Depression and Mental Health

Depression can manifest differently for everyone, some people feel lethargic, others tearful, or maybe you just lack your normal level of motivation.  Sometimes it manifests as irritability or even numbness and in the extreme as suicidal tendencies.  It is important to discuss these feelings or lack of feelings with someone you trust and you may need to get advice from someone who knows more than you do about depression.   It is extremely helpful to take time to listen to your own inner voice which may help you sort out your thoughts to better resolve and deal with your own feelings. All of you have likely experienced depression in your life at some point, the ups and downs; the tragedy of loss and pain all take a toll on our mental attitude and our emotions.  If loss of any kind or the death of someone you love is involved in your depression, know there are healthy and essential stages of grief that everyone must go through to fully process loss and systematically find a way to move forward.

There are times when depression can assist you by pushing you to retreat from a situation so as to better understand what’s going on. Sometimes depression protects you by forcing you into a reflective state to look deeper, to better choose the correct course of action for yourself.

Understanding your brain will assist you in coming to terms with and having a better understanding of depression and how to move forward for yourself or for someone you care about.  Depression is more common in youth today than ever before in history.  In a study from the laboratory of long-time depression, researcher Eva Redei, presenter at the Neuroscience 2009 conference stated that stressful life events are a major cause of depression.  The other is that an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain triggers depressive symptoms (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine).

The traditional approach to treating depression is to balance certain neurotransmitters with drugs.  If you are on medications for depression and you have found success in their ability to help you find balance and happiness in your life then that solution means success for you.  Drugs have their place and have saved lives and may be the best and only solution for some people.  However, so many of them fail and target symptoms but not the root cause of the problem.  They may help in the short term, however to really solve the problem you need to approach the whole dilemma from a holistic point of view.   Some essential key ingredients to pay attention to immediately are healthy food (in particular adequate protein), hydration, exercise, positivity, and sunlight all play a role in mood and energy levels.   Eliminating chemicals and additives in water and food can immediately begin a shift toward brain health and alleviate depression in many people.   Anyone who is on medications for depression should be informed by their doctors that healthy food and water, in particular toxic chemical free food and water are essential for success.

A helpful book is written by Alex Korb PhD, titled ‘The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time.’  It is written in a style that demystifies the intricate brain processes that cause depression and offers practical and effective approaches to feeling better.

Prioritizing how you spend your time each day and determining for you what really matters is extremely helpful.  It is highly probable that in retrospect you are going to regret how much time you spent on social media.  Too often social media reinforces what isn’t working in your life by showing you falsely how great everyone else’s life is.  Real connection and real life experiences are absolutely essential to crawl out of that place inside you that is making you sad or feeling unworthy.  There is much yet to learn of the potential repercussions of such a high level of exposure to technology.  Society always learns these lessons too late for many.  Wherever you find yourself with people, look up and you will see how many are just like you, potentially depressed looking down at their phones.  Of course not everyone who is looking at their phones is depressed; however they are still not looking up at the world they are walking through and the people they are with or passing by.

Don’t forget: bad things happen to everyone in varying degrees; the most important awareness you must have is that your reaction to it will dictate how severe the impact is on your life.  Natural reactions happen within all of us to bad situations.  Pay attention to your reactions.  If you react badly, see it for what it is and move on, choosing to not let the impact linger. Your reactions daily or weekly or yearly accumulate and can be part of the root of depressive thoughts or habits.

There is a strong link between depression and diet, hydration and attitude.  Depression can be associated with emotions, a physical challenge, a medical crisis and a wide range of events in your life.  Always assess any nutritional deficiencies and nurture yourself with good food, good water and exercise.  Some scientists think that depression may be a side effect of inflammation.  By treating the inflammatory symptoms of depression — rather than the neurological ones — researchers and doctors are opening up an exciting new dimension in the fight against what has become a global epidemic.  This realization has led to new treatments for depression. Clinical trials have found that adding anti-inflammatory medicines to antidepressants not only improves symptoms, it also increases the proportion of people who respond to treatment.  There is also evidence that Omega 3 and curcumin, an extract of the spice turmeric are effective in alleviating inflammation and have a positive effect on depressive symptoms.

Too often we blame our relationships for our depression.  Relationships are an extension of our happiness but not the basis of it, so focus on strengthening the relationship you have with yourself and all of the others will follow accordingly.

Getting to know yourself and understanding your own feelings and reactions to the people around you can be your greatest tool to alleviate stress before it manifests as depression.  Reaching out to ask for help if necessary and finding someone to discuss openly your concerns is a critical step toward finding your way to inner calm.

If a person is depressed, it is essential for that person to understand their society and how they fit or don’t fit within it.  We are now further away from global peace than at any time in the past fifty years creating what is termed a global ‘peace inequality’ gap.  If there is no peace how can there be contentment?

Youth need a purpose, activities and exercise that challenge their boredom and apathy.  Nature is our greatest cure for so many troubles of the mind today.  What else could we expect from Youth but apathy and levels of obvious and covert depression when around the world they have been handed a life full of political, financial and career deficits?  Aboriginals around the globe have a long history of initiation into adulthood through nature.   Since time immemorial, aboriginals have had an intricate, respectful, spiritually, and physically-dependent tie to the land. The relationship is one of stewardship and gratitude, not ownership.  It is their responsibility for the land (and sea) and all of the creatures that inhabit the land with them, that is at the core of their existence.  Their stewardship is intrinsically tied to the spirits of all aspects of the earth and traditional knowledge, languages, cultural practices and oral traditions built up over millennia.  They are all connected to the land. It only makes sense that when that connection was severed, their spiritual well-being and their very lives can be at stake, as with all peoples.

Determine what happiness is for you.  After all, happiness is a combination of how satisfied you are with your life and how good you feel on a day-to-day basis.   Your life changes, and your mood fluctuates, but your general happiness can be a stable foundation.  Remember that with considerable practice you have the ability to control how you feel.  With consistent practice and intent, you can form life-long habits for a more satisfying and fulfilling life.

Keep in mind the essential role of nutrition, exercise, good water and sleep play in your state of mind. Reaching out to others, kindness, gratitude and helping someone else are great ways to boost our own mental well being. You’ve got this!