There is a vast amount of misunderstanding surrounding the treatment of psychological disorders with medications. These misunderstadnings are a result of both general ignorance, human nature, and purposeful marketing by the pharmaceutical industry. I am not going to tell anyone not to take medication, as I am not an M.D.. I have trained as much as an M.D. in Asian mind-body arts, epecially Chinese Qi Gong, and I have a Ph.d. which included substantial coursework in cognitive science. Perhaps more importantly, and I am an individual who has struggled with major chronic depression throughout my life and achieved substantial self-healing without ever taking any medication. If you are struggling with the question of how to treat your depression, I am not going to tell you what to do, but I am going to tell you a number of things you should know which you probably will not hear from your doctor, and which should be more widely known:
(1) Science does not say that depression is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain which can only be rectified by chemical means. This is a miscomprehension promoted by the pharmaceutical industry and some doctors. The truth is that depression is correlated with chemical imbalances in the brain, however it has long been recognized that neurochemistry changes constantly depending not only on phsycal factors such as nutrition, but also depending on what you are thinking and what you are doing with your body. A psychiatrist once admitted to me that according o research, the chemical imbalance that "causes" depression can just as well be regarded as a chemical imbalance caused by depression, that just as chemicals can change the way you think and feel, the converse is equally true–that you can change your brain chemistry by changing the way you think. When I was first diagnosed with depression in the 80’s my psychiatrist explained this to me and offered me the choice; I chose not to use medication, and although I have had many relapses of depression, I have never regretted it. Because . . .
(2) The treatment of symptoms is not the same as healing. In order to heal, which is to say to change in the long term, or to be able to live without dependency on treatments, one must address the root of the problem. This may be a genetic predisposition or innate chemical imbalance in some cases, however, certainly not in the majority of cases, given that these medications are prescribed for a significant proportion of the population and mainly for problems such as anxiety, depression, and social maladjustment, which in most cases have their roots in childhood experiences, lifestyle, culture, and other complex causes. The truth is that it is much easier and more profitable for anyone in the medical industry including your doctor to give you a drug to treat your immediate symptoms than it is for such a person to recomment a course of treatment that will result in your eventual healing, or even a healthy adaptation to your problems.
(3) Healing is individual, personal, more than physical, and takes wisdom, time, and effort. Any doctor who offers to solve your problems overnight with a drug is not trying to heal you. Real long-term healing requires an investment of YOUR time and effort. You need to learn a variety of techniques for self-healing from one or more well-trained and experienced healers and take the time to apply them on a daily basis. Period. You may need to try many things in order to find the ones that work for you. However, "natural remedies" such as herbs are far from the only thing you can do. In fact, herbs and such are for the most part just another way to treat your symptoms–and to build up your general health and strength–rather than putting in the really hard work that healing requires. Regard things like herbs and nutrition as a long-term investment in the foundation of your health, not as a cure.
(4) If you really want to heal yourself, learn techniques for exploring and gaining greater sensitivity and insight into your own mind and body. I recommend Qi Gong. Other possibilities include yoga, tai chi, dance, and meditation. It is also important to express oneself in order to become aware of maladaptive cognitive patterns and to release the energy tied up in negative emotions. Try writing or music, especially improvisation. Don’t worry about being a great performer. Do it alone or with a friend that knows how. Just express yourself! I believe that exercise and artistic expression are two of the most powerful paths to true healing that can work for anyone. But you do have to actually practice. There’s no other way. And if you are depressed you may not practice without some obligation, so do yourself a favor and sign-up for a class. Honestly, I assure you, I have been as depressed as a person can get, and I still truly believe, based on experience, that if you are depressed, you are not exercising enough.
(5) You may need to break old habits. Try the lemonade-fast. I don’t claim to know if all or any of it’s medical benefits are real, but I guarantee it’s a relatively easy way to abandon multiple bad habits very quickly.
(6) ABOVE ALL ELSE, remember that your illness has roots; it is a sign of problems in your society, your previous life experience, and perhaps your genetic code, but wherever it comes from, it is for this reason, also a gift! Your need to heal yourself is a spiritual opportunity, no matter what religion or non-religion you ascribe to. If you take responsiblity for your state of mind / body, and make the effort to make yourself whole, you will grow as a person in tremendous ways. And to accept an overnight treatment for your symptoms rather than real healing is to cheat yourself out of this opportunity. My qi gong teacher once said to me that there are three kinds of doctors–those who tell you they know whay to do for you, and give you a treatment for your symptoms, those who admit they dont know how to heal you, and those who tell you how to heal yourself. Seek the third kind!
I hope you find the best path for you. Get as much different advice as you can, think about it, and then follow your own counsel. Embrace your own unique self, incuding your illness, and make of it a path for discovery and self-empowerment.
