Depression Anhang

 

[Jakob Simmank]

Melancholische Mikroben

In falscher Mischung können Darmkeime der Seele schaden. Psychiater wollen mit dem Wissen Bakterien für Therapien nutzen: gegen schwere Depressionen oder Panikattacken.

31. Juli 2017, 11:22 Uhr 140 Kommentare

Psychische Erkrankungen: Unsere Darmkeime wirken sich direkt auf unser Gefühlsleben aus.

Bauch und Psyche lassen sich nicht trennen. Fällt eine Entscheidung schwer, hören wir auf unser Bauchgefühl. Sind wir verliebt, ist ein flaues Kribbeln in der Magengegend zu spüren. Stress verursacht Bauchweh. Und Traurigkeit schlägt auf den Appetit. Kopf und Bauch verständigen sich, keine Frage. Ein wichtiger Weg der Kommunikation: die Mikroorganismen im Darm.

Das zeigt sich immer deutlicher.

Darmbakterien wirken aller Wahrscheinlichkeit auf unsere Psyche. "Es dürfte keine Hirnfunktion geben, die nicht von den Bakterien unseres Darms beeinflusst wird", sagt der Hirnforscher John Cryan vom University College Cork. Warum mancher Mensch melancholisch und ein anderer extrovertiert ist, könnte in einer unterschiedlichen Zusammensetzung der Darmflora begründet

liegen. Die Bakterien könnten sogar Mitverursacher schwerer psychischer Erkrankungen sein. Werden Psychiater, Psychologen und Mikrobiologen also künftig gemeinsam Depressionen, Panikattacken und vielleicht sogar  Schizophrenie behandeln?

Einen der ersten Hinweise auf die Darm-Kopf-Kommunikation lieferte Wissenschaftlern schon vor Jahren das Reizdarmsyndrom. Mehr als jeder zehnte Mensch weltweit hat es (Clinical Epidemiology: Canavan et al, 2014): Die Betroffenen klagen über Durchfälle oder Verstopfungen, Blähungen und quälende Bauchschmerzen. Beim Reizdarm sind bestimmte Mikroben häufiger, andere seltener als bei gesunden Menschen (World Journal of Gastroenterology: Distrutti et al, 2016). Gleichzeitig entwickeln viele Reizdarm-Patienten krankhafte Angstzustände, großen

Stress oder Depressionen. Darm, Mikroben und Psyche hängen zusammen – das hat das Krankheitsbild den Medizinern ganz deutlich gezeigt.

"Eine besonders wichtige Rolle spielt dabei der Vagus-Nerv", erklärt John Cryan. Er führt vom Schädel zum Bauch und verzweigt sich dabei in unzählige Äste, mit deren Hilfe der Körper beispielsweise kontrolliert, wie viel Speichel fließt, wie schnell das Herz schlägt und wie aktiv der Darm verdaut. Der Nerv trägt aber auch Informationen zum Gehirn, meldet etwa "Ich bin satt,

es geht mir gut" oder "Das Herz schlägt ruhig, ich bin entspannt". Damit schafft er eine direkte Verbindung zwischen Darm und Psyche, wie auch Tierexperimente beweisen: Labormäusen, deren Vagus-Nerv man in einer Operation durchtrennt, sind anschließend weniger ängstlich (Journal of Neuroscience: Klarer et al, 2014).

 

2) Lieber Keimschleuder als Allergiker! Zu steril ist ungesund: Wie wir leben, schadet der Mikrobenvielfalt im Körper. Das verwirrt das Immunsystem. Warum wir die Keime auch mal in Ruhe lassen sollten.

3) Psychokeime: Autismus, blutende Gefäßknäuel im Gehirn und Depression: Mikroben im Darm stellen Vorstufen von Botenstoffen her, die im Gehirn ihre Wirkung entfalten. Diktieren unsere Keime, wie glücklich wir sind?

In den kommenden Wochen lesen Sie außerdem:

4) Verkeimt und verräterisch – der mikrobielle Fingerabdruck. DNA war gestern. Schon heute interessieren sich Forensiker für die Viren, Bakterien und Sporen, die mutmaßliche Straftäter hinterlassen. Mikroben geben nicht nur preis, wo wir waren, sondern auch, was wir da gemacht haben.

5) Dicke Keime: Die Darmflora Adipöser ist besonders einseitig. Könnte es dünn machen, sie mit den Darmbakterien schlanker Menschen anzureichern? Was bei Mäusen schon funktioniert, könnte bald auch zur Therapie beim Menschen werden.

6) Das Geschäft mit dem Mikrobiom: Millionen werden jährlich mit Probiotika verdient, die unsere Darmflora reinigen oder stärken sollen. Der Großteil davon ist klinisch nicht geprüft. Schaden diese Pillen mehr als sie nützen?

 

Der Nerv werde von verschiedenen Substanzen angeregt, sagt Emeran Mayer, Gastroenterologe und Hirnforscher an der University of California, Los Angeles: "Einerseits von Stoffwechselprodukten, die die Darmbakterien herstellen, andererseits von Botenstoffen der Immun- und Hormonzellen im Darm." Wie viele dieser Botenstoffe die Immunzellen freisetzen, hängt wiederum von der Darmflora ab (Lesen Sie hierzu auch: Lieber Keimschleuder als Allergiker!). Zusätzlich würden die Mikroben Hunderttausende Stoffwechselprodukte herstellen, die ins Blut gelangen, sagt Mayer. "Von dort wandern manche ins Gehirn, wo sie wie Hormone wirken."

