Today’s On Point (NPR) discussed the current assertion that we are more depressed here in the US than ever before. As always, Tom Ashbrook ran a great show.
Certainly, we are on more anti-depressants than ever before, but there are more questions than answers.
My first question is: “Are you much better off taking your medication than you were without it?”
Even if the answer is yes, if it’s been several years, and the apparent cause of your depression (loss, stress, trauma, etc.) is no longer
causing you harm, perhaps getting off the meds is a good idea. If that’s the case, and you choose to try going off these meds, please
be aware there may be significant (if temporary) side effects as you come off them.
Another question I have: “What about the fact that our water supply contains more than trace amounts of a multitude of drugs such
as lipitor, paxil and viagra?” Doesn’t that mean we are all on drugs and we might not need to take any more?
The experts did not agree that we are more depressed than in the past, and there was no great reason given for this potential problem,
but once again, I will go out on a limb: “We are more depressed, and we have good reasons to be depressed.”
These are:
1. Our health is poor and we are feeling it intuitively (this is also causing more illness, domestic violence etc.).
2. Our sleep is suffering because we overeat and we are overmedicated, and overstimulated.
3. We are filled with fear of terrorism, crime, economic upheaval, illness and death. 4. Our leaders in government and industry are robbing us blind.
5. We live so unnaturally we don’t even know what makes us happy anymore. Facebook and American Idol and snack foods have replaced the family meal and twister games of yesteryear.
If you are with me this far, here is the cure…
A. Start cooking organic, local, plant-based dinners six nights per week (I can show you how, or there are great cookbooks and community courses all over)
B. Get outside for at least one hour every day, with your body literally touching the ground where there are trees. Yoga, martial arts, meditation and massage also help.
C. Be together with the people you love, and talk about important things in a loving and supportive way. Also get into gardening, poetry, hiking or dance.
D. Aim to get off all medications, and heal what ails you through taking better care of your body with food and lifestyle changes, and alternative medicine.
E. Get off violent media such as movies, video games and the evening news and create a life that adds value and makes you feel good.