Dr. Mercola April 03 2007 37,079 views
A new study suggests that about a quarter of the people who have been diagnosed with depression may actually be dealing with the normal and expected emotions associated with loss or traumatic events.
It is not unusual to experience depressive feelings when you have lost your job or marriage. But researchers are now suggesting that such feelings should not usually be diagnosed as depression.
The study was based on a survey administered to more than 8,000 Americans, which asked questions based on diagnostic criteria for mood problems.
The researchers found that extended periods of depression-like symptoms are common in people who have been through life stresses, and that this does not necessarily constitute illness. Only a fraction of people, however, had severe symptoms that could be classified as clinical depression.
Drug treatment may often be inappropriate for people who are responding to life's stresses. Supportive psychotherapy, however, may still be useful.
Dr. Mercola's Comment:
I think that this study is really about semantics. When I first started practicing in 1985 I was very sensitive to the issue of depression and diagnosed many thousands of my patients with it. No matter what you call it, there are many millions of people who are not doing well emotionally and as a result have major physical complications.
So I am not sure if I agree with this study, as my experience suggests many are suffering out there. However, the central issue is what do you do? If you are cluelesss like I was over 20 years ago you put people on antidepressants because that is the "standard of care."
Then you find out later that antidepressants provide no meaningful benefit, can harm your immune system and exacerbate the risk of suicide among younger folks.
So clearly another option is required. Fortunately, there are many that do address the underlying causes. You can also start an exercise program today, as it clearly is one of the best-kept secrets for treating depression. Omega-3 fats like fish and krill oil are also very effective.
You can find out more about this by reading The Omega-3 Connection by Dr. Stoll. He is a Harvard psychiatrist who has done a great job of compiling the evidence supporting the use of fish and krill oils for depression.
Among the other effective therapies for taming your emotions and boosting your health: Learning a proven energy psychology tool like the Emotional Freedom Technique, used daily in my practice. For serious problems it would be prudent to not treat yourself with EFT and instead contact a health care professional who is trained in the technique. You can use the list of guidelines and practitioners compiled by Dr. Patricia Carrington.
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Probably the best “home remedy” I’ve found in addition to the sunlight and exercise that others have mentioned is liver from grass fed beef. It is loaded with depression-fighting nutrients, particularly B vitamins and Omega 3s. Eat it a few times a week. You'll be amazed at the difference it can make.
This is particularly important since women experience clinical depression twice as often as men. Over the years I have been recommending progesterone crème to women, it has picked up the nickname from many of them: "The Happy Crème." Any time progesterone levels drop such as during the monthly cycle, immediately after giving birth, or all the time if you are in a state of estrogen dominance, depression is a likely result. Using a good progesterone crème can provide an almost instant turnaround in attitude.
And while we're on the subject, let's talk about post partum depression. It's real. During the weeks leading up to birth, progesterone levels have soared to levels 10-20 times normal. No wonder women seem to glow during pregnancy. But immediately after birth, progesterone levels plunge to almost zero. No wonder so many women experience extreme, even psychotic levels of depression. Simple supplementation with progesterone crème will resolve the depression over 90% of the time. In fact, any doctor who recommends antidepressants for post partum depression without trying progesterone crème first, should be named as an unindicted co-conspirator since they truly share the blame for any psychotic incidents that may result.