Darmbakterien stellen Stoffe her, die im Gehirn wie Hormone wirken

Doch nicht nur das: Die Darmmikroben wirken sich auch auf die Form des Hirns aus. Erst vor wenigen Wochen haben Mediziner der University of Pennsylvania im Fachblatt Nature gezeigt, dass die Stoffwechselprodukte bestimmter Keime Mitursache für seltene, gefährliche Gefäßknäuel im Gehirn sind (Tang et al, 2017). Ebenso regulieren die Mikroben die Produktion von hormonartigen Molekülen mit, die für die Entwicklung des Gehirns wichtig sind (Neurochemical Research: Maqsood et al, 2016). Bei Patienten mit Reizdarmsyndrom prüften Forscher aus Mayers Labor, wie genau sich das Vorkommen verschiedener Bakterienarten auswirkt. Sie fanden heraus, dass die Hirnareale, in denen Gefühlsreize verarbeitet werden, bei den Menschen größer waren, die mehr Firmicuten-assoziierte Clostridien und weniger Bacteroidia im Darm hatten.

In der Folge spiegle der Darm wie Gesichtszüge jede im Gehirn entstehende Emotion wieder, schreibt der Medizinprofessor Mayer in seinem Buch Das zweite Gehirn. Bei großem Stress zum Beispiel sorgen Nervensignale dafür, dass sich der Magen langsamer und der Darm schneller leert. "Und das hat großen Einfluss darauf, welche Bakterien sich dort ansiedeln", sagt Mayer. Ein ewiges Hin und Her gewissermaßen, das schwere Folgen haben kann.

"Inzwischen sind wir uns sehr sicher, dass die Darmmikroben einen Anteil an der Entstehung von Depression und Angststörungen haben", sagt John Cryan. Zusätzlich gäbe es Hinweise, dass auch bei Parkinson, Alzheimer-Demenz, Autismus und Schizophrenie das Mikrobiom spezifisch verändert ist. Bei Depressiven beispielsweise scheinen sich zu viele Bakterien der Gattung Bacteroides und zu wenige der Lachnospiraceae-Familie im Darm zu tummeln (Neurogastroenterology and Motility: Naseribafrouei et al, 2014).  Autistische Kinder wiederum haben weniger Bakterien der Prevotella-Familie und weniger Koprokokken im Darm (PlosOne: Kang, 2013).

Cryan arbeitet eng mit dem Psychiatrie-Professor Ted Dinan zusammen, der eine Sprechstunde für Depressive anbietet, denen herkömmliche Therapien nicht helfen – doch was ist mit den Keimen? "Wir können versuchen, die Mikroben zu benutzen, um ungünstige Veränderungen rückgängig zu machen oder psychische Erkrankungen zu behandeln", sagt Cryan.

Drei Therapieformen sind denkbar: Man könnte beispielsweise die fehlenden Darmbakterien aus dem Stuhlgang gesunder Menschen herausfiltern und dann den Patienten bei einer Magenspiegelung einsetzten. Das Verfahren wird auch Stuhltransplantation genannt. Andererseits ist es denkbar, den Patienten Probiotika zu verabreichen, lebende Bakterien wie Milchsäure-Bazillen also. Oder man gibt ihnen unverdauliche Stoffe, die das Wachstum gewisser Bakterienarten anregen.

"Emotionen beim Menschen sind komplizierter als bei Labormäusen"

In Versuchen mit Labormäusen klappt das schon ganz gut. Verpflanzt man verzagten und ängstlichen Tieren die Darmbakterien von mutigeren Genossen, werden die Mäuse furchtloser (Gastroenterology: Bercik et al, 2011). Mit Menschen laufen derzeit erste Studien. Mediziner in Mayers Forschergruppe etwa konnten zeigen, dass Joghurtessen die Emotionsverarbeitung verändert (Gastroenterology: Tillisch et al, 2013). Und französische Pharmakologen nahmen ihren Probanden ein wenig Angst, indem sie diesen einen Monat lang täglich ein Probiotikum mit Laktobazillen und Bifidobakterien gaben (British Journal of Nutrition: Messaouidi, 2011). Weitere kleine Untersuchungen zeigten sogar einen positiven Einfluss von Probiotika auf das Gemüt (Annals of General Psychiatry: Wallace et al, 2017).

Nun gilt es, das Wissen mit umfassenden Studien an Menschen auszubauen, bei denen Psychiater eine Depression oder andere psychische Erkrankung diagnostiziert haben. Tatsächlich werden diese gerade in verschiedenen Forschergruppen vorbereitet. 

Depressive könnten bald ein Darmmikroben-Screening bekommen

In Zukunft, so stellt es sich Mayer vor, könnten dann zum Beispiel Patienten mit Depression eine Untersuchung des Darmmikrobioms bekommen: Welche Bakterien enthält es? Welche fehlen? Mit Stoffen, die das Wachstum ganz bestimmter Bakterienarten fördern und so das Gleichgewicht wieder herstellen, könnte man dann jeden Patienten individuell behandeln. "Erst dann werden wir sehen, wie stark der Einfluss des Mikrobioms auf psychische Erkrankungen wirklich ist", sagt Mayer.

