Depression affects 121 million people worldwide. It is the second-leading cause of disability in terms of total years lost due to disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately one million people die from suicide each year, which represents a global mortality rate of 16 people per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds. It is predicted that by 2020 the rate of death will increase to one every 20 seconds. The Philippines has the highest incidence of depression in Southeast Asia, with 93 suicides for every 100,000 Filipinos according to 2011 data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHAT IS DEPRESSION? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) classifies depression into the following types (there are more, but these cover the basics):

Dysthymia means having a depressed mood on most days for at least two years, along with at least two of the following symptoms: poor appetite or overeating, insomnia or excessive sleep, low energy or fatigue, low self-esteem, poor concentration or indecisiveness, and hopelessness.
Major Depressive Disorder. In addition to feeling “down” as in dysthymia, other characteristics may include excessive feelings of guilt and suicidal ideation, as well as various physical symptoms like loss of hunger and fatigue. It can be mild, moderate, or severe.
Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood is grief due to a loss of some kind (which itself can be classified as normal or complicated).
Depression NOS (not otherwise specified) includes things like premenstrual depression and seasonal depression (SAD).
Secondary depression is depression due to underlying medical disorders or chronic diseases: diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS and Auto Immune Diseases. Chronic illness is an illness that lasts for a very long time. Any chronic condition can trigger depression, but the risk increases with the severity of the illness and level of life disruption it causes. The risk of getting depression is generally 10-25% for women and 5-12% for men. However, those with chronic illnesses face a much higher risk: between 25-33%. The rate or experience of depression occurring with other medical illnesses like chronic diseases is quite high: Heart attack: 40-65% • Coronary artery disease (without heart attack): 18-20% • Parkinson’s disease: 40% • Multiple sclerosis: 40% • Stroke: 10-27% • Cancer: 25% • Diabetes: 25%.
Though not in DSM-IV, some practitioners further classify depression into two broad types:

Endogenous (or chemical) depression denotes depression that arises without an obvious, identifiable cause, thought to reflect some kind of “chemical imbalance” in the brain.
Exogenous (or external) depression arises from a specific, identifiable external cause.
Sadness touches all of our lives at different times, but if emptiness and despair have taken hold of your life and won’t go away, you may have depression. It is more than a passing bout of sadness or dejection, or feeling down in the dumps. It can leave you feeling continuously burdened and can sap the joy out of once-pleasurable activities.

Depression varies from person to person, but there are some common signs and symptoms. It’s important to remember that these symptoms can be part of life’s normal lows.

The more symptoms you have, the stronger they are, and the longer they have lasted, the more likely it is that you’re dealing with depression.

Signs and symptoms of depression include, but are not limited to:

Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook – nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.
Loss of interest in daily activities. No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You have lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.
Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.
Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).
Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.
Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.
Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.
Reckless behavior. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.
Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.
Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.
Understanding the signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression is the first step to overcoming the problem. The underlying factors that can cause a person’s depression are numerous and often difficult to ascertain, even for a trained medical professional. As a result, the typical conventional physician will often go immediately to their easiest solution – one of the pharmaceutical antidepressant drugs. To learn more, read “Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America” by Robert Whitaker.

Beating Depression the Natural Way will focus on improving quality of life and decreasing disability caused by depression symptoms by uncovering and addressing the fundamental underlying causes, like thyroid and adrenal dysfunction and nutritional deficiencies through integrative therapies.

Meanwhile, here is the Green Secret’s “Lift Me Up” anti-depressant juice. (Make sure to scrub and wash all vegetables and fruits well before juicing). It is a MUST to use organic vegetables only.

¼ sugar beet
1 carrot
2 calamansi
(juiced)
3 stems parsley or cilantro
½thumb turmeric root
Juice all ingredients with your masticating juicer. Remember… a green juice a day keeps the doctor away.

September is Suicide Prevention Month. When your symptoms of depression are overwhelming and disabling, it’s time to seek help. CALL the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation at hotline number: 804-4673 (804-HOPE) * 0917-558 HOPE (4673) or 211 4550. For questions and/or concerns email me at [email protected]

Christine E.V. Gonzalez is a doctor of naturopathic medicine and holds PhDs
in holistic nutrition and natural medicine. LLM (MS Environmental Laws & Labor)
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