By Hugo Rock

• What if you could in an instance remove all the fear in your life?
• What if you no longer had to worry, stress, feel anxious, and fight depression?
• What would you do you? Where would you go? What would you achieve?
  

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In addition to seeking professional medical guidance, some find it helpful to look at alternative treatments for depression. Here are a couple of the more popular solutions:

St John's wort (hypericum), is an extract of a weedy plant (Hypericum perforatum) that has been used for so-called 'nervous disorders' for a couple of thousand years. Studies comparing St John's wort with either conventional antidepressants or a placebo (dummy pill) have had mixed results. The quality of the research has also varied. Some studies suggest that if St John's wort is taken at a sufficiently high dose, it can be as effective as pharmaceutical antidepressants for mild, and possibly moderate, depression. However, it is unlikely to benefit people with more severe or melancholic depression. St John's wort interacts with many medicines and you should not take it as well as conventional antidepressants because of the risk of side effects. 

Exercise is not an obvious solution to depression but it can help lift someone's mood. Research by the Black Dog Institute has found those suffering clinical depression reported exercise provides more relief than any other alternative therapies or techniques (not including drug and psychotherapies). The study found yoga/meditation, relaxation and massage can also help with the symptoms of depression.

Relaxation therapy (structured exercises for relaxing both the body and the mind) is often suggested in conjunction with CBT. Few well-designed trials have been done, but there have been a few promising results. The same goes for acupuncture, massage therapy and yoga.

Folate (folic acid) is a B-vitamin needed for red blood cell formation, new cell division, and protein metabolism. People who do not respond well to antidepressants are more likely to have low folate levels than others, and though it may not improve depression on its own, folate has been suggested as a supplement in these cases. Folate is found in green leafy vegetables, liver, legumes, and seeds.

Omega-3 (fish oil) is a polyunsaturated fat commonly found in fish and some plants. There is growing evidence to support a link between major depression and low levels of omega-3 in the diet. However, further studies are needed to look at whether or not omega-3 supplements may help prevent or treat depression.

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By: Judith Woodward

"Depression is one of the most common medical conditions. It can affect anyone at any time. This year, the Army is joining organizations and communities across the nation to raise awareness about the dangers of depression. The Army's theme, "The Courage to Seek Help," emphasizes that depression is one of the most treatable behavioral health conditions. Getting an early diagnosis and treatment may help reduce the intensity and duration of depression symptoms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated one in 10 Americans report depression. This means that every year more than 31 million Americans say they suffer from depression. It can affect men, women, the elderly and even children.

It may be hard to believe, but one of the most effective ways to help yourself or someone you love with depression is with laughter. Laughter is such a powerful, inexpensive and dependable tool that is always available. Did you know that laughter can ease stress, pain and sadness? There are many other ways laughter is good for your health:

• Laughter helps make you happy. Laughter increases the release of endorphins, which are the body's feel-good chemicals that make you feel well and can even relieve pain.
• Laughter helps you relax. The harder you laugh the more muscles you use in your face, arms, legs and stomach. Using these large muscle groups increases oxygen flow, so that your muscles relax more efficiently.

Consider some ways you can incorporate laughter into your life. The simplest way is to start with a smile — a smile is the beginning of laughter, and it is contagious. Another easy way to start on your path to laughter is to simply make a list of things you are happy about in your life. Another simple idea is to surround yourself with people who laugh and are playful. If you hear laughter, move toward it — most often, people are happy to share what they are laughing about because it gives them the opportunity to laugh again."

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By Dr. Mike Hart (drmikehart.com)

"Anxiety is one of the most frequently diagnosed illnesses in North America in the 21st century. Anxiety does not discriminate and affects people of all races, age, social economic status and sex. There are countless pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments available to treat anxiety, some of which are more readily available as well as more expensive than others. Lost in the current mainstay treatments available for anxiety is heart rate variability (HRV) training.

What is heart rate variability and how can it cure anxiety?

Heart rate variability is the physiological phenomenon of variation in the time interval between heartbeats. The longer the interval between each heart beat, the more appropriately your body responds to stressful situations."


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"A recent Australian study found that depression may hinder neuroplasticity. Researchers measured electrical changes in the brain of 23 depressed and 23 healthy people after a brief magnetic stimulation. They found the expected change and reaction in the brains of healthy people, but not in the depressed."

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By: Allan Schwartz
"In all types of psychotherapy, there are clear signs that things are improving if the therapy is working. Examples of making progress in therapy is that, 1. There is a feeling that one's life is more manageable and that it feels like one is more in control of life, 2. There is a clear feeling of increased self confidence and that one is moving forward in life, 3. Not only does the patient see behavioral changes but so do friends and relatives and, finally, 4. There is a much better understanding of one's self and ones behaviors. In addition to these signs it is worth asking one's self, "Am I getting my money's worth from the sessions? Of course, these are very subjective questions to ask or to rely on. Still, it's important to think this way as a guide to answer the question, "Should I continue with this therapist or not?"

"In addition to these watching for these signs of progress, there are certain questions that each patient should think about in relation to the mental health practitioner they are seeing. For example, 1. Does my therapist listen to me and to the concerns I bring up in therapy? 2. Does my therapist talk more about himself than about me? It's amazing how often I hear the complaint from readers that their therapist spends vast parts of the session talking about his life. 3. There seems to be no structure or focus to the sessions. Sessions meander from one topic to another and have little to do with why one came to therapy."


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"Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Jonathan Martin is being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression amidst allegations that he was threatened, harassed and menaced by teammates, chieflyRichie Incognito, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned.

Martin, 24, is not expected to report back to the team anytime soon, as he works with specialists in LosAngeles and awaits clearance to return.

We’re now learning exactly what he’s being treated for.

“It’s depression and PTSD… which is directly related to the bullying he endured by Richie and other teammates,” a source close to the situation told Radar."

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