Bis es so weit ist, empfiehlt der Arzt seinen Patienten eine gesunde Ernährung. Die Mittelmeer-Diät zum Beispiel – viel Fisch, der Omega-3-Fettsäuren enthält, Olivenöl und Vollkorn – verbessert nachweislich die Stimmung Depressiver (BMC Medicine: Jacka et al, 2017). Auch wenn es nicht explizit untersucht wurde, sind die Mikrobiom-Forscher sich sicher: Die Darmkeime haben dazu das entscheidende Signal geliefert.

 

[David Münnich]

Wir unterscheiden die Hormonlagen männlich (manisch) und weiblich (depressiv).

[Jakob Simmank David Munnich Dr. med. Olaf Koob]

A dramatic landscape, with heights and depths, mountains alternating with valleys, is probably more fascinating to the eye than the plain. Which biography would you prefer to read ... the person whose life takes a harmonious and regulated course, or the one in which pain and happiness, crisis, and perhaps, upheaval alternates? It would not take me long to decide. In life, development means polarity: yin and yang, day and night, winter and summer, heights and depths, joys and sorrows, birth and death.

This ancient necessity rules the human soul as well. Complete harmony within ourselves and the world and the enjoyment of a sort of “superhealth,” is the longed-for unattainable paradise.

If we were to obtain it, we would sacrifice our freedom and self-determination.

All pain is separation and distance, and at the same heightened self-awareness and consciousness. The body that is sick is more restless, and therefore, more willing to learn, more sensitive, and therefore, more alert and closer to death, to the spirit. Looking at human development, and to the diseases which accompany it; we find that

the "price" of attaining independent thinking and self-consciousness has been the estrangement from the divine universe and from nature. We have even lost the true knowledge of ourselves. This estrangement is the suffering of our time, bearing within it epidemically spreading fear, isolation, despair and depression, often compensated for by the dependence on alcohol and drugs.

In ancient Greece, physicians recognized the natural tendencies of darkness, isolation, cold and paralysis, and related them to our bones, to earthly matter and to gravity. They also related them to the planet Saturn. These same tendencies began to emerge in 18th century Western society as psycho-social disturbances exactly at the time when rapid technological advances were breaking apart old traditions. Medical literature of the day documented these new "nervous" illnesses, as "spleen", "hypochondria", "ennui" (boredom). "People are dis­pensable" was first coined then.

Treating depression, which means knowing that there is a tiny new light laboring to be born out of darkness, means countering the Saturn propensity. Physicians look for forces of life, light, warmth, movement, and sun.

Our tools: psychotherapy, sensitive dialog and various medicines out of plants. Among those are phosphorus (Greek: 'lightbearer'), flower essences, chlorophyll, magnesium and oil-bearing plants

such as rosemary and St. John's Wort (Hyper.).

St. John's Wort is a wonderful example of an antidepressant remedy. It has a strong relationship to light through its blossoms and oil, and a formative, consolidating quality by virtue of its bitter tannins. It can be used as an external rub or as an internal homeopathic remedy to treat nervous ailments, concussions and depression.

A remedy such as St. John's Wort can help remind us of our light-filled origins, overcoming the death of the soul and its concurrent accompanying earthly weight,

(+ caring love of family) and the heart-warmth of the administering physician.

 

[Stiftung Warentest]

Wenn die Tage kürzer und trüber werden, verdunkelt sich häufig auch die Stimmung. Manche Menschen werden sogar ausgesprochen depressiv. Sie fühlen sich niedergeschlagen, können sich zu nichts aufraffen und haben nicht einmal Lust, sich zu bewegen. Sie entwickeln Heißhunger auf Süßigkeiten, Nudeln, Kartoffeln und andere kohlenhydrathaltige Speisen, legen an Gewicht zu und würden am liebsten rund um die Uhr schlafen.

Erst in den achtziger Jahren entdeckten Wissenschaftler, dass die herbstlich-winterliche Depression mit hellem weißen Licht erfolgreich behandelt werden kann. Denn Licht beeinflusst die innere Uhr. Bei Dunkelheit setzt die Zirbeldrüse im Gehirn nämlich das schlaffördernde Hormon Melatonin. frei. Nimmt das Auge dagegen mehr helles Licht auf, wird Melatonin abgebaut und der Trübsinnige wieder munter.

Fast alle Menschen erleben Stimmungsschwankungen mit den sich ändernden Jahreszeiten. Viele fühlen sich dadurch kaum beeinträchtigt. Doch jeder zehnte bis fünfte Europäer und Nordamerikaner leidet Schätzungen zufolge an leichten bis schweren Formen der „Saisonal Abhängigen De­pression“ (SAD). Die reichen von leichten Verstimmungen bis hin zu Selbstmordgedanken.

„Ab wann etwas krankhaft und behandlungsbedürftig ist“, so Dr. Jürgen Zulley vom Schlaf­me­dizini­schen Zentrum der Universität Regensburg, „ist schwer zu entscheiden und objektiv nicht genau festzulegen. Allgemein sagt man, wenn das Leiden so stark ist, dass erhebliche Einschränkungen in Aktivitäten und Befindlichkeit bestehen.“

Wenn die Tage trübe werden, können Lichttherapiegeräte auch die Psyche aufhellen.

