In March 2017 the World Health Organization stated that depression is now the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide, affecting an estimated 322 million people worldwide, including more than 16 million Americans. The financial impact of depression is also severe. WHO estimates the global economic loss by households, employers and governments is at least $1 trillion annually!
By Evie Breedlove-Mangapora, ARNP & Deborah J. Post, ARNP
A New York Times article in 2013 quoted the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health as stating that 11 percent of Americans over the age of 12 are on antidepressant drugs. Among women in their 40 and 50s, 1 in 4 is on antidepressants.
Depression is also strongly linked to an increased risk for substance abuse, diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and suicide and autoimmune diseases. In high-income countries such as the U.S., an estimated 50 percent of depressed individuals do not get treatment. In low-income countries, that ratio is closer to 80 or 90 percent.
An estimated 6 million seniors in the U.S. also struggle with depression, yet only 10 percent receive treatment. Partially this is due to lack of funding. However, on average, governments spend only 3 percent of their health budget on mental health programs. WHO director-general said in a speech:
“These new figures are a wake-up call for all countries to re-think their approaches to mental health and to treat it with the urgency it deserves … For someone living with depression, talking to a person they trust is often the first step towards treatment and recovery.”
In this country we place the blame on the effects of social isolation, economic pressures, opioid addiction and limited access to mental health care. All are true but that doesn’t help the individual help themselves and its only part of the picture. Amongst young teens suicide had climbed exponentially, and often antidepressants have likely played a role. Many antidepressants are known to increase the risk of suicide in children, teens and young adults yet despite such warnings, these drugs are still often prescribed for younger people.
US NEWS: MIAMI (AP) March 26, 2017— A month before a South Florida foster child live-streamed her suicide on Facebook Live, a doctor doubled her dosage of an antidepressant. The Miami Herald reported Sunday that Zoloft was the antidepressant prescribed to 14-year-old. Zoloft has a “black box” critical warning that it increases the risk of suicide in children.
So how do we shift the focus away from drugs as the first line of defense when people report feeling depressed, anxious, and overwhelmed. We need preventative strategies to put in place for ourselves and family that will prevent these problems whenever possible.
Emotional stressors are many but our bodies ability to handle them without becoming overwhelmed starts with: YOUR GUT!
Your brain chemistry, called Neurotransmitters, start life from the food you eat, vitamins and nutrients you absorb and convert to these chemicals. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers used by the nervous system to relay information from one nerve to another. Optimal neurotransmitter balance is required to maintain proper health. Imbalances can cause the brain and the body to be over- or under-stimulated, producing neurological or psychological symptoms.
Genetics, environment, chemicals and nutritional deficiencies are other factors can impact neurotransmitter production. Once out of balance, the nervous system begins to compensate – which, in time, can lead to ADD, anxiety, insomnia, depression, obsessive thoughts and other neuropsychiatric problems.
It is possible for individuals to present with similar symptoms yet have unique underlying imbalances. Testing helps clarify these root issues. Yet most doctors don’t know that these chemicals in the brain can be tested and adapted with diet and supplementation that is all non-prescriptive.
Our brain has a series of neurotransmitters that are like accelerators or brakes and many people have “burnt” out their brakes and have their accelerators “pushed to the floor”.
Common neurotransmitter-related causes of health issues often involve the following scenarios:
Anxiety & Depression
Neurotransmitter imbalances are often associated with anxiety and depression, specifically Glutamate (panic attacks), PEA, Histamine, Serotonin, as well as Epinephrine & Norepinephrine.
Chronic Fatigue
An imbalance between excitatory (accelerator) and inhibitory( brakes) neurotransmitters can lead to persistent fatigue.
Impulsivity
GABA, Dopamine and Serotonin are three chemical messengers commonly linked to disorders like ADD, ADHD & OCD.
Insomnia
Imbalances in Glutamate, Histamine, Dopamine, GABA and Serotonin are often linked to sleep disturbances and insomnia.
PMS or PMDD
Imbalances in Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine and GABA are often involved in cases of PMDD (pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder) and severe PMS.
Knowing the levels of these chemical messengers in our brain and then balancing them with help from a functional practitioner can help restore a sense of calm and focus. But there are other very important things that can be helpful right off the bat to restore balance.
Avoiding processed foods, sugar (particularly fructose) and grains like rice/wheat/corn, stopping dairy, artificial sweeteners is particularly important as it will help normalize your insulin and leptin levels, support the gut/brain connection and reduce the toxin load which is an important contributing factor to depression.
Certain nutrients, like B vitamins, when they are low, are also known to cause symptoms of depression, and specific herbs and nutritional supplements may also help counteract symptoms. Unfortunately, the importance of additional strategies like optimizing your vitamin D, getting rid of constipation, and encouraging exercise for the maintenance of mental and emotional stability is still frequently never discussed. Also to quote a recent article by Dr Joseph Mercola.
“To suggest that depression is rooted in nutrient deficiencies and other lifestyle related factors does not detract from the fact that it’s a serious problem that needs to be addressed with compassion and non-judgment as well. It simply shifts the conversation about what might be the most appropriate answers and remedies”.
That being said, if you are feeling desperate or have any thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a toll-free number, at 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255), or call 911, or simply go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
We are a functional medical practice that looks to find the reason WHY problems have arisen and support solutions that you may not have known you have. To help you take control yourself, a good book on a functional approach to depression is “A Mind of Your Own, The Truth About Depression”, Dr Kelly Brogan available at a book store near you.
Attend one of our life changing presentations:
THURSDAY, June 1st, 2017 at 6:30.
The Gut, the Master Battery
With Deborah J Post, ARNP
What runs the body is often thought of as your brain but 90 % of signals go from your gut to your brain begging the question “are you what you eat?”
The answer is YES and today the level of gastrointestinal dysfunction is rampant in the USA. Most people don’t really know how their gut works, and how to fix it when gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, weight gain, fatigue, brain fog is happening.
Join us for an informative evening, June 1st Thurday at 6PM, learning about your gut and how to fix it, and for the healthfully indulgent side to the gathering, Chef Kristina San Filippo, of Purple Spoon in Bonita Springs, will present a live cooking demo for a 3-course seasonally focused organic dinner paired with wines. The menu will be the chef’s whimsical creations from what is the most stellar ingredients available that day.
**This meal will be Diary-Free & Gluten-Free.
The per guest seat of $68 includes the 3-course dinner, wines paired with each course, service and a fabulous evening with other members of the community who enjoy stellar food and an exceptional culinary experience and education!
Seats for this dinner are by reservation only call for the menu or go online to http://www.chefkristina.com/purplespoon/ Dinner begins promptly at 6pm.
For reservations please email your requests to purplespoonculinary@yahoo.com or call us directly to 239-908-3842
Evie Breedlove-Mangapora, ARNP
Inner Essence Health, LLC
(239) 777-4647
inneressencehealth.com
Deborah J. Post, ARNP
Wellbridges, Inc.,
(239) 481-5600
Debpost.com