Nature vs Nurture

What are the key factors that contribute to "depression"?  One might say genetics because "my dad has depression" or "my Uncle Bob was a sad and angry guy."  Or you might say, "I've heard of these so called 'chemical imbalances' in the brain, so I think I need medication to correct it."  Genetics and chemical imbalances do play a big role in depression and other "psychological issues," but far too often we see these factors as being permanent and irreversible.  "This is who I am and there is nothing that I can do about it!"  This could not be further from the truth!  The expression of your genetic makeup and the balance of neurotransmitters in your brain are far more fluid and changeable than you might think.  With the right diet, consistent exercise routine, healthy sleep pattern, nurturing social connection, healthy coping strategies for stress, etc. etc. the problems of genetics and neurophysiology can be reduced, if not eliminated all together.

I am all for antidepressants and psychotherapy, but you are selling yourself short in a huge way if you do not take an honest look at your overall health.  An example would be a man who struggles with depression which he suspects is a chemical balance past down through his family tree, so he starts Prozac everyday and has weekly psychotherapy sessions.  Thinking this will suffice, he continues to eat horrible foods, he does not exercise, he smokes cigarettes and drinks alcohol regularly, and he has an erratic sleep pattern.  Shockingly, his depression does not dramatically improve, so he asks his psychiatrist to up his Prozac dosage and he asks his therapist for more "tools" to help deal with his depression.  This is the danger of getting stuck on the idea that depression is a genetic or chemical imbalance issue, it leads to medication dependence as opposed to the better alternative which is diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyle dependence.

I have had my own struggles with depression through the years and in the last six months I have been bothered by symptoms that could be included in the depressive spectrum: feeling tired or sleepy, lack of focus, feeling foggy, lack of mental energy, etc., so I have decided to do something about these symptoms (and I don't mean medication and psychotherapy).  With the help of my chiropractor I have focused primarily on my diet.  I have removed all dairy products from my diet, which has been a huge help, and I am on about day five of a no meat diet.  I can already tell that removing meat is a really good idea for me.  All of these "depressive symptoms" that I just mentioned have been eliminated.  I'm bright, alert, energetic, and mentally sharp. 

So if you are struggling with "depression," examine your diet and remove foods that may be causing adverse reactions, or in other words, allergic reactions.  I am allergic to nuts because when I eat them, my throat closes and I die.  This allergy is obvious and violent.  When I eat meat, I feel tired, foggy, and "depressed."  This allergy is a little more subtle and not as violent, but it is destructive none the less.  So what foods are you allergic too?  And are you willing to remove them from your diet?  What unhealthy behaviors make up your lifestyle?  Are you willing to remove them as well?...

Welcome to my new blog!

Thank you for checking out my new blog!  This is my first blog, so bear with me as I integrate this into my daily practice...

One of the main things that I want to do with my blog is share with you my personal journey to improve my own physical and mental health.  Feeling my best and performing my job at a high level are very important to me, so when I am excessively tired, when I am frequently getting sick, and when I am fighting off depressive symptoms, I become very concerned.  About three months ago, I was struggling with pain in my back, frequent illnesses, and other nagging health problems, so I decided to see a chiropractor in the Ventura area who specializes in a more holistic approach.  To my surprise, he focused a great deal on my diet and he educated me on the many problems caused by food allergens.  He explained that all of my health issues could be connected to the foods I am eating and that if I removed certain foods, these health problems could be eliminated. He recommended that I go off of all dairy products, which was not a fun idea for me because of my love for ice cream, butter, cheese, etc.  I took his advice and I have removed dairy from my diet.  The results have been remarkable: my back pain is basically gone, my lungs and sinuses have cleared, and I feel so much better! 

After the positive results with removing dairy, I have been inspired to make more changes to my diet.  The next thing I am trying to accomplish is increasing my mental and physical energy.  Over the last year or so, I have been frustrated with my energy level.  I often feel tired, my brain is not as sharp as I want, and I am dragging throughout the day.  A good friend of mine recently removed meat and basically all animal products from his diet, and he has been feeling amazing.  His energy level is through the roof!  So I have decided to remove meat from my diet for a couple weeks to see how I feel.  I am on day three of no meat and I am already feeling a change for the better in terms of my mental clarity and physical energy.

The clear lesson that I have learned with this experience thus far is that if you are struggling with depression, anxiety, psychological distress, chronic health problems, etc., you have to take an honest and thorough look at what you are putting in your body.  "You are what you eat" is not just a silly cliche...