Remedies for Depression

and not too serious.

It has an "incidence equal to 9-20% of the general population, but it seems to be constantly increasing.

Depressive disorders are quite different from each other and both diagnosis and treatment are difficult to establish with accuracy.

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A first subdivision concerns:

• Depressive disorders: major, dysthymic and not otherwise specified.
• Bipolar disorders: type I, II and cyclothymic.

There are two factors that determine depression and they are often co-present. These increase the chances of getting sick, but do not provide any clinical certainty:

• Biological factor: it is a hereditary element that implies physical predisposition. Involved are: glands, hormones, neurotransmitters and nerve receptors.
• Psychological factor: it consists of a greater vulnerability to the disease and often takes root in negative childhood experiences.

The material published is intended to allow quick access to general advice, suggestions and remedies that doctors and textbooks usually dispense for the treatment of Depression; such indications must in no way substitute the opinion of the attending physician or other health specialists in the sector who are treating the patient.

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Early diagnosis is very often hindered by shame and rejection of this condition.
Below we will list some useful tips to recognize a depressive symptom and suggest how to intervene.

• It is necessary to prevent the consolidation of symptoms and the aggravation of the disease by making an early diagnosis.
• Depression often begins with some simple, apparently "physiological" moods, even if more intense, repeated and close together:
• Negative perception of events.
• Sadness and irritability.
• Feeling of "depression" (it is used to define it as such, but this word is used very often in an inappropriate way, while it tends to be omitted when the doubt is stronger).
• In this first phase it is very important to try to reverse the mood trend as a preventive action.
• If left untreated, these symptoms can evolve into a frankly clinical condition and lead to:
• Depressed mood throughout the day and for several days.
• Inability to feel pleasure during normally fulfilling activities.
• Unmotivated or excessive irritability, negativity, and emotional pain.
• Anhedonia (tiredness, fatigue, lack of energy).
• Abnormal increase or decrease in appetite.
• Sleep disorders.
• Slowing or motor agitation.
• Lack of concentration.
• Feeling of failure, guilt (own or others) and worthlessness.
• Tendency to isolation.
• Recurring thoughts on suicide.
• The most important diagnostic aspect is the pervasiveness of the symptoms (ie the constancy and duration), but it is not certain that they occur all at the same time.
• If you suspect that you are suffering from a depressive disorder, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately:
• Primary care physician for the first approach: usually prescribes mild medications to facilitate spontaneous remission.
• Specialist: psychiatrist or neurologist. It is able to more accurately identify the type of disorder and prescribe a specific therapy.
• Therapist: psychologist - psychotherapist. It identifies the psychological mechanism that causes the mood disturbance and intervenes by modifying the mental pathways, the processing system, etc. It does not prescribe drugs.
• That said, some very important tips for prevention (at the first symptoms) and also for treatment are:
• Do not abandon customary activities.
• Attend the community.
• Adhere to a balanced diet.
• Practicing sports motor activity.
• Do not abuse psychotropic substances: alcoholism, drugs, smoking, binge eating desorder (compulsive eating).
• Avoid only circumstances that actually cause suffering.
• Dedicate yourself to interesting activities capable of "disconnecting the brain" from brooding (constantly thinking about the future) or rumination (constantly thinking about the past).
• Abandon clichés, try to overcome shame and seek help in times of need. By contacting a specialist early, in most cases the problem can be solved with light interventions and without leaving too significant experiences.
• Ultimately, the main remedies are:
• Psychotherapy.
• Pharmacological therapy.
• A combination of both.

, hobbies, social relationships, etc.).

Neglecting sleep and not regularizing it.

Neglecting the diet.

Isolate yourself.

Ruminate and ruminate continuously.

Avoid or discontinue drug therapy.

Avoid or stop psychotherapy.

Abusing psychotropic substances.

Tend to self-harm and strive to deal with particularly uncomfortable circumstances.

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In general it is recommended to:

• Adopt a normal-calorie and balanced diet. Sometimes it requires a special effort, as some drugs used in the treatment have an anorectic effect.
• Respect a diet with the right fraction of carbohydrates.
• Hypoglycemia and possible ketoacidosis caused by fasting or a low carb diet alter mood, creating a "fluctuating" trend.
• Hyperglycemia caused by a diet that is too high in carbohydrates can lead to decreased use of glucose by the brain tissue, confusion, slowdown and lethargy.
• If desired, take a portion of coffee when you wake up in the morning (worst time in depressed people); it can improve mood, as long as it does not interfere with pharmacological action.
• Promote the consumption of foods rich in omega 3: they guarantee the integrity of neurons; therefore also their functionality. They are abundant in peach products, in certain oil seeds (flax, kiwi, grapeseed, soy, etc.) and related oils, krill, cod liver etc.

, as they increase the risk of symptoms worsening.

Avoiding the excess of drinks, supplements and highly stimulating foods such as: coffee, tea, energy drinks, cocoa, dark chocolate, etc. It is especially important in bipolar pathologies, in the tendencies to abuse and in clinical pictures also characterized by anxious symptoms.

