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| Category: Depression |
Date published: December 18, 2007 |
With the advent of the holiday season, "depression" may affect individuals as a result of many factors.
The biopsychiatric-pharmaceutical industry would have us believe that every mood change or psychological problem is a result of a "chemical imbalance" that can be treated by a pharmaceutical prescription. However, the concept of "chemical imbalance" has never been substantiated to be a scientific fact, in any psychological problem, when there is no underlying organic cause.
Holidays call up feelings of longing, remembrances of loss of loved ones, loneliness for those who are temporarily without a significant other (note emphasis on temporarily: it's all about the way you perceive such a problem that is most important). Forcing oneself to reach out to friends, attend group activities designed to promote relationships, etc. can be helpful during these periods.
It is important to first see one's physician for a physical exam, if feeling "depressed", as it can, on occasion, be symptomatic of an underlying organic disorder e.g., a cardiac problem, metabolic problem, etc. However, the majority of those reporting problems of "depression," absent of an organic cause, can be effectively treated from a functional perspective.
The foundations of current psychology and psychiatry practice can be traced to the philosophical roots of either structuralism or functionalism. Bearing with me for a few paragraphs, to understand a bit about the history of psychology and healing, can clarify the differences among the many approaches offered by professionals. Keep in mind that there are theoretical disagreements in definitions. Mechanistic approaches, associated with structuralism and the behaviorist schools, are what most of us are familiar with. The term mechanistic stems from the root, described by Sir Isaac Newton in the late 17th and early 18th centuries (Newtonian mechanics or classical physics). Newton has been considered by many to be the father of modern science. He described the theories which explain phenomena in purely physical terms. The founding of structuralism is credited to Wilhelm Wundt of the University of Leipzig, in the 19th century. This was the first major school of thought in psychology, separating it from philosophy. Structuralism attempts to break down mental events or consciousness into it's smallest elements through the use of introspection. Behaviorism considers an organism's behavior to be a result of conditioning and responses to stimuli (disregarding introspection). While behaviorism represented an initial reaction to structuralism, it has recently morphed into a more structuralist perspective with the advent of the cognitive-behavioral schools. The majority of contemporary medical and psychiatric thinking, as well as contemporary cognitive-behavioral approaches in psychology can be categorized as mechanistic, or subsumed under structuralism.
The medical physician you see for your annual physical approaches your organism from a mechanistic perspective. Not unlike that of a machine. This approach is crucial for detecting anomalies, irregular or broken parts. Included in the history are a review of symptoms. Symptoms are signs that something is amiss, yet not truly diagnostic of a disease until physical tests, many of which are analyzed by a computer, are conducted to confirm the origin or cause of the symptom. Much like when you take your car into a mechanic and ask for a routine maintenance. With modern cars, the mechanic hooks a computer with a cable into a port of your car. This is used as a diagnostic instrument that produces a computer printout review of the internal workings.
Once the problem is diagnosed, the physician chooses from the armamentarium of established physical treatments, including pharmaceutical preparations that are particular to your problem. The research literature cites a great range of variability in the effectiveness of pharmaceutical treatments, while other mechanistic approaches, e.g. the treatment of broken bones, certain forms of cardiac disease, some variations of cancer, etc., through physical procedures, are more consistently effective. Nonetheless, the advertising and commercials we are exposed to from the pharmaceutical industry would have us believe otherwise. The advertising gambit of the "magic pill" is what predominates, especially when it comes to "mental" problems.
A functional approach is essentially the opposite of a mechanistic or structuralist approach. As quantum mechanics and relativity theory superseded Newtonian mechanics in physics of the 20th Century, the field of psychology grew in a similar direction. William James, a Harvard trained physician and professor in the late 19th Century through the early years of the 20th Century, is credited with founding the functionalist approach, an alternative to the structuralists. In 1904 Dr. James wrote that structuralism had "plenty of school, but no thought," while Wilhelm Wundt dismissed functionalism as "literature." James focused on the wholeness of an event, including the effect of the environment on behavior and emotions.
