Alternative Treatments for Depression

“A lot of what passes for depression these days is nothing more than a body saying that it needs work.” Such are the words of Australian writer, teacher, and historian Geoffrey Blainey. The United States is currently facing a huge problem in the area of pharmaceutical care. Many illnesses that could be easily treated through simple healthy alterations in people’s lives are instead being given the “quick fix” with prescription drugs. The issue is that often times the “quick fix” is not quick, and certainly not a fix. Antidepressants can actually do more harm than good when not prescribed correctly or when prescribed as a quick fix before looking into alternative treatments.

According to the Depression Learning Path, an online recovery program, “Major depression is the No. 1 psychological disorder in the western world. It is growing in all age groups, in virtually every community, and the growth is seen most in the young, especially teens. At the rate of increase, it will be the 2nd most disabling condition in the world by 2020, behind heart disease.” Depression is becoming more and more common. Getting to the root of the problem will lead to the best treatment option for the patient.

The “Healthyplace.com Depression Community” reiterates that antidepressants cannot be looked at as the quick fix when they state that “While antidepressant drugs help people feel better, they cannot solve problems in people’s lives. Some mental health professionals worry that people who could benefit from psychotherapy rely instead on antidepressant drugs for a “quick fix.” Others point out that the drugs work gradually and do not produce instant happiness.” Sufferers of depression need to realize the fact that although antidepressants can be a huge help for depression, they cannot solve al problems. Everybody, regardless of whether or not they have depression, experiences hard times. Antidepressants will not diminish all sadness because feeling sad from time to time is a completely normal and healthy emotion.

Lesley Hazleton, author of the book The Right To Feel Bad: Coming To Terms With Normal Depression, expounds on this principle when she states that “ Nearly everyone gets depressed. That basic feeling of emptiness, exhaustion, and meaninglessness is universal, crossing all borders of age, sex, and nationality.” Feeling sad from time to time is normal. When sadness persists, however, it is important to act quickly and seek medical attention because the longer depression goes untreated, the more difficult it will be to get control of.

According to Doctors Allen J. Dietrich, Wayne Katon, and Thomas L. Schwenk, professor of community and family medicine at Dartmouth, professor and vice-chair in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and professor and chair in the Department of Family Medicine, respectively, “Depressive disorders are more common in primary care than any other condition except hypertension.” With such a common illness, it is detrimental to have a safe and effective cure.

“Depression Community” again mentions that antidepressants are one solution. They explain that “Antidepressant drugs are not happy pills, and they are not a panacea. They are prescription-only drugs that come with risks as well as benefits, and should only ever be taken under a doctor’s supervision. They are, however, one depression treatment option. Taking medications for depression is not a sign of personal weakness – and there is good evidence that they do help.” Antidepressants are an effective method to treating depression and have helped many people who suffer with it. As stated earlier, it is important to acknowledge that, although effective, they cannot solve all problems in life.

Being the most commonly diagnosed mental illness, depression is also one of the most disabling. Sufferers of depression experience many different kinds of pain. Aches and pains, social anxiety disorder, panic attacks, fatigue, and lack of motivation and emotion are also associated with depression, proving that sufferers are not only affected mentally but in many different areas.

In some instances, antidepressants have kept sufferers on the path of depression rather then guiding them through it. In many cases, the fault lies with the doctor. When doctors are not careful, they tend to prescribe medications for “illnesses” that have simple cures. Other times, doctors will mis-diagnose patients and give them the wrong medication. If they are not careful, doctors can worsen mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Because the symptoms of some mental illnesses can be similar, it is of the utmost importance that doctors are specific and use great care when diagnosing illnesses. For example, what may appear as depression could actually be anxiety, and if that patient is given an antidepressant such as Prozac, one of the side effects being anxiety, conditions can be made much worse. Not only is this a problem because of the wrong medication, but it also plays a role when finding the correct prescription. Unfortunately, if a medication is not working, the patient can’t just go back the next day and try a new one. Instead, the medication must be given at least four weeks, sometimes longer, to kick in. If the medication is not effective, there is the option of going off of it which takes another four weeks for it to slowly leave the system, trying a new medication which requires going off the first one then waiting another four weeks for the new one to kick in, or adjusting the dosage with will also take time to work. When patients are misdiagnosed, waiting and experimenting through the hundreds or different options of drugs and dosages can be frustrating, tedious, and painful.