Heute ist die Lichttherapie ein anerkanntes Behandlungsverfahren in der Psychiatrie. Professor Anna Wirz-Justice, Basler Universitätsklinik, führte die Therapie in Europa ein. Zunächst wurde sie in Kliniken eingesetzt.

Dort können sich mehrere Patienten gleichzeitig in einem Lichtraum aufhalten. Auch niedergelassene Ärzte wenden die Therapie an. Sie dauert etwa 40 Minuten bis zwei Stunden, je nach Stärke der Lampen.

Je heller das Licht, desto kürzer die Behandlung.

Inzwischen bietet die Industrie Therapiegeräte für den Hausgebrauch an. Auch Wohlfühlleuchten sollen die schlechte Laune vertreiben. Sie haben zwar keine Zertifizierung als Therapiegeräte, können aber prinzipiell auch ihren Zweck erfüllen. Wir haben 13 Tischgeräte getestet, einen Lichthelm ins Visier genommen und nach Anleitung der WDR-Hobbythek eine Lichtdusche gebaut. Die Geräte enthalten zwei bis sechs Leuchtstoffröhren.

Der UV-Anteil wird wegen möglicher Risiken für Haut und Augen herausgefiltert. Auch Infrarotstrahlen werden so weit wie möglich ausgeschaltet. Die Röhren unterscheiden sich kaum von solchen, die auch im Haushalt als Lichtquelle benutzt werden können. Die für eine Lichttherapie erforderliche Beleuchtungsstärke erzielen die Geräte dadurch, dass mehrere Lampen auf kleinem Raum eingesetzt werden und das Licht durch eine Abdeckscheibe gleichmäßig verteilt wird.

Tageslicht vertreibt die trübe Stimmung – selbst bei bedecktem Himmel oder Nebel.

Der Lichthungrige sitzt etwa einen halben bis einen Meter vor der Leuchte. Er sollte den Abstand von der Lampe, den der Hersteller angibt, genau einhalten. Nur so bekommt er die gewünschte Lichtdosis. Er sollte die Augen offen halten und die Augenpartie dem Licht aussetzen. Er kann während der Bestrahlung lesen oder arbeiten, frühstücken oder auf dem Heimtrainer trainieren. Entscheidend für die Qualität der Leuchten und ihre Eignung zur Therapie der Winterdepression sind ihre lichttechnischen Eigenschaften. Vier Geräte schnitten dabei „gut“ ab: Cosmedico Gesundheitsleuchte, Davita Lichtdusche, Philips Bright Light und Vilux.

Um eine Winterdepression therapieren zu können, gilt eine Beleuchtungsstärke zwischen 2.500 und 10.000 Lux als angemessen. Bei den getesteten Geräten variierten die Werte in 50 Zentimeter Sitzabstand zwischen 1.000 Lux (bei der Aura Sun Wellness-Leuchte) und 6.600 Lux (bei Samalux).

Wichtig ist auch der Helligkeitseindruck, vor allem die gleichmäßige Verteilung der Helligkeit über die gesamte Leuchtfläche. Nur ausreichend war er bei Samalux. Auch Chronolux, Dermalight, Aura Sun und SunFlex vermitteln einen ungleichmäßigen Helligkeitseindruck. Je nach individueller Empfindlichkeit können Helligkeitsspitzen als Blendung empfunden werden. Ein Grund für die ungleichmäßige Lichtverteilung könnte sein, dass die Geräte entweder keine Abdeckscheibe haben (wie Samalux und Aura Sun) oder eine klare Abdeckung (wie Chronolux, Dermalight und SunFlex).

Die Lichttherapiegeräte Maspo/Dr. Kern Daylight Power 6 und Olbrich Sunlight brachten es beim Prüfpunkt Flimmerfreiheit nur auf „ausreichend“. Allerdings nimmt das Auge das Flimmern nicht wahr. Das Tchibo Wohlfühl-Licht schnitt in der Flimmerfreiheit mit „mangelhaft“ ab. Wer sehr empfindlich ist, kann das als störend empfinden.

Zu handhaben sind fast alle Leuchten „gut“ bis „sehr gut“. Vilux kann allerdings das Gleichgewicht verlieren, wenn der Stützbügel an der Rückseite des Geräts nicht ausgeklappt wird. Auch SunFlex ist nicht sehr standsicher.

Hier besteht sogar Verletzungsgefahr, denn die Leuchte wiegt mit schwerem Standfuß insgesamt mehr als zwölf Kilo. Fast alle Geräte lassen sich gut abstauben und reinigen. Nur die beiden Leuchten ohne Abdeckscheibe – Samalux und Aura Sun – sind etwas mühsam zu säubern.

Die Lampen haben in der Regel eine Lebensdauer von 5.000 bis 13.000 Betriebsstunden. Das heißt, die Geräte können 10 bis 15 Jahre genutzt werden. Dass die Anwender bei sieben Geräten die Lampen selbst austauschen können, dürfte in der Praxis deshalb kaum erforderlich werden. Zu entsorgende Geräte und Lampen gehören übrigens zum Sondermüll – sie enthalten Quecksilber und Leuchtstoff. Wenn ein Hersteller nicht darauf hinweist, schneidet das Gerät im Prüfpunkt Entsorgungshinweise „mangelhaft“ ab.

