If you experience low mood, fatigue, brain fog, and irritability, your doctor will most likely label it anxiety or depression and put you on a drug that you could be on for the rest of your life. But the important questions is, why are you feeling anxious or depressed? Instead of masking symptoms, it may be worth while to search for the cause.
New research indicates that depression may not be caused by a “chemical imbalance”. More specifically, depression itself may not be a disease, but a symptom of an underlying problem.
This new theory is called the “Immune Cytokine Model of Depression”. It states that depression is a complex sign of a chronically activated immune system. This means that depression may be a symptom of chronic inflammation.
Before I send my patients off to a psychiatrist, I encourage them to try an anti-inflammatory lifestyle and diet.
Here’s what that looks like:
Eat nutrient-dense, whole foods, get plenty of sleep (at least 8 hours), navigate stress skillfully (mindfulness/yoga), move around during the day (walk) in the sun, and take care of your gut(probiotics may help, as well as decreased stress).
Eat, sleep, play and move well.