When one feels like they may be experiencing depressive symptoms, it is important to take action soon. If ignored, the symptoms can worsen and the longer they are left alone the more difficult depression is to treat. Although feelings of depression are often those of desperation, hopelessness, and loneliness, many times the patient has more control than they feel they do.

Although studies have proven antidepressants to be an effective treatment for depression, alternative treatments can be safer because they promote a healthier lifestyle, they cannot worsen depression or cause dependency, and they can help the patient directly deal with their emotions.

Antidepressants have saved lives and improved the quality of many people’s lives that have suffered from depression. While there are people who believe that depression can be cured simply by forming healthy habits and having a positive attitude, this is simply not the case, because “Unlike transient sadness, or “the blues,” clinical depression causes significant distress and interferes with a person’s ability to perform routine daily functions” (Dietrich, Katon, Schwenk). Patients who are diagnosed with depression cannot always help how they feel. Sometimes, no matter how hard they try, they cannot simply make the feelings of depression disappear, and in some cases no amount of healthy eating, exercising, or sleeping enough will cure it.

“Healthyplace.com The Depression Community” is a website devoted to providing recent and reliable information on all antidepressants and depression. They quote psychiatrist and medical doctor Petros Markou when they state that “For adults with severe depression…there is strong evidence that antidepressants are more effective than any other treatment.” Sometimes antidepressants are the only cure for depression. Antidepressants are able to control parts of the brain that human beings do not have control over. In many cases this has saved lives. Leonie Manns, a sufferer of depression who is also quoted on Healthyplace.com, describes the feelings that many sufferers of depression experience. Although it’s important to form healthy habits in one’s lifestyle to see if that alleviates depression before rushing to the pharmacy, sometimes feelings of depression can be so strong that they inhibit the sufferer from doing so. Manns describes this difficult cycle and how antidepressants helped her escape. She asks,

How do I get better? Well, certainly, for me in recent years it has been through anti-depressant drug therapy – mainly in the beginning, because I think it’s very hard to get into all that positive thinking and raise your self esteem and all those things that you’re supposed to do, if your mood is so low you can’t even think at all. So to take anti-depressants, and most of them are very good, they do help me to shift the mood and then work on other therapies, and work with other people that know how I feel, and all of those things that will, I know, in the end make me feel better and put that Black Dog at bay.

Leonie Manns describes a very important and effective aspect of antidepressants. When one is experiencing depressive symptoms such as lack of motivation, tiredness, change in appetite, etc, it can be very difficult to take care of oneself. A lack of motivation causes the patient to lose sight of important things in life and to become careless. Increased tiredness and a change in appetite combined make it really hard to maintain proper nutrition and commit to exercise. Even though the patient most likely knows these things will help, it can become too much of a burden to make oneself follow through because of the “fog” of depression. Elizabeth Wurtzel also quotes this principle when she says “A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. Bit depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it’s impossible to ever see the end. The fog is like a cage without a key.” This is where antidepressants are especially effective. They can help “lift the fog” and unlock the “cage” of depression so that the sufferer can see more clearly and get the help they need to take control of their lives weather by developing healthy habits, continuing the use of antidepressants, seeking counseling or therapy, or a combination of treatments. Antidepressants can help sufferers by giving them the initial change that they need in order to simply keep moving forward.

Drs. Dietrich, Katon, and Schwenk again state that “Some patients may prefer to start with counseling because of their concerns about psychotropic drugs. However, most experts believe that severe depression requires pharmacotherapy and should not be treated with psychotherapy/counseling alone.” As previously mentioned, patients who are suffering from depression cannot rely solely on nutrition, exercise, or psychotherapy t cure depression for them. Although these things are helpful, they cannot substitute the work and relief that antidepressants can provide. When prescribed correctly, antidepressants can and have saved lives.

While antidepressants have save lives, there is no doubt that they have also taken them.

