Do you know what makes you depressed? I get depressed all the time. I get depressed at not being able to stop the corruption of politicians by billionaires and global companies. I get depressed that doctors are not revolting against the ‘mafia cabal’, Pharma companies and the bodies that control the doctors (the AMA in the USA and GMC in the UK).

I get depressed that those doctors that do revolt are getting frightened. They are reasonably frightened by the news that doctors who challenge the establishment are being murdered or killed in unexplained circumstances at the rate of one per week in the USA. Yes, you read that correctly. I am depressed that you are not seeing it in all of the national media. I get depressed at the bribery of politicians to help the junk food industry, blocking the high taxing of all junk foods. I even got depressed at the death of my parents at a young age.

I get depressed all of the time at injustice and loss but I don’t stay depressed. Depression (or sadness) is a normal and appropriate emotion and it is used to help us deal with the situation and then creatively trigger an arousal emotion to give us the power to try to make a difference where we can. Where we cannot make a difference we put both the depression and arousal on hold until later when we may see a way to make that difference.

As well as all of the supplements I indicate below which I take for general good health I also take a supplement REALFOCUS that contains three herbs: Ashwagandha Root Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Extract and L-Theanine that can help to reduce stress, anxiety and stress-related food cravings while generally improving physical and mental performance, and naturally relieve depression by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. To be clear, at aged 71 I work up to 16 hrs per day and I need this help. Without such help I can understand how people can get stuck in depression and there are good reasons why.

So Why Are People ‘Stuck’ in Depression?

The medical system would have you believe that it is a brain disease and you need drugs. The studies* show that simply talking to a therapist is superior at helping people who are ‘stuck’ in depression. There are considerable side effects to persistent depression such as memory loss and the worst one is brain shrinkage.

Those who are on drugs (which should never be taken for more than 30 days according to the label) will have the depression made worse by those same drugs if they stay on them for many months**. There are numerous studies to show that depression is not a brain disease and there are two main causes for being ‘stuck’ in depression:

Inflammation – If we are suffering with chronic inflammation anywhere in the body it will also manifest into the brain. The longer it stays there the more likely it is for depression to happen. This also explains why those with chronic pain or illness are more likely to get ‘stuck’ in depression.

Poor Nutrition – As well as being a cause of depression, poor nutrition is a cause of inflammation and the prime cause of chronic illness. While inflammation is relatively easy to deal with in the short term it is only part of the whole problem. Since I contend that poor diet is a prime cause of both inflammation and chronic illness, then ‘stuck’ depression needs a full plan to ensure it goes, the brain stays healthy and life gets better. In a healthy plan, stopping all grains and cereals is essential.

Warning: If you have been ‘stuck’ in depression and on addictive drugs for a long time then you may need to implement the plan below for many weeks before slowly coming off those drugs. Depression can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s. Make sure you get out, walk and exercise, there are plenty of studies that show how being active can help to fight depression***.

For Inflammation and Brain Health

Serranol – Contains Serrapeptase (anti-inflammatory), Vitamin D3 (essential for depression), CurcuminX4000 and Ecklonia Cava, designed to support brain health.

Essential Nutrients

Lithium Balance – Supports a healthy mental and balanced chemical response along with being a renowned anti-aging nutrient for brain health.

Nascent Iodine – Offers brain, hormonal and metabolic balance.

RelaxWell – Contains L-Trytophan, L-Theanine and B vitamins for healthy brain function.

Krill Oil***** – Contains concentrated Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids to support brain, memory and learning processes.

Active Life Capsules – 130 Vitamins and Minerals. Offers a full-spectrum of nutrients, vitamins and minerals as a foundation for brain health including the critical Selenium.

Essential Nutrition Tips

Eat ‘Oily’ fish such as mackerel and sardines.

Eat plenty of ‘good’ fat from mono or polyunsaturated fats, cook with Coconut Oil.

Eat organic, dark chocolate that contains no dairy, soy or sugar (‘Vivani’ 92 is ok and sweetened with coconut blossom nectar). Chocolate contains an amino acid (PEA) which can help to lift mood.

• Cut out caffeine
• Cut out dairy
• Cut out sugar
• Cut out alcohol
• Cut out grains and cereals

**** Omega-3 supplements can reverse chronic debilitating depression, and they are as effective as a powerful antidepressant drug, a major new study has discovered. A fish oil supplement helped a group of 432 patients with major unipolar depression that could not be helped by conventional treatment, and did not respond to antidepressants. The group was given the supplement for eight weeks and at doses of 1050mg of EPA and 150mg of DHA every day. Nobody in the group was suffering from anxiety, and so researchers are not sure if the supplement could help people who have depression with anxiety. The study, carried out by researchers from the University of Montreal, underlines earlier research that has suggested people who are deficient in polyunsaturated fatty acids – found in fish oils – are more likely to suffer from depression. (Source: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2010; doi: 10.4088/JCP.10m05966blu).