Why not medicine?

Hi Kristen,

Didn't you write a post earlier about chronic sinus infections? I commented that I thought that you might be gluten intolerant. Now I DOUBLY believe that you might be intolerant as anxiety disorders can be a result of the gluten sensitivity as well!!

But answering your question about serotonin imbalance in the brain and medications. The RX meds do NOT replace serotonin. They work on the principle that they REUPTAKE more of the serotonin that has already been released. Unfortunately, this serotonin eventually gets depleted which is why most people have the experience of their antidepressants not working after being on them for 2 to 3 years.

In fact, only about 15 % of people even benefit from antidepressants anyway, and a full 0% (that's zero percent) of the elderly benefit more than a placebo.

Fortunately, there are strategies to help maximize the amount of serotonin and dopamine that is available. By providing the PRECURSORS of neurotransmitters (Tyrosine, L-dopa, and 5-HTP) in the proper balance, most people don't need antidepressants or find that their antidepressants work again.

Few practitioners know how to effectively use this strategy that was perfected by a company called NeuroResearch ( www.neuroassist.com ).  But they do exist, and I happen to be one of them.

Kerri Knox, RN

Functional Medicine Practitioner

http://www.easy-immune-health.com

I believe it's a personal choice and only you know what is best for you. I have seen people helped by medications and I have also seen people depend instead of making necessary lifestyle changes so there are no easy answers. I've known people who have been able to get off meds or reduce them when they took the steps to change their lifestyle like yoga, meditation, diet, supplements, etc.

This is something I often wonder about as someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression for years and years. I guess that my take on the whole thing is that I would much rather exhaust all natural remedies before turning to medication. This is because I've had many friends on antidepressants in the past, and from what I observed, I didn't necessarily think that the medication was the most beneficial treatment--oftentimes, they would get hooked on the drug, it would significantly affect their moods, and I don't even want to begin thinking of how it might have adversely affected their brain chemistry. For me, things like meditation, yoga, and acupuncture have always helped tremendously. This is not to discount the fact that there may be people who have severe chemical imbalances that may not make natural remedies a viable possibility--but honestly, I don't believe this is the case with most people. I feel that often, with depression and anxiety, we want fast and tangible solutions--but I don't necessarily think those solutions are always the best choice.