Ray Moynihan and Alan Cassels, writers of the book Selling Sickness: How The World’s Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Are Turning Us All Into Patients, are experts on medicine. Moynihan, a visiting contributor of the British Medical Journal and the New England Journal of Medicine and Cassels, a pharmaceutical policy researcher at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, agree that medications are being over prescribed when they state that by

Using their dominating influence in the world of medical science, drug companies are systematically working to widen the very boundaries that define illness…Mild problems are redefined as serious illness and common complaints are labeled as medical conditions requiring drug treatments. Runny noses are now allergic rhinitis, PMS has become a psychiatric disorder, and hyperactive children have ADD.

Doctors are supposed to be trained to carefully diagnose patients and give them expert advice. With the current increase in the use of prescribed drugs, is it possible that pharmacies are gaining the upper hand in the relationship between patients, doctors, and treatments? Simple changes can make a big difference in the way the patient feels. The change can be great enough to eliminate the need for antidepressants or perhaps they won’t make a significant change. Either way, it is important for doctors to not over prescribe medications, because even if the change is small, it could mean the difference between a higher and lower dose of medication, which greatly impacts the way a patient will feel.

Drs. Dietrich, Katon, and Schwenk agree that it is important for patients to actively try to promote changes in their health. They state that

…with treatment of most conditions, therapy for depressed patients of patients with comorbid depression and anxiety is more likely to succeed it patients see themselves as active participants in the management of their condition, rather than as passive recipients of care…Involving patients in their care can reduce misunderstandings, prevent relapses and treatment discontinuation, and enhance adherence to treatment.

When patients take responsibility for their own health and try to initiate change before running to the pharmacy at the first sign of illness, mental or otherwise, many times they can eliminate the need for prescription drugs. The results of actively pursuing happiness rather than passively reveling in sadness and waiting for an antidepressant to kick in, especially with so many different brands and dosage combinations, can mean the difference between enjoying life and feeling miserable. If anything, building and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will strengthen you physically, which, even if sometimes it can’t entirely solve depression, can only help.

The level of effectiveness rises when, rather than combating a mental disorder with mental medication alone, one fights mental weaknesses by strengthening physical aspects. The body is so connected mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, etc, that if one part of the “web” is malfunctioning, all parts will somehow be affected. Likewise, when one focuses on strengthening one part of the web, like the physical, other aspects, like the mental, can be positively affected. Learning how to properly identify and take care of one’s own health problems is vastly important. With depression it can be done in a variety of ways. Diet and exercise, therapy, and developing hobbies are just a few ways of battling depressive symptoms.

According to Larry Christensen, PhD and chairman of the department of psychology at the University of South Alabama, consuming too much sugar can actually cause depression in some people. He states that,

For some people, taking sugar out of the diet and adding it back in can turn their depression off and on like a faucet. It can take a week or two weeks to have an effect, but most people will feel better in a week. Sugar boosts energy initially, but then it has the paradoxical effect of inducing fatigue. And if an individual is constantly fatigued, things are hard to do, and it’s easy to become very pessimistic.

The effects of altering even one simple thing in one’s diet can set off amazing benefits. Dr. Christensen also found that when he eliminated sugar from his depressed patients, 25% of them found that they felt noticeably better. While eliminating sugar has proven to be an effective way to eliminate depressive symptoms, it is not the only way. There are many other way that, through nutrition and diet, depression can be helped.

According to WebMD, an online collaboration of nutrition, fitness, and disease prevention and information, it important to properly plan meals. They state that “Studies show that eating a morning meal improves mood and memory and increases energy. Also, people who regularly eat breakfast are less likely to become obese.” While what people eat is important, the amount of food they consume and when they eat is also important. Eating to the point of extreme fullness can overwork the digestive system, using up a lot of energy and causing fatigue. When one keeps track of what they eat and when, a proper balance of food intake and nutrition can be established thus ensuring that the body is kept replenished with vitamins and fueled with energy.

Robert Thayer, PhD and professor of psychology at California State University believes that “people are trying to self-regulate with food” when it would be more effective to do something productive, like exercise. He also explains, as quoted through WebMD, that “people tend to crave sugary, fatty foods when they are anxious but also low in energy…Though a sweet snack may temporarily revive you, Thayer’s research has shown that a brief bout of moderate exercise is a much more effective and longer-lasing solution.” As Thayer stated, exercise is an effective and long lasting benefit, physically and mentally. In addition to relieving stress, exercising does a great deal of good for the heart, blood flow, muscle and bone strength, and flexibility. Overall, exercising is a great way to stay in shape and improve one’s general health and well being.

