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Depression Can Be a Nutritional Problem

If you have ever wondered if you or your loved ones had depression and how to eliminate it, this article is for you.

There are many times in life when each one of us may feel depressed, but you should know there is a huge difference between being truly depressed and just having situational depression. When you are confronted with a death or hard times, you may feel sad for a while, but you will spring back after your grieving period. This is referred to as situational depression and is very common in life. It can also occur after the ending of a relationship, retirement, or even after a heart attack or illness. It is even common to feel depressed when you are in the beginning phases of an infection.

However, if you are depressed for longer than a few weeks and there seems to be no reason, you may have to pay attention to the signs of depression to see if perhaps you need to seek help. The big question is what to do about the depression after you recognize it.

Depression Signs Exist No Matter What the Cause of Depression

The signs of depression are not the same for everyone, but there are some common ones that you can watch for. If you find that you are feeling sad for no reason, and this lasts for longer than a few weeks, you may be clinically depressed. Another sign of depression can be avoiding activities that once made you happy, such as not getting excited about seeing your trusted pet greet you or not getting excited about driving to your favorite river, mountain, or forest where you like to contemplate life.

Perhaps you still go to your favorite outdoor sites, but come back and you are not contented as before. That can be a sign of depression. Listening to your favorite music should always enliven your spirit, but if it doesn't, that could be another sign of depression, especially if you find that no music seems to perk you up.

Other signs include wanting to spend a lot of time alone, and some people even have thoughts about ending their life. If you have any of these signs of depression you should see your doctor at once to consider medication.

Nutrition and Depression, A True Connection

However, there is another side to depression that is often not discussed: the use of natural means to relieve depression. Often, I have seen patients who have been on medication but they do not like the way they feel when they are on it. They report that the depression medications cause different side effects and they do not want any chemicals in their body. They ask me to run a hair analysis on their minerals to find out if it is possible that there is an imbalance in their minerals.

Often, I do find imbalances that can cause depression. For example, high heavy metal accumulation in the body can clearly cause depression, among other more serious illnesses. Low levels of calcium, vitamin C, manganese, and lithium can also be related specifically to depression.

One thing I have discovered over the years is that when the body has enough vitamins and minerals, there is a certain level of mental health that is reached that is not found in those who are deficient. I believe it is possible to find direct correlations of depression and vitamin/mineral deficiencies through a hair analysis. One woman I developed a nutritional protocol for after consulting with her and running a hair anlaysis stopped me at a seminar just yesterday.

"Dr. Donna, I have to talk to you before you leave today!" she said.

She told me that all her friends were asking her what she was doing differently because they noticed she had a lot more energy, her skin was rosier without make-up, her eyes were brighter and she seemed happier. She had simply changed one thing in her life and took the supplements that her body needed for the past three months since her hair analysis consultation. She noticed changes in the way she felt and mentioned that she was a little saddened that she had missed out on life at this level for so many years of her life but happy that she was able to eliminate a prescription for depression. There simply was not a need for it anymore.

She said that she really never realized how much her mental health depended on nutrition.

Nutrition works for so many different health problems, including several related to mental health, such as depression.

Chemical Imbalance May Need Immediate Attention

The signs of depression often indicate something is not right in your mind. For the most part, this is a chemical imbalance that is affecting your mood. There are many medications out there that can help, and some of these are even safe if you are pregnant. If you notice these signs of depression in anyone in your life, make sure you do something about it. Ask them if they think they may be depressed and remind them that it doesn't mean they are crazy. They need to talk to someone so that they can get better and resume their normal life.

I have a friend who recently recognized the signs of depression in herself, and decided that she had to do something about it. She was having thoughts of suicide, and these should never be ignored. Of all the signs of depression, this may be the scariest to deal with. A person who is suffering often cannot explain why they feel helpless and sad, but at least they know something is wrong. Depression ís not your fault and it ís not a stigma any longer. Help is out there and it may be easier than you ever imagined to get back to your normal life.

Resources on Depression

1. Bipolar Depression QuizTake this quiz for bipolar depression disorder..
2. Depression Quiz Here is a brief 18-question online automated quiz to help you determine if you may need to see a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment of depression. you can also use it to track your depression over time.
3. Depression Quiz 3 Another depression quiz It is a good idea to check your results with an additional test, just as it is a good idea to get a second opinion about your health.