Alternative Approaches to Depression & Anxiety

Alternative Approaches to Depression & Anxiety

Depression and anxiety issues are often multifactorial. For some, there are genetic components. For others, there are strong factors related to early development and family dysfunction. For many, various stressful life situations and experiences can act as triggers to development of a dysfunctional mood or emotional state, and self-defeating or maladaptive thought patterns. Food sensitivities and toxic exposures, such as Mercury, may manifest as mood and cognitive problems. Depression and anxiety are never simple, although some medical models would like to consider them as such.

One thing that is known is that depression and anxiety, along with any behavioral and emotional state, are associated with corresponding alterations in brain function. These alterations involve imbalances in the activities and secretion of the various neurotransmitter chemicals, which are responsible for brain function. Neurotransmitters may be classified as inhibitory (GABA, serotonin), excitatory (norepinephrine, dopamine) and stabilizing (serotonin again). Depression often involves deficient activity of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, whereas anxiety can involve excess dopamine and norepinephrine, and sometimes deficient serotonin. This understanding as at the basis for the use of antidepressants such as Zoloft^Å (sertraline), which intensifies the effects of serotonin in the brain. Some other antidepressant drugs also increase activities of dopamine and norepinephrine, but these are not as good for anxiety.

It is possible to measure levels of neurotransmitters in the urine, and thus determine imbalances, deficiencies, and excesses. Based on this analysis, one may take specific amino acids, certain herbal therapies, and vitamins in order to balance and change the neurotransmitter activity. This can be just as effective as the drugs, with few side effects. Even without the neurotransmitter analysis, it is well known that S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe), the herb Rhodiola, and the herb St. John's Wort (Hypericum) may have effects equivalent to the standard drugs, but they take longer to work fully in most people.

Controlled studies have demonstrated that a form of psychotherapy called Cognitive Therapy, if pursued diligently, can be just as effective as anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drugs. And, the process leaves you better able to cope with the stresses of life, and to prevent recurrent episodes. Another form of therapy that is often very useful is Energy Psychology, taking the forms of Thought Field Therapy (TFT), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). These procedures are particularly effective in anxiety problems triggered by stressful events, and are easy to learn and practice.

As noted, diet can often play an important role. It is wise to eliminate caffeine, concentrated sugars, alcohol (all known to cause brain chemistry imbalance), and to investigate the possible role of gluten and dairy, two fairly allergenic food groups. It has also been demonstrated by research that regular aerobic exercise, meditation, yoga, and TaiChi are all beneficial in depression and anxiety, in addition to contributing to physical health.