Let’s start with the most important – if you have depression, anxiety or panic disorder you are not alone. There are many supportive strategies including counselling, nutritional supplementation, herbal medicines, dietary modifications and medication. We are all individuals and there is not one treatment that suits everyone – especially when it comes to emotional and psychological aspects of health. If the psychological manifestation is so debilitating that medication is the best treatment option then so be it. Quality of life is more important and some people have chemical imbalances that are best addressed with chemicals.
In today’s society we tend to lead autonomous lives often excluding support networks that can help us through the ups and downs of everyday living. Gone are the days when families were multi-generational in one home and village elders and medicine experts were integrated into daily life. I frequently see people who have disconnected themselves so much from their innate natural flow that anxiety; panic and depression naturally eventuate. Our lives can be stressful, busy, disconnected and out of balance. These emotional manifestations are often great indicators from the body to slow down, to reassess one’s life and to spend time reflecting and connecting to what is truly important.
Before you consider medication, perhaps review your life holistically – consider all your options, look at how you live and your relationships, review all aspects of health (or ill health). Often people present with depression and also have underlying health concerns that can be masked by treating the obvious mood concern. For example from a nutritional paradigm depression often presents when there is a marked deficiency. This deficiency will understandably contribute to other negative health concerns. Ultimately choice of treatment is the best decision and ask for help if you need it.
