Depression and Mental Health

[Hladgunnr]

Interesting website by a psychiatrist who treats people with depression without medication first. He uses exercise, food and meditation first. He has worked successfully with people in war torn Gaza Strip as well as run-aways in the U.S.

His name is James Gordon and he's coming out with a book too.

https://www.cmbm.org/

https://jamesgordonmd.com/publications.html

[ostarella]

Originally Posted by Hladgunnr

Interesting website by a psychiatrist who treats people with depression without medication first. He uses exercise, food and meditation first. He has worked successfully with people in war torn Gaza Strip as well as run-aways in the U.S.

His name is James Gordon and he's coming out with a book too.

https://www.cmbm.org/

https://jamesgordonmd.com/publications.html

Sounds interesting, although he seems to deal more with situational depression rather than the mental illness. Definitely something to look in to, though. Thanks for the info

[deebeelicious]

I read this article the other day, and thought it might be of interest in this thread - of course changing one's whole outlook on life is pretty hard to do ...

https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7502443.stm

... and I find it hard to believe someone could 'get over' a close family death within a couple of years! Although I know that some of the 'funniest' laughs I've had have been between the tears during grieving sessions with family!

[ostarella]

Originally Posted by deebeelicious

I read this article the other day, and thought it might be of interest in this thread - of course changing one's whole outlook on life is pretty hard to do ...

https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7502443.stm

... and I find it hard to believe someone could 'get over' a close family death within a couple of years! Although I know that some of the 'funniest' laughs I've had have been between the tears during grieving sessions with family!

I don't think one actually "gets over" a death like that as much as they are able to "cope" with it - the "adaptation" thing they mentioned. The only thing about the study that I would question, really, is the methodology - "self-reporting" studies tend to follow the lead of whatever "societal norm" is perceived by the subjects. If the prevailing attitude is that people *should* get over traumatic events - well, nobody wants to consider themselves "odd". And, of course, they are, again, talking about situational depression, which is completely different from the mental illness (which, interestingly, didn't appear as a factor to be considered).

[deebeelicious]

Originally Posted by ostarella

I don't think one actually "gets over" a death like that as much as they are able to "cope" with it - the "adaptation" thing they mentioned. The only thing about the study that I would question, really, is the methodology - "self-reporting" studies tend to follow the lead of whatever "societal norm" is perceived by the subjects. If the prevailing attitude is that people *should* get over traumatic events - well, nobody wants to consider themselves "odd". And, of course, they are, again, talking about situational depression, which is completely different from the mental illness (which, interestingly, didn't appear as a factor to be considered).

Sorry I didn't reply earlier!
Actually I didn't read the article the same way as you! I thought it was saying that although 'life-changing' events happen to us and can 'rock' us for a year or so, we eventually go back to our 'inate' or 'steady-state', ie our 'equilibrium' level of happiness (or depression ). So that for those people who have a long-term depressive state, they might find it worth looking at whether a different 'outlook' on life might improve their mood/view of life? Don't want to sound blaise about it, and of course for severe depression, this might not be helpful.

(Sorry about all the ' ' quotes - I'm just trying indicate that I'm aware that my chosen words might not be the right ones! ).

[deebeelicious]

No replies, then 2 come at once!

Here's a great journal and some useful info on what to eat / feed your kids.
For depression - check your diet for sufficient selenium and folate (Folic Acid) as well as omega-3-fatty acids ?
https://www.fabresearch.org/view_item...ch_result=true
https://www.fabresearch.org/view_item...3&list_index=4

This article also mentions 5-htp.
https://www.fabresearch.org/view_item...5&list_index=1
I must admit I had to look up 5-htp on wiki, here are the links. Apparently it is derived from an african shrub plant. Wonder if there are some other nutritional sources (apart from Turkey & cheese) which might be better than pill popping?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-HTP
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griffonia_simplicifolia


This article shows that in that trial omega-3-fatty acids (EPA) was as effective as Prozac (fluoxetine) for major depression and that together were much more effective.
https://www.fabresearch.org/view_item...1&list_index=2


And finally, a useful summary of what NOT to eat / feed your kids!
https://www.fabresearch.org/view_item...ch_result=true

[ostarella]

Originally Posted by deebeelicious

So that for those people who have a long-term depressive state, they might find it worth looking at whether a different 'outlook' on life might improve their mood/view of life? Don't want to sound blaise about it, and of course for severe depression, this might not be helpful.

I would agree that for people who get "caught up" in a depressed mood, making a determined effort to change their outlook, deliberately looking for the silver lining, could certainly make a difference. But as you say, for clinical depression (the mental illness) that's mainly an impossibility without some kind of "chemical" interference - drugs for some, or, as I'm trying to find, natural (foods). For any mental illness, the yin and yang of the mind/brain has gotten way out of whack and without finding some way of getting that back in balance, it's just not possible to change simply by "thinking your way out". And that's one reason why "normal" people find it so hard to deal with the mentally ill. The old "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" philosophy just doesn't work. Wish it did.

[ostarella]

Originally Posted by deebeelicious

No replies, then 2 come at once!

Excellent articles! Thank you

[deebeelicious]

Here's some latest research about depression linked with the foods one eats. I've picked out a few quotes from the article.

Eating a diet high in processed food increases the risk of depression, research suggests.

What is more, people who ate plenty of vegetables, fruit and fish actually had a lower risk of depression, the University College London team found.

Those who ate the most whole foods had a 26% lower risk of future depression than those who ate the least whole foods.

By contrast people with a diet high in processed food had a 58% higher risk of depression than those who ate very few processed foods.

It is not yet clear why some foods may protect against or increase the risk of depression but scientists think there may be a link with inflammation as with conditions such as heart disease.

Dr Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said: "This study adds to an existing body of solid research that shows the strong links between what we eat and our mental health.

"The UK population is consuming less nutritious, fresh produce and more saturated fats and sugars.

"We are particularly concerned about those who cannot access fresh produce easily or live in areas where there are a high number of fast food restaurants and takeaways."

Margaret Edwards, head of strategy at the mental health charity SANE, said: "Physical and mental health are closely related, so we should not be too surprised by these results, but we hope there will be further research which may help us to understand more fully the relationship between diet and mental health."

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8334353.stm

[ostarella]

Originally Posted by deebeelicious

Here's some latest research about depression linked with the foods one eats. I've picked out a few quotes from the article.

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8334353.stm

Thanks for posting that I've noticed that, although I still have bouts, they aren't as often or as severe now that I've moved more and more into MB. Maybe some day I'll hit on the right set of foods to get rid of them altogether - keep on trying, anyway

[elainesteel]

Thanks for posting this Deebee, I work in the field of mental health so I'm finding this thread very interesting.