Alternative Treatments For Depression

Major Depression Disorder is the leading mental disorder for men and women between the ages of 15-44. About 14.8 million Americans suffer from depression with the majority of them are only diagnosed at a median age of 32 years old. Some might call this 'Mid-Life Crisis' but the higher percentage of sufferers are women, though men have the higher rate of committing suicide.

Despite the best intentions of pharmaceutical companies, most sufferers are prescribed Wellbutrin, which does little to help alleviate problems. While I always recommend seeing a doctor or psychiatrist, ask about other treatments that are known to work.

While only a professional show diagnose a mental illness these are the most common sign of depression to look out for;

"Depressed people tend to demonstrate an inability to experience pleasure in activities that formerly were enjoyed, ruminate over, thoughts and feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt or regret, helplessness, hopelessness, and self hatred, poor concentration and memory, withdrawal from social situations and activities, reduced sex drive, thoughts of death or suicide, insomnia is common: in some situations a person wakes very early and is unable to get back to sleep, appetite decrease, weight loss or increased appetite and weight gain, fatigue, headaches, or digestive problems, signs of agitation or being lethargic, Older persons may have cognitive symptoms of recent onset, such as forgetfulness, and a more noticeable slowing of movements." - Wikipedia

There is an ongoing debate as to what truly causes depression. Some claim that it is caused by a reduced production of serotonin in the body's nervous system. Others blame poor diet and lack of exercise while other believe environmental influence and genetics is the cause. 

Personally I believe that it could and probably is all of the above. The best way to alleviate depression is to talk to a physician who can guide you through the various options and pick a course that best works for you.

Here are some alternative options to treating depression. 

Perhaps my favourite non-medicinal drug is Niacin. Otherwise known as vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid, it should be taken in high doses (500 - 1000 mg/day) to alleviate symptoms of depression. It is inexpensive and easy to find at any drug store without a prescription.

Niacin expands blood vessels to promote easy blood flow throughout the body. This essentially flushes the skin giving you a very red appearance. The redness and itchiness that comes with taking niacin is normal and goes away after about 30 minutes. Because more blood it pumping through the body you will feel more energized. It is good to remember that niacin is a naturally occurring vitamin and is not habit forming in any way.

More info on the benefits and recommended doses of Niacin.

In addition to niacin, you should also consider the benefits of vitamin B12 taken with folic acid. The recommended dose is 800 µg of folic acid with 1 mg of B12

The problem with B-vitamins that I should mention is that they cannot be absorbed into our bodies, yet they are essential for our survival. B-vitamins therefore can only be absorbed when food is present. People who have alternative diets like vegetarians will lack in these essential nutrients. B-vitamins are also dissolved or blocked by caffeine, so even if you are eating properly, excessive cups of coffee will block their presence.

Read more about the use and study of B12 & Folic Acid.

It might seem that I am going on with the vitamins but if you think about it evolution has given us everything we need to survive healthy functioning lives. The problem comes when we choose these new age or poor diets that contradict our body function needs.

Apart from the very important B-vitamins other vitamins and minerals have been known to cause depression in association with severe deficiency.

I could list them all but this list could go on forever. Instead, check out Vitamins and Depression at About.com.

Exercise will do the same thing niacin does by increasing blood flow and get you feeling energized. Exercise will also ensure you are tired at night, promoting a good night’s sleep.

This might seem like a strange one but it has been proven that a handful of cashews is equivalent to taking a dose of Prozac.