According to the International Wellness Directory, “Serotonin is considered a “brain” chemical. Serotonin, whether created in the gut or in the brain, begins on the end of your fork.” Chemicals that elevate or lower mood are often found in many of the foods that people eat. When healthy food is a priority in one’s diet, these mood-enhancing chemicals will be released into the body, thus helping symptoms and feelings of depression.

Both nutrition and exercise are closely linked and, when both are put to proper use, can improve mood significantly.

WebMD states that “stretching exercises, yoga, or meditation…will help relieve the muscle tension associated with the tense-tired state [of depression.]” Exercising increases blood flow and strengthens muscles, which can both help not only physically but also mentally.

According to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of Dike University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina,

Aerobic exercise has been prescribed for the treatment of a wide range of medical disorders…exercise may have a number of psychological benefits, and it has been suggested as a potential treatment for a variety of psychiatric conditions, especially depression…studies have shown an inverse relation between physical activity and mental health. It has been shown…that individuals who had been physically active in the past but who became inactive were 1.5 times more likely to become depressed than those who consistently maintained a high level of physical activity.

As their studies show, exercise can be extremely beneficial when dealing with psychiatric illnesses like depression. Additionally, exercise reduces stress, which is also a large contributing factor of depression and anxiety. Not only has exercise proven to have healing properties, but it’s also more effective to use it as a healthy and natural regimen to dealing with depression rather than solely relying on medication. While medication can help, exercising releases endorphins naturally, which will help lift moods. All in all, healthier bodies lead to healthier minds.

Studies have shown that the use of antidepressants adds a risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in those who use them.

The doctors and authors of Diagnosis and Management of Depression believe that “Antidepressants can sometimes increase a patient’s level of energy and activity before improving mood, and can thus contribute to a suicide attempt.” Studies have shown that often times, especially in young children and teenagers, the use of antidepressants can lead to an increase of suicidal thinking and self-harm. Antidepressants are being over prescribed when mild to moderate depression can be dealt with naturally. If alternative methods to treating depression were first sought after, chances are the risk of suicide and worsening conditions would be significantly downsized.

According to medical Doctor Gregory E. Simon et al. of the American Journal of Psychiatry, “…the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned physicians and patients regarding increased risk of suicide with 10 newer antidepressant drugs. Available data leaves considerable uncertainty regarding actual risk of suicide attempt and death by suicide during antidepressant treatment.” Is it worth trying a medication that is supposed to make one’s life better if there is such a great risk of it ruining it? Although antidepressants have helped many, often times the consequences of taking them are not worth the risk.

Not only have studies proven antidepressants to cause a risk of suicidal behavior, but also raise the risk for self-harm, and even worsen symptoms of depression.

In addition to the promotion of healthy habits and changes in one’s life, alternative treatments to depression can also be safer because the risk of patients having a negative reaction to, and becoming dependant on, antidepressants is eliminated.

Lesley Hazleton states that “No magic pill will do the work for us. The new antidepressant drugs, though effective in severe depression, are of questionable use in normal depression. And though other drugs can be used to escape awareness, they also limit us as human beings.” As Hazleton says, it is a common problem for patients with depression to wait on the antidepressant to work, expecting it to do all the work with no added effort on their part. Not only is this a false belief, but it also adds to the patient’s mentality that they have no control over their depression and that their only hope lies in the antidepressant.

Part of the issue of patients depending on antidepressants lies within the media and the way they portray antidepressants.

According to Jean M. Grow, Jin Seong Park, and Xiaoqi Han of the Journal of Communication Inquiry, “…pharmaceutical companies strategically frame depression within the hotly contested terrain of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising…DTC advertising of antidepressants…privileges benefits over risks, fails to adequately educate consumers, and frames depression as a female condition.” Advertisements portray antidepressants to be a fast working miracle pill that can quickly transform one’s life from black and white to color. This can lead patients to repeatedly go off medications and try new ones, searching for the “magic pill” when really there are many other treatment options they can pursue that could be more effective and worthwhile.

