Medical Conditions Not Depression

Most doctors who treat patients suffering from depression use conventional medicines to treat the symptoms which we now know only work about 50% of the time. In today’s world and modern medicine, doctors are quick to diagnose depression, and then medicate.

The use of pharmaceuticals to address depressions and to stabilize moods can lead to significant side effects, and many patients find themselves having to choose between living with these unpleasant effects or discontinuing medications. Others find that despite the exhaustive switching back and forth process involving different combinations of drugs, their depression continues to present major problems for them and are turning to alternative methods to treat their depression.

Alternative methods include treating the body as a whole and looking for the alternate explanations for what psychiatrists may have labeled depression. For example, food allergies may cause severe mood swings, depression and insomnia in some people, and untreated endocrine problems are widely recognized as causing depression Some other causes of depression that could be caused by health reasons includes;

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Lack of exercise

• Hypothyroidism

• Hyperthyroidism

• Poor adrenal function

• Other hormonal disorders

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

• Hyrperglycemia (high blood sugar)

• Food Allergies

• Heavy metals (such as mercury, lead, aluminum, cadmium, and thallium)

• Premenstrual syndrome

• Sleep disturbances

• Infections

• Influenza

• Menopause

• Certain medications

• Somatic disorders

• Chronic pain

• Heart disease

With so many health factors that can cause depression, people experiencing depression should first consider having a complete physical exam to eliminate any possible health problems. Unfortunately, in our society, many doctors treat depression with medication before performing a full physical evaluation. Part of the reason for doctor’s quick action for medicating a depressed person is insurance protocol. It is far cheaper to medicate the depressed person rather than spend thousands of dollars running a series of tests and procedures.

If you have been diagnosed with depression, be sure to ask your physician about a complete physical, Which includes blood work for a variety of ailments. As a patient, you have the right to a complete physical. Many holistic practitioners now perform a series of tests that can help diagnose food allergies, nutritional deficiencies and a variety of other health related issues that can contribute to depression.