Depression: The Dangerous Emptiness 

If you suffer from fatigue, inability to concentrate, difficulty remembering details or making decisions, strong feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness, feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism, major changes in sleep patterns, irritability, restlessness, loss of interest in activities or hobbies, changes in appetite, persistent aches or pains, headaches or digestive problems, persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings, then you may be suffering from depression. 

Depression has both physical (biochemical) and emotional causes and can occur with highly variable severity ranging from mild sadness/loss of interest, to suicidal thoughts/actions. If you feel suicidal, you need to seek professional help immediately. Do not wait. Depression can be a dangerous sickness. 

Whatever its causes, depression always has an underlying biochemical aspect and it’s very common for people with depression to follow antidepressant therapies recommended by their doctor. Assessment of neurotransmitters involved in depression can be helpful in selecting the best class of medication or supplementation, tracking the medication’s effects, and determining its success. Commonly prescribed medications for depression work by altering brain neurotransmitter signalling. A widely used class of drug is known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), whose common brand names include Celexa, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. These work by selectively increasing available serotonin so as to have a mood elevating effect. 

Testing neurotransmitter levels can provide valuable information about the status of the nervous system and its interaction with other systems in the body. Once the biochemical abnormalities contributing to the depression are identified, your caregiver can undertake a personalized treatment approach. New studies have led scientists to believe that chronic inflammation is commonly found in depressed individuals, just as with many of the disorders we’ve just discussed. Chronic inflammation affects mood by altering brain chemicals and hormones. Again, the root causes of inflammation (infections, allergies or hypersensitivities) should be investigated as part of your healthcare practitioner’s standard depression evaluation.