While there is some professional disagreement, biological psychiatry, cognitive behavioral approaches, dialectic behavioral approaches and behavior modification, all with philosophical roots traceable back to mechanistic science, can be subsumed under structuralism.
Functionalism, on the other hand, is endorsed to some extent in psychoanalysis. More so in it's offshoots of those pioneers who theoretically broke away from Freud in the first half of the 20th Century. These approaches include character analysis (addressing the formation of character from childhood by interactions with the environment or the social sphere); core energetics, bioenergetics and gestalt therapy (all with roots in character analysis); existential-phenomenological analysis (with roots in existentialism and phenomenology - addressing individual's responsibility for their own actions and the study of phenomenon or things as they are perceived); depth psychology (addressing the unconscious in dreams and fantasies, as well as different aspects of the unconscious and subconscious manifesting in the social sphere); individual psychology (the first holistic psychology addressing the relationship between the individual and society as well as the individual's creative power); eastern approaches including meditation and yoga, as well as other contemporary humanistic or holistic approaches, evolving since the 1960's.
The perception of a phenomenon determines how we relate to it, what we do about it and how we can resolve it. If a physical cause can be effectively ruled out by a medical physician, the perception of "depression" from a functional perspective, as an energy problem, can help our chances of overcoming it. There is more factual evidence for this view than for the perception of "depression" as a "disease."
Many psychologists, non-biopsychiatrically oriented psychiatrists and holistic physicians utilize an energetic approach or energy psychology to treat psychological problems, including "depression." Weekly or biweekly visits can be quite helpful in exploring and expanding alternatives (especially if self-destructive thoughts are a component). Certification by one's physician to begin an exercise program is the usual first course. Then, a program of aerobic exercise, including but not limited to jogging, fast walking, biking, working out on elliptical machines, dancing exercise programs, light weight training, etc. may be recommended as a routine. If followed, conscientiously, research supports that these aerobic programs can provide relief from "depression" (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043) The key is to integrate such a program into a daily life practice.
The adoption of a daily yoga routine has been demonstrated to alleviate "depression." (Review http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0767914503/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-2415334-2538465#reader-link.) Diet or nutrition can also affect "depression." Consumption of a large proportion of carbohydrates in the diet, including high glycemic sweets, vegetables, white flour and grain products, etc., affect the regulation of insulin by causing spikes in blood sugar. This can create mood fluctuations. Replacement of a fast burning high glycemic index carb diet (the intake of which rises dramatically during holidays) with a slow burning carbohydrate diet can help. Slow burning carbohydrates include whole grain brown rice, brown rice pasta and brown rice breads, relatively low carb or low sugar content fruits and vegetables (green vegetables, peaches, blueberries, etc. (Charts listing the glycemic index or sugar content of fruits and vegetables can be found at: http://www.lowglycemicdiet.com/gifoodlist.html, as well as other internet sites.)
Some practitioners may suggest a regimen of full spectrum vitamin therapy to supplement a nutritional diet. (The recent evidence that vitamin supplements can alleviate symptoms of "depression" can be found at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/3/17/abstract.)
A month or two of regular practice of the above alternatives, can provide the relief you are seeking. Your life can begin to take on a different perspective. But know that individual differences in commitment, dedication and response to different programs determine the length of time for positive feeling change to occur. The more intense you focus on the new program, the less time it might take to feel a positive effect. Intention, Mindfulness, Will and Focus are most important to your success. These important aspects are inherently endowed, in every human being. Call them forth by your freedom of choice.
©Jasenn Zaejian, Ph.D., 2007.
All Rights Reserved
{Dr. Jasenn Zaejian is a published author and clinical psychologist practicing in the Huntington and Laguna Beach areas. He can be reached for discussion of the article at drjz@relatedness.org}
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