The Treatment of Depression
When it comes to mental illness, people are often reluctant to consult a physician or health professional, yet the treatment of depression as soon as it is diagnosed is crucial if any relief is to be had. One problem is that if the treatment of depression is not administered correctly, then the problem can be made worse. Depression treatment should address all the symptoms that are displayed. Symptoms of depression include suicidal tendencies, long black moods of sadness, and a total lack of self confidence. Depression treatment is most difficult when the patient and the patientâs family are not co-operative.
The treatment of depression must take into account the main cause of depression, which is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Depression treatment usually targets this imbalance and tries to correct it. However, doctors realize that depression treatment can often have side effects as the medication is strong. A study in Canada found that the bones of patients undergoing depression treatment were less dense than others, leading to brittle bones.
Natural foods in the Treatment of Depression
Cardamom and asparagus are two natural foods that are used in depression treatment. Other foods known to be beneficial in the treatment of depression include lemon balm, cashew nut and rose petals. It is also recommended that drinking a lot of water - at least eight glasses a day - and cutting down on (or preferably cutting out) red meats can support the treatment of depression. âCooling foods,â such as many citrus fruits and most vegetables, are also thought to be useful in the treatment of depression because they bring down acidity levels in the body and so keep the mind calm.
Supplements and Vitamins for the Treatment of Depression
Vitamin B has been shown in trials to be very beneficial in the treatment of depression. It tends to increase serotonin, a hormone known to improve mood, levels in the brain. Omega 3 is also very beneficial in depression treatment as it keeps the spirits high. It must be remembered that certain situations can hinder the effective absorption of vitamins and minerals into the body; for example, vitamin absorption decreases with age. Always consult your physician or health professional for tips on optimizing supplement absorption in the treatment of depression.
Holistic Treatment for Depression
Depression treatment should also include breathing exercises, workouts and relaxation exercises. Deep breathing has proved to be useful, as has meditation. Other alternative treatments include aromatherapy, massages, reflexology and acupuncture. Depression treatment has to take a holistic view so that all the visible symptoms of can be addressed.
Therefore a combination of conventional medicine, alternative treatment, and good nutrition are recommended for the effective treatment of depression.
November 19th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
What is a good book to read to understand the dynamics/treatment of depression?
I have suffered with mild depression most of my life. My family has a history of addiction and depression, so I believe mine is probably clinical as well as behavioral. I've been taking Prozac for almost 10 years. My husband and I want to learn as much as we can about this so we can minimize its negative effects.
If you are a person who is licensed in this field, can you recommend a few good books on this topic? Is Prozac the best treatment? How does low cholesterol and low seratonin interact with this? Yes, I'm already in therapy.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I highly reccomend the profound book on Healing by Henry Wright. Through reading this book, I became healed of this disorder, and now I try to reccomend this book to all who have been diagnosed with this disorder.
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November 19th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
'Feeling Good' by Dr David Burns.
Make sure you get the revised/updated version; it says it on the front cover. At the back is a section on all the different medications.
I'm not licensed in this field, as you ask for in your question, but I would recommend this book as it's written by an expert in the treatment of depression.
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November 19th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
I have suffered from depression since a young teen.
To understand my illness i read the book, Malignant Sadness -sorry cant remember the author!
It really help me understand the reasons for depression, all the treatments and side effects. It gives you trade names of medication as well as the medical names.
I was prescribed Prozac at 15 yrs old! and absolutely hated it. I refuse to take it now, the side effects are awful and i became addicted to it.
I prefer natural remedies now inc. St Johns Wort (seek medical advice before using this remedy)
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