of depressed patients in my clinic. Many of them seek non pharmaceutical
treatment, having become aware that drugs are successful less than 50% of the
time and that often their side effects are intolerable.
About 70% of
teens are depressed, and a good percentage of adults suffer with it, too.
Suicide incidence keeps climbing. It has been estimated that depression will
soon be the #1 disease in the USA, if it is not already.
I know
depression; I suffered from it as a teenager, peaking at 13 years of age. I
remember getting on the bus to go to the local hospital to seek treatment,
since my readings of Psychology, specifically Sigmund Freud (at that time we
thought he was ok,) recommended a clinical solution. I will never forget the
dimly and stinky hallways in that hospital. In an oasis of light I found a
group of nurses chatting at their station. Mustering my courage I told them my
plight and my desire to be treated
They busted
out laughing…
But, that is
water.
Today I am
happy and I want to share my main treatment, effective then, and prophylactic
now. No, it is not St John’s Wort, SAMe, B complex, vitamin D, Omega oils,
Folic acid MTHFR, Tryptophan, GABA, etc., nor is it Tai Chi, Yoga, meditation,
resolving relationship problems, etc, etc. While all those things help, I have
found nothing better than….
… helping
someone in need.
Yes,
volunteering to make someone else’s burden’s lighter, at least momentarily.
That is what the Holy Book and every other Holy Writing will tell you. The
reasons for this are obvious and I will not elaborate further, except for
sharing a recent medical article validating this ancient wisdom:
Effect on volunteering on risk
factors for cardiovascular disease in adolescents,”
JAMA Pediatrics 2013;167:3271]
Remember that the “heart” is an emotional organ, too.