Das Café Engel in Helsinki muntert seine Gäste im Winter mit „Bright Lights“ auf.

Die Lichttherapiegeräte können die Stimmung in der dunklen Jahreszeit verbessern – auch bei Gesunden. Eigentlich kann jeder selbst ausprobieren, ob das bei ihm funktioniert. Wer jedoch an einer ernsthaften Winterdepression leidet und eine gezielte Therapie machen will, sollte vorher zum Arzt gehen. Beste Ansprechpartner sind Hausärzte, Psychiater oder Psychologen. Nach gründlicher Diagnose und einer kurzen Einführung kann die Therapie dann zu Hause erfolgen.

Bevor der Arzt eine Lichttherapie verordnet, muss er aber zunächst andere Krankheiten mit ähnlichen Symptomen wie bei der Winterdepression ausschließen. Für sie ist eine andere Behandlung erforderlich. Dazu zählen zum Beispiel die Unterfunktion der Schilddrüse, Unterzuckerung, Viruserkrankungen, chronische Müdigkeit.

Vor und während der Behandlung sollten zudem regelmäßig die Augen untersucht werden, auch wenn nach den bisherigen Erfahrungen mit der Lichttherapie keine Schädigungen aufgetreten sind. Bei Augenerkrankungen, zum Beispiel der Netzhaut oder Augenlinse, ist allerdings Vorsicht und ständige Kontrolle geboten. Außerdem muss der Arzt klären, ob die Patienten Medikamente einnehmen, die die Wirkung von Licht verstärken, wie beispielsweise Johanniskrautpräpa­rate und einige Psychopharmaka. Dann sollten sie entweder die Medikamente absetzen oder auf eine Behandlung mit Licht verzichten.

Nebenwirkungen treten bei der Lichttherapie selten auf. Meist handelt es sich um leichte Beschwerden wie Kopfschmerzen, Augenbrennen, trockene Augen und Schleimhäute, Hautrötungen, Überaktivität, Gereiztheit.

Am Ausgeprägtesten sind sie an den ersten Tagen der Lichttherapie und verschwinden meist wieder. Abhilfe schaffen oft schon kleine Veränderungen: kürzere Bestrahlungszeiten, anderer Zeitpunkt der Behandlung, Einsatz von Luftbefeuchtern.

Bisher ist noch nicht endgültig geklärt, welches die günstigste Tageszeit für die Therapie ist. Während man anfangs noch glaubte, der Tag müsse morgens und abends künstlich verlängert werden, hat sich inzwischen gezeigt: Helles Licht wirkt bei den meisten Patienten unabhängig von der gewählten Tageszeit. Die meisten Experten empfehlen derzeit, die zusätzliche Lichtdosis zunächst am Morgen einzuplanen. Zeigen sich erste Erfolge, können Patienten eine Zeit wählen, die für sie angenehmer ist oder sich besser in ihren Tagesablauf einplanen lässt. Wer nicht auf die morgendliche „Erleuchtung“ anspricht, sollte eine Sitzung am Abend ausprobieren – was einige Menschen allerdings so munter macht, dass sie in der Folge unter Schlafstörungen leiden.

Erste Verbesserungen der Krankheitssymptome zeigen sich meist schon nach wenigen Tagen. Der volle Effekt mit einem Gefühl von Leichtigkeit, Ruhe und Energie tritt meist nach etwa zwei Wochen ein. Für manche Menschen reicht eine kurze Behandlung, andere müssen immer wieder und einige den ganzen Winter über behandelt werden.

Häufig wird vermutet, dass es sich bei den Erfolgen der Lichttherapie um einen Placebo-Effekt handeln könnte – also eine positive Wirkung, die überwiegend auf dem Glauben basiert. Doch bei den meisten Patienten ist die Wirkung dem Placebo überlegen, denn Versuche mit weniger hellem Licht brachten einen geringeren Therapieerfolg.

Zeigt die Lichttherapie keine Wirkung oder hat ein Patient keine Zeit für die regelmäßigen Sitzungen, kann eine Therapie mit Medikamenten sinnvoll sein. In den letzten Jahren haben sich Antidepressiva als recht erfolgreich erwiesen. Doch deren Nebenwirkungen sind stärker als die der Lichttherapie und – großes Manko – ihre positive Wirkung setzt erst nach drei bis vier Wochen ein. Auf die Lichttherapie reagieren Winterdepressive dagegen innerhalb von wenigen Tagen.

 

[Dana Ullman]

Not primarily a focus on how to use homeopathic medicines but providing information on various natural health strategies.

 

    "Depression is melancholy minus its charm“.

Susan Sontag

 

    * Depression lowers your spirits and drowns your eyes in sorrow, though tears aren't the only reason why when you're depressed you sometimes can't see straight. It also caves in your chest, slumps you shoulders, and inhibits full breathing, usually forcing you to try to catch your breath by frequent sighing. You might say depression cuts you down to sighs.