Betsy Querna, reporter for the U.S. News, cautions that “If you see a medication advertised…that you think might help you, talk to your doctor about it – but be aware that your query might, in some cases, influence your doctor’s thinking about whether to prescribe a drub…just because it’s advertised as effective for a certain condition, that doesn’t mean it’s the best medication for you…” As mentioned by Querna, just because an antidepressant is advertised in a positive manner does not mean that it will be effective. One of the issues of ads for antidepressants is that they are very general. Through the use of pictures, color, music, and narration, they portray antidepressants to turn the sufferer’s life from night to day when this is rarely the case. While antidepressants can make a big difference in many cases, most commonly it takes a lot of time, patience, and effort on the patient’s part. Additionally, the advertisements use the majority of the ad to promote the antidepressant and a very fast and rushed description of side effects, or negative aspects. Likewise, in printed ads, the side effects are printed on the back of the ad in small print. If advertisements were more clear and specific, it would be much easier for patients to make a healthy decision based on what treatment is right for them. In effect, less people would turn to antidepressants for a cure-all and they would not be so over prescribed.

As mentioned earlier, exercise and proper nutrition can do a great deal in helping with depression. Although the two are a wonderful alternative, they are not the only alternative. Therapy, behavior modification, and cognitive thinking are also excellent solutions to dealing with depression, and when teamed up with exercise and nutrition, can add to one’s overall health that antidepressants cannot.

Robert DeRubeis, professor and chair of Penn’s Department of Psychology, quoted by Medical News Today, states that “Cognitive therapy might have more lasting effects because it equips patients with the tools they need to learn how to manage their problems and emotions…Pharmaceuticals, while effective, offer no long term cure for the symptoms of depression…cognitive therapy succeeds because it teaches the skills that help people cope.” While antidepressants can help, therapy can be even more beneficial. Not only will it help relieve symptoms of depression, but also it teaches the sufferer to have more control over their emotions. Learning coping skills suck as developing better stress management, positive thinking, and other ways to cope with depression is beneficial because a prescription is not needed. Such skills can be used at any time and any place and are a strong method of combating depression.

The dictionary’s definition for psychotherapy is “The treatment of mental and emotional disorders through the use of psychological techniques designed to encourage communication of conflicts and insight into problems, with the goal being relief of symptoms, changes in behavior leading to improved social and vocational functioning, and personality growth.” Not only can therapy help depression, but it can also be a more effective treatment than antidepressants because the patient has far more control over their illness. Additionally, skills that the patient learns in therapy can be longer lasting because they can be put to use at any time with no cost, unlike prescription drugs. Therapeutic skills not only help relieve depressive symptoms, but also encourage growth of character and personality, and confidence. Therapy helps the patient understand themselves better, enabling them to attack their depression in a way that best works for them and their own individual needs. Unlike antidepressants, therapy can be tailored to fit an individuals strengths and weaknesses, providing faster and better results.

According to Dr. Jay M. Pomerantz of Medscape Today, “…certain kinds of focused psychotherapy provide equivalent or better treatment results at a lower cost than maintenance medication.” Many times the use of antidepressants can be high maintenance with the cost of the drugs, switching medications, adjusting dosages, etc. In some cases, people are not response to antidepressants. This can result in a lot of time and money put into different medications and different dosages of medication in the search for the correct prescription. As Dr. Pomerantz stated, the process can be very high maintenance. Therapy, oh the other hand, is also proven to be an effective cure for depression. When a patient sees a therapist or is involved in group therapy, special attention can be given to the patient to focus on and solve their specific and individual needs. While antidepressants are more general, therapy is very specific and can be effective for anyone.

As depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness, it is imperative that the most beneficial, healthy, and safe treatments are used. While antidepressants can be very effective, even life changing, there is no doubt that they are over prescribed. The over prescription of antidepressants is causing a major health concern in out society. Not only can it do more manage than good, but it can also cause dependency issues, worsen depression, and lead to a rise in the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior. With so many safe and effective alternative treatments, lives can be drastically improved. Alternative methods of treating depression can lead to an overall rise in well being, while antidepressants focus on only the mental aspect of health. With a combination of exercise, proper nutrition, and therapy, a sufferer of depression may find that, not only are they healthier physically, but the need for medication may not even be necessary. Even if medication is necessary, the patient will be much better off and will probably not need such a high dose if they are taking responsibility for their overall health. While antidepressants can help, it is important for sufferers of depression to realize that they too can be in control.