Physical Health and Mental Health
Most doctors focus on brain chemistry when treating mental health problems, but underlying physical issues like hormones, blood sugar, or digestion often play a bigger role. Many people don't realize that these physical health problems can cause or worsen depression and anxiety.
Instead of just taking antidepressants or therapy, it's important to check if physical health issues are contributing to your feelings. Ignoring these causes can mean you're just treating symptoms, not the real problem.
Limitations of Common Treatments
Medications and talk therapy can help manage symptoms, but they don't fix the root cause. Plus, antidepressants can have serious side effects, like emotional numbness or addiction, making it hard to stop them once started.
Talk therapy can be useful, but if the underlying health issues aren't addressed, you might need therapy forever. Fixing the physical causes can lead to better mental health and a more joyful life.
Key Takeaways
Medicine often focuses on symptoms, not causes. If you're feeling down during the holidays, a quick fix like medication might seem like the right thing to do, but it doesn't solve the real problem. Addressing hormones, blood sugar, and digestion can resolve your depression and may also resolve many other health problems.
What Can You Do?
If you're feeling depressed, you have three main options:
1: Seek help for underlying physical health issues OR
2: Use therapy or medication to manage symptoms OR
3: Focus on lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and stress management
Personally, choice #1 of fixing the root causes is the best way to feel better long-term. For more details, check out the full article.
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