    * But depression is certainly more than physical. Its real ravages are psychological. It creates blah-itis, an inflamed state of the blahs. You lose interest in the things you normally love and begin really hating the things you weren't too sure about in the first place. You tend to doubt yourself and others; in fact, you doubt just about everything--except your own doubts. In more serious cases, you may wonder if life is meaningful or even worthwhile, and in the most extreme cases, you stop reading self-help books that try to make them laugh. Hopefully, you haven't yet reached this terminal phase.

    * A major trauma can certainly be the cause that breaks you down, or you may get pushed over the edge by the accumulation of small stresses. You may feel depressed during what are usually thought of as "good times," such as during the holidays. Some women experience the "baby blues" shortly after giving birth. Every phase of life has its own potential for stress and depression.

 

But depression can also be precipitated by viral or bacterial infection, organic disease, or hormonal disorders. It can be drug-induced (barbituates/amphetamines/birth control pills/alcohol). It can be caused by exposure to certain environmental poisons. It seems that sometimes depression can even be contagious; one person's low-life condition can begin to bring you down with him.

With all these possible triggers floating around, it is no wonder that virtually everybody experiences some period of depression at least once in his life. There is no reason to feel guilty about an occasional bout of depression, unless, of course, you're trying hard to meet your annual guilt quota.

 

   * In every dark period in your life, there is also some light somewhere. Getting in touch with that light is important; in fact, it's just about the only way out. Of course, it's not always easy; it seems as though everyone has his own ideas about moving out of the depressed state of mind. Understanding the various theories about depression may be helpful in treating it, but as the psychiatrist Carl Jung once said, "Learn your theories as well as you can, but put them aside when you touch the miracle of a living soul“.

 

Whether you fully understand the reasons for your depression or not, here are some sensible strategies for reconnecting with and spreading your light.

            Exercise those demons out of you!

Exercise is not only helpful for building a fit body, but it also helps to create a sound mind. Getting your body moving seems to help keep your mind out of the depths of depression. Exercise that involve the long muscles, such as jogging, swimming, bicycling, and playing basketball, football, or tennis, are the most beneficial.

            Supplement your mood.

A - B-complex vitamin and the amino acid tryptophan are a good combination to take; they help increase the brain's release of serotonin, which is a natural anti-depressant. Foods that are high in tryptophan include bananas, soybeans, nuts, turkey, and tuna.

            Don't overdo protein.

Too much protein can inhibit the brain's intake of tryptophan and increase feelings of depression. Don't eat more than one protein-rich meal per day.

            Don't forget to breathe.

It is common for you to breathe shallowly when you're depressed, which tends to create a physical depression. You can help to get yourself out of this depressed state by taking full, deep breaths more often. Alternate nostril breathing creates a rhythmic profusion of air which further enhances oxygenation of the body. To do this type of breathing, sit comfortably with your back straight, exhale fully, close the right nostril with one finger and inhale slowly through your left nostril. After you have inhaled fully through your left nostril, close it and exhale through your right nostril. Keep your left nostril closed and inhale through your right nostril and so on. Repeat this process for a couple of minutes.

            Befriend a friend.

When you're depressed you tend to keep to yourself and wallow in your depression. Don't suffer alone, extend yourself; talk to someone--go visit a friend.

            Help someone else.

Being with, talking to, and helping others less fortunate than you will not only take your mind off your depression, it will help make you feel better about yourself.

Befriend a pet.

Having a pet cat, dog, unicorn or whatever is wonderfully therapeutic. You have someone to talk to, someone who will listen to your every word, someone to provide you with unconditional love..and a pet is cheaper than a therapist.

            Give yourself credit for something, anything.

When you're depressed you tend to blame yourself for everything; you rarely acknowledge anything good about yourself or your life. Don't. Look for what is going right. Be proud that you've acknowledged your depression rather than ignored or denied it. Be pleased that you are trying to do something about it rather than wallow in it. Appreciate your home, family, friends, work, or any simple kindness you did for someone recently. By shining a little light onto the positive side, perhaps you will find that invincible summer in your midst of winter.

Swear off sin.

Alcohol, cigarettes, drugs (recreational and therapeutic), sugar, and junk food can all depress you, physically and psychologically. Perhaps your depression is telling you that what you are doing to your body is bringing you down.

            Join the coffee generation.

Coffee, like sugar, can lead to various problems, but small amounts can also be beneficial for some people, especially during depression. Caffeine molecules have been shown to displace certain neurotransmitters and help to keep the "good-mood" chemicals in circulation. Coffee is fast-acting and the effects can last 3 - 6 hours. Despite these benefits, though, be aware that coffee is like a drug; it has side effects. Because of this, safer methods should be considered before resorting to this strategy. Don't drink more than one cup per day during depressed times.

            Let there be light.

Light has been found to affect brain chemicals in a way that reduces depressive states. Try lifting the shades in your home, opening windows, turning on brighter lights, and wearing lighter and brighter clothing.

            Get out of here.

Consider "travel therapy“. Changing your routine, going on a vacation, and adding a little adventure to your life is often therapeutic.

            Write on!

Keeping a journal of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences provides a wonderful catharsis. Writing can also help you come to a better understanding of your depression, which may help lift its veil so that you can better understand and appreciate yourself and your experience.

            Draw it out of you.

Draw or paint what you are feeling. Not only will it feel good to do this, you may even get a valuable work of art out of it.

            Let it rain!

If the tears are there, cry! Don't bottle up your feelings. Tears contain chemicals that need to be released.

