Sunday, December 13, 2015

Depression Hurts But We Can FIGHT IT!

Today we live in a world, that we have access to anything we want. Society leaves no room for error in the way we look and feel.

Being depressed has been an issue all my life. We all need help along the way, no matter what. When I was younger, no one could talk about depression. It was really bad. We just kept it in. There are many different treatments out there that really work. You need to find what works best for you because we’re all different! First of all, you should evaluate how bad your depression is (mild, moderate or severe). Mine was severe, and no one knew it until much later. Most of my life it was a struggle just waking up. People thought to themselves: “she doesn't look depressed”, but they were just looking at my fake smile I would put on so no one would worry. I’ve had the darkest days one could imagine. Even my parents didn’t know about my depression, only some of my close friends did.

I eventually learned that certain foods triggered more depression, who knew! Sugar and carbohydrates are the worst for me. I changed my diet, so many times in my life concerning my needs. Finally I found balance in my fifties. Although I had my struggles, I had my loving and caring family along the way. My naturopath, Mariola, was a God sent to me. We work together to get to where I am. It took years, but finally, I'm here. My daughter, Tiffany and her boyfriend, Ryan are a big inspiration. Marco is more than just my husband; he’s my best friend that I can always talk to. I can tell him anything. He takes in all my problems and tries to help me find solutions on how to deal with them. Now, we have a new addition to the family, Jovelyn, who has been helping me with my mother for one year now. She adds love to my home. She is a precious gem. Friends and family make a huge impact on us and we must cherish them!

There are medications out there that really help; you just have to find the right one for you. Don't stay depressed. The world is beautiful. Some times you can do a combination of supplements and medication and see how that works. You can work with a naturopath to form a plan of action or even a doctor.

Other reasons for depression:

  • You may have a thyroid problem. Take a blood test and see where your thyroid is? Symptoms of thyroid problems: sad, fatigue, low energy, weight gain, weight loss lack of memory and lack of pleasure.
  • Food intolerances or allergy are associated with anxiety and depression (that was me) we cannot absorb vitamins when the body is in the inflammation stage. Your gut is the main source of other problems. We need to fix that firsthand with raw Apple cider vinegar before a meal (1 tablespoon in a glass of water)
  • Low ferritin (especially in women)
    • Low energy, low concentration
    • Great source of foods, mussels, oysters, clams, liver, beef, and turkey
  • B12 deficiency and folic acid
    • Controls energy and nervous system. B12 is essential for memory and mood
    • Best form of B12 for bad anxiety is methylcobalamin and methylfolate (stomach issues)
  • Vitamin D deficiency
    • Food sources: seafood, shrimp, salmon (not farmed and try to buy wild in these foods because the better the quality the less the Mercury and PCB)
    • Turkey is a great protein and has lots of tryptophan as bananas and dark chocolate
    • Lots of vegetables

Stop eating bad carbs and processed foods because your body will them crave more. Get your hormones checked especially after fifty, there could be an underlying issue there. Take your time and rule out as much as you can, step by step. Patience is definitely required; therefore you need to be serious about wanting to feel better! In the meantime, start a healthy diet and then you can detect which direction to go easier. In the end, it's not only you that suffers, but the people around you, even your pets. There’s so much to look forward to in life, every stage is beautiful (young & old). Lets not give up!