression. A 1999
study on acupuncture conducted by University of
Arizona researchers found that 34
women suffering from major
depression who underwent eight weeks of acupuncture treatments reported an elevation in mood similar to those who took antidepressants, without the side effects. The finding reinforced earlier studies conducted in
China and the former Soviet Union. Light therapy has been used for years to treat seasonal affective disorder a type of
depression that affects people who live in areas with long winters. Growing evidence shows that treatments of light therapy for 30 minutes a day may be as effective as an antidepressant any time of year. A special light box emits 5,000 – 10,000 lux, which is equivalent to the light from the sun at 40 minutes after sunrise. The mood boosting effects can be almost immediate. Scientists believe people’s
body clocks get out of sync and they produce too much of the hormone melatonin and that creates a biochemical imbalance in the brain region that regulates mood, energy, and sleep. Dr. Daniel F. Kripke, a psychiatrist at the University of California,
San Diego has studied light therapy for more than two decades says “somehow, the bright light shifts the
body clock.” The light therapy helps put the clock back in sync. More studies need to be done to find effective treatments for
depression that actually
work without all the side effects, but at least there are current options available. Many people suffering from
depression just are not aware or informed of the options. Many think the only options are
drugs and therapy. A person with
depression should know they have options in treatments, including treatments that do not
cost a lot (exercise and yoga, free),
diet change, acupuncture, meditation, relaxation, and light therapy all have no side effects and most herbal treatments have little or no side effects and are much cheaper than most prescription antidepressants.