            Flowers can help.

Yes, flowers often make a person feel appreciated, but in addition to giving or getting flowers, flowers can also be used therapeutically. BB. Sweet Chestnut, Mustard, and Crab Apple are most useful for treating depression.

Pamper yourself.

Give yourself time to appreciate yourself and life. Take a hot bath. Relax in a comfortable place. Listen to beautiful music. Get a massage. Take a walk in nature or any place that feels good to you. Read a good, uplifting book. . Re-read this chapter!

 

[Dr. Luc de Schepper]

Aur-met.: the classic situation in which one person dies after many years of a happy marriage, and the other partner dies within a few months. The surviving partner will say, “I lost the sunshine in my life,” meaning they lost all purpose in life.

Senior citizens in nursing homes where loneliness and a lack of purpose often bring an “Aurum state” of emptiness and despair. Covers physical and emotional pain as well as the desire to commit suicide (jumping from a bridge/from a window). Loathing of life and want to avoid other people, but they get revived when you convince them to go out for a little walk.

Often have feelings of guilt (“maybe I should have been nicer, now that he or she is gone, I regret not telling him more that I loved him”). Financial loss (stock market crash of October ’87). Affected by financial loss, for example a star student who can no longer afford to go to the prestigious college she always hoped and dreamed of. Aur-met. always puts all his eggs in one basket; when he loses it, there is no reason to live further. Pain and despair of patients with incurable diseases (advanced cancer). Alleviating physical as well as emotional pain.

Caus.: completely different from Aurum. Complete paralysis of the mind and the body. Suffered a knockout blow from too many unfortunate events in her life. Recurrent grief events, one after the other, paralyzing all the emotions, and often with a sense of injustice or in an unjust situation. Caus. seem to live in a daze, with no emotions. “Hearing bad news” (such as the death of a family member or a diagnosis of incurable disease) can also create a Causticum state.

Ign.: depression from a broken heart and betrayal [still acute (fresh in the person’s mind)]. Depression with sighing, sobbing and just sitting there immobilized, as if struck by a lightning. “Why me?” they ask in vain, left by a lover in whom they put all their emotional bank balance. “How could he do this to me?” They are very sensitive to the behavior of their lover, as if their very survival depends on that one person. May also have psychosomatic symptoms such as sighing, choking, a stiff neck, and a globus hystericus (a feeling of a lump in the throat making it impossible to swallow). They often weep for help and attention, they eat the refrigerator empty, and they may even have convulsions.

If someone has many Ignatia (acute heartbreak) events, they will need another remedy:

Nat-mur.: If there are too many heartbreaks, the person turns to silent grief, never crying except perhaps when alone listening to classical music. She doesn’t want to talk about her depression (except maybe with her very best friend). < when people try to console her because she just wants to be left alone. These people are easily offended, never forget what was done to them, often dwell over the painful event, sometimes with great vindictiveness.

They often become psychotherapists or dedicate their life to a cause like MADD (Mothers Against Drunken Drivers). Indeed, most members of these groups could benefit from Nat-mur. since they all lost a beloved one in tragic circumstances. Nat-mur. typically have recurrent attacks of cold sores or herpes genitalis, sometimes unexplained hives or rosacea in the face. Add to that a dry skin and oily face and sensitivity of the eyes to sunlight, and you can recognize the physical symptoms of grief leading to depression. Rather than committing suicide, they tend to crusade for a worthy cause as this improves their moods.

Ph-ac.: phosphoric acid used to make bubbles in soft drinks. The person who needs it feels that her life is flat and all the sparkle has gone out of it. She is so depressed that she is indifferent to everything, even her own family, friends and activities she usually enjoys. She lies in bed with her face to the wall and the phone unplugged. She suffers from spaciness, a great loss of memory with difficulties finding the right word, drowsiness during the day and insomnia at night. Typical physical symptoms include hair loss and painless diarrhea. This state mainly found in teenagers who have homesickness (it’s absolutely the greatest remedy for these teenagers away from home for the first time), or in patients broken down from nerve strain after a longtime chronic illness like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or mono.

Sep.: for wome. There is probably not one mother who has not been in this state (although you don’t have to be a woman to get the exhausted, burned out and depressed Sepia state). But it is certainly well-known for the infamous post-partum blues. Basically is worn-out, physically, mentally and emotionally.

It can be from a particularly difficult pregnancy (perhaps with severe morning sickness, for which Sepia is very helpful too!) or from an arduous delivery. To the amazement of the family, the Sepia patient can be so depressed that she feels indifferent to her family, even her newborn baby. “Leave me alone,” they say, “I am utterly exhausted. I need a vacation, far away from the whole family, to be able to replenish my energy.” The poor Sepia patient has always been very dutiful but this attitude is precisely what brought her into a state of exhaustion and depression (“I’m having a nervous breakdown,” she may say). Now she feels that everyone wants a piece from her, her children, husband, and friends, and she can’t cope with the demands anymore. She may even say, “Shoot me because death must be better than this.” Hopefully your postpartum blues are very short-lived, but don’t take a chance: Sepia is a state easily recognized and remedied by the homeopathic physician. Of course anyone with overwork and over-responsibility can slide into this exhaustive Sepia situation.

Ars.: anxiety and depression, often comes from severe anxiety about illness and the prospect of dying. Obsessive-compulsive behavior like hand washing. Fear for microbes which seem to be everywhere; they are so afraid of catching a disease (cancer) that they become depressed. RestLESS (at night where they toss and turn in bed). PESsimistic: today everything might be OK but you don’t know what tomorrow brings! Cause: exposed to the death of a parent, or after an adult has taken care of a dying relative for months. Fearing that no one can help her, she runs from one doctor to another and is often labeled a hypochondriac. She relies greatly on a trusted doctor, and when the physician moves away or retires, depression sets in.

Anxious, insecure, and perfectionistic people who need this remedy may set high standards for themselves and others and become depressed if their expectations are not met. Worry about material security sometimes borders on despair. When feeling ill, these people can be demanding and dependent, even suspicious of others, fearing their condition could be serious.

Many more great anti-depressive remedies: Chel. Calc. Cina. Graph. Nit-ac. Stann-met. Psor. Puls. etc. - each for a different set of symptoms/a different causative factor.

 

Therapeutics

Ign.: "The sighing remedy". Remedy of silent grief. Sobbing: Utterly absorbed in grief. Unable to control emotions and excitement. Severe grief after sudden disappointments, romantic reversals, severe experience of loss; emotions are held inside, taciturn, does not want to cry; headaches from grief; weight upon the chest and deep-sighing respiration, asthma; heart palpitations from grief; spasms and cramping, prostration; moaning during sleep; dreams of waves breaking over self, as if drowning in sorrow.

Aur-met.: The greatest among the suicide remedies, and a remedy of the deepest depression. Melancholy: imagines he is unfitted for the world: Filled with intense delight when he thinks of death: Wants to get out of the world. Depression and compression throughout organism,  burdening grief after severe loss, after disappointments in love, or after humiliations; suicidal ideation, cannot release pain; darkening of consciousness, gloominess, after grief or head injury; serious mood; chest feels as if encased in armor; heart palpitations from grief; (deep-seated bone pains); moaning during sleep; insomnia. Morose; indisposed to talk, sulky. Sits apart in deepest melancholy. The slightest contradiction excites anger and he forgets himself.

Ph-ac.: Emotional standstill after grief or disappointment in love; resignation and indifference; headaches with a heavy feeling on top of head; (grief leading to hair loss or premature grayness); ulcerative colitis; (diabetes); collapse states and weakness.

Caust.: Grieves over losses, often coupled with outcry against injustice received or witnessed; intensely sympathetic for others; asthma from intense or suppressed emotions; colitis; (indurations of tendons, slowly progressing paralysis).

Croc-s.: Tendency to sadness, yet also great changeability of symptoms; laughing # sadness or anger; deep-sighing respiration, heavy feeling around heart; heart palpitations; weakness with fainting fits; (“As if something alive in various internal organs, also in right breast”).

Colch.: Grieves from being mistreated by others; unsupportable suffering; appetite vanishes, odors of food nauseate (eggs/fish); heart palpitations; difficult respiration, oppressed chest; intestinal catarrh, dysentery, much withheld abdominal gas; weariness (rheumatic and arthritic complaints).

Op.: Complaints from trauma or fright, consequences of head injury; darkening of consciousness, drowsy state, almost blissful; also nervousness and impatience; (flushed face); chronic bowel obstruction and inactivity from trauma (small intestine); prostration and fatigue; insomnia.

Nat-m.: Locked-in emotions after grief, introversion and dwelling on adverse or grievous experiences; sensitive and vulnerable; bears grudges; headaches from grief; asthma, sighing; heart palpitations; gastric ulcers from not being able to work through grief, colitis; insomnia from recollection of hurtful events; head injury.

"I give the flight up: let there be an end, a privacy, and obscure nook for me I want to be forgotten even by God." Robert Browning.

Am-m.: Grief and apprehension; internalization of grief, wants to cry and is unable to; irritability; complaints may begin after head injury (loss of flesh and muscular power after head injury); hair loss; cancer of stomach; oppression of chest, asthma; disturbed sleep.

Dig.: Despondency and melancholy; anxious sadness, disappointed love, sadness from music; heaviness and oppression in heart and chest region, heart seems to stop when moving, must hold still (congestive heart failure); heart palpitations after grief; prostration; (wakes from sleep with gasping and fear of suffocation), asthma;

Arn.: Shock and trauma in mind and body after injury, accident, overexertion, sudden grief, intense remorse, or sudden financial ruin; chronic effects of trauma or injury; head injury, with stupor and depressive sadness; nervous vulnerability and depletion from shock and grief; lack of stamina in mind and body; belabored breathing and sighing; sunken epigastrium, with feeling of powerlessness; (gastritis, dysentery); lack of vitality; bruised, sore, sensitive condition.

Orni.: Feeling  of dread in chest and stomach, depression; ulcerations and indurations, cancer of stomach and caecum, painful contractions of pylorus, flatulent distention that rolls as a ball from one side to another, loss of appetite and weight loss, coated tongue, vomiting of coffee-ground looking matter.

 

Repertory:

Mind: Grief - Ambr. Anac. Arn. Ars. AUR. Bell. Bry. Cann-xyz. CAUST. Cic. Cimic. Coloc. Croc. Dig. Dros. Ferr. Graