Sometimes it comes as a relentless, yet out-of-the-blue sadness.
Sometimes it is a total lack of motivation
Sometimes all you want to do is crawl into bed and hide under the blankets. Sometimes you are angry, at no one in particular, and everyone in general.
There are some doctors who believe depression is related to the food we consume. This isn't really surprising when you think about the huge numbers of people who are pre-diabetic or diabetic. According to one article in Arch Intern Med that was published in November of 2010, (Directional association between depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus in women) diabetic women are at a 29 percent higher risk for depression, and women on insulin are at a whopping 53 percent higher chance of manifesting depression.
Depression is real.
Depression is crippling.
And lots of people are dealing with depression through medication. According to Scientific American eight to ten percent of Americans are on anti-depressants. Mad in America reports thirteen percent of Americans are medicated for depression - up from almost seven percent in 1999.
That's a lot of people.
People who are pasting a smile on their face and soldiering on because they have to earn a living and they don't want anyone to know about what they are dealing with. There aren't enough doctors to treat depression
For this lack, it is far easier to prescribe medication. If a person dealing with depression is lucky, some health care professional will explain potential side effects. Side effects like feeling suicidal, having an uncontrollable need to sleep, and changes in appetite.
Depression might be situational, and last for a period of time in an individual's life, but it can also last a lifetime, or any amount of time between.
Look for a depression screener online. There are several out there. They will ask questions like:
How often do you feel down, depressed or hopeless?
How often do you have little interest in doing things?
How often do you have trouble with your sleep?
A good screener you can use is at Mental Health America. A lot of medical offices now use a similar survey as the one found there. If your doctor's office does not regularly check you mental health by having you answer these questions, use the online version, print it and take it to your primary care professional. If they don't review this document seriously, dump the doctor and find one that will help you and listen to your concerns.
Another thing you can do is to find a doctor that looks at the systems of your body, and not just the symptoms you are expressing. These are called integrative or functional doctors. Often they will ask you detailed questions about your food consumption. They may recommend a toxin purge (that fake food is filled with chemicals). They may start you off by eating a small variety of foods and checking how you are physically feeling.
I know when I cut back or completely eliminate all forms of bread, my blood sugar drops so fast I often have to adjust my insulin to very small amounts.
The ability to get off my insulin completely is one of the things I desire. After having seen the article, if getting off insulin can help with my depression, I'm all for it. I've discovered in the past year just how ill some of medicines have made me. I've discovered all sorts of side effects that were't even in the literature such as hair loss.
If you are suffering or even suspect you are suffering from depression be sure to take one of the many screenings online, contact a health professional that will take you seriously and get help.
Your life, or perhaps the life of a loved one are at risk.
*Please remember this is based on my reading and research and does not replace the care or advice a health care professional provides. Always check with your doctor when making any changes to your diet or your health care regime.