Avoid the intake of alcoholic beverages: they increase the risk of abuse and negatively affect the pharmacological metabolism. They can worsen anhedonia.

Avoid foods very rich in histamine: it has a stimulating action that can compromise the pharmacological action or trigger severe headaches and worsen the anxiety. It is mainly present in fishery products (blue fish) and significantly increases with poor preservation .

Avoid foods very rich in tyramine: it is a derivative of the amino acid tyrosine. Like the previous one it is a marker of poor conservation. It stimulates the release of norepinephrine predisposing to tachycardia, headache etc. It is abundant in cheeses, preserved meats, soy sauce , in fish, red wine and other spirits, bananas and chocolate.

Avoid foods that are very rich in glutamate: it is an amino acid that acts as an exciting neurotransmitter. Widely used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer, it abounds in bouillon cubes, ready-made or freeze-dried soups etc. Excess is very difficult to achieve with the diet, but it can happen in Chinese cuisine.

Avoid excess cholesterol and saturated or hydrogenated fats (especially in trans conformation): they do not have a direct negative effect on depression, but a diet rich in these molecules is associated with a worsening of brain function. fast food, packaged, fatty cheeses, margarines, bi-fractionated oils, etc.

Avoid excess arachidonic acid: it is an omega 6 derived from linoleic acid. It is abundant in some oilseeds and related oils (eg peanuts and extracted oil). Especially when associated with an omega 3 deficiency, the excess of arachidonic acid appears to worsen brain function.

Do not follow diets without carbohydrates or with too many carbohydrates (see What to Eat).

which can greatly relieve symptoms.

Psychotherapy: see Medical Treatments below.

Relaxing activities that allow you to interrupt the continuous cycle of brooding-aluminum, allowing the brain to "metabolize" thoughts:

• Advanced relaxation techniques: of any kind. Some are katabasis, shiatsu, watsu, maternage etc.
• Transcendental Meditation.
• Mental training: induced or autogenous.
• Yoga: Pranayama is especially useful.
• Aromatherapy.

Herbal medicine: are considered useful against mild depression: herbal teas, decoctions and lukewarm solutions enriched with essential oils that contain:

• Hypericum: it is the most effective. It has an inhibitory action towards the reuptake of noadrenaline and serotonin in a manner comparable to tricyclics or to inhibitors of the reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline.
• Valerian.
• Eleutherococcus.
• Passionflower.
• Chamomile.
• Linden.
• Peppermint.
• Hawthorn.
• Elder.
• Mistletoe.
• Hop.

: mainly used in the treatment of moderate and severe depression. They are the least used due to side effects:

• Amitriptyline: for example Laroxyl, Triptizol, Adepril.
• Imipramine: for example Imipra C FN, Tofranil.
• Nortriptyline: for example Dominans, Noritren.
• Others are: clomipramine, dosulepin, doxepin, trazodonelo, phepramine.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: second generation antidepressants that have replaced the tricyclics due to the minor side effects, as they lack the cholinergic action:

• Fluoxetine: for example Prozac, Azur, Flotina, Fluoxeren.
• Citalopram: for example Seropram.
• Sertraline: for example Zoloft, Tralisen.

Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors:

• Bupropion: for example Elontril, Wellbutrin, Zyban.

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors:

• Duloxetine: for example Xeristar, Yentreve, Ariclaim, Cymbalta.
• Venlafaxine: for example Efexor.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): these are second choice drugs due to the side effects they can generate.

• Phenelzine: for example Margyl.
• Isocarboxazide: for example Marplan.
• Tranylcypromine: for example Parmodalin.

: those who have already suffered from depression are prone to relapses.

Particularly traumatic negative events: they are very subjective and should not be underestimated, even if from an external point of view they may seem negligible.

The basic rules for preventing and reducing depressive symptoms can be summarized as follows:

• Strive to maintain a normal lifestyle and carry on customary activities.
• Attend the community and not isolate yourself.
• Remember that rumination and brooding DO NOT lead to any solution; on the contrary, they tend to aggravate the symptoms.
• Rationalize your condition and always act for your own good, putting aside guilt, shame and resentment.
• Respect a balanced diet avoiding fasting, overeating and attitudes that can introduce any eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating desorder, grignottage).
• Practice sports motor activity, but avoid it becoming a "stressful" activity.
• Set aside time for activities that can be rewarding and mood-enhancing.
• Totally avoid psychotropic substances (alcohol, drugs, nicotine, etc.).
• If possible, eliminate all uncomfortable circumstances.
• Consult a specialist.

(TCC): it is quite effective, even if sometimes it requires an antidepressant drug support or mood regulator. It consists in becoming aware of the vicious circles that cause the disease, eliminating them with the reactivation of behavior, thinking and thanks to more suitable behaviors Also, he works a lot on relapse prevention.