healing ways
Beat the Blues Naturally Drug-Free Ways to Treat Depression
rh2010/AdobeStock.com
by Julie Peterson
L
ack of interest, low energy, changes in weight, difficulty concentrating and feelings of worthlessness are some of the symptoms that can occur in varying degrees with depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 17.3 million adults in the U.S. experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2017. With the pandemic, the rate tripled, with 27.8 percent of adults reporting symptoms, according to a September 2020 study published in JAMA Network Open. Mainstream medical doctors typically prescribe antidepressant drugs, but the plethora of adverse effects such as anxiety, digestive disturbances, headaches, weight gain and sexual dysfunction can cause additional woes. In addition, efficacy is in question. In The Emperor’s New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth, Irving Kirsch, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the UK University of 32
Collier/Lee Counties
swfl.NaturalAwakenings.com
Hull, declares, “The belief that antidepressants can cure depression chemically is simply wrong.” Antidepressants may merely mask symptoms. “Covering over symptoms is a missed opportunity to resolve the root cause of the problem,” says Manhattan-based holistic psychiatrist Kelly Brogan, author of A Mind of Your Own and co-editor of the textbook Integrative Therapies for Depression. Further, because many depressed people do not receive treatment due to financial, cultural or personal reasons, effective alternative therapies are necessary for improving public health.
Nature’s Medicine
Before starting any treatment, it’s important to verify that depression exists and rule out potential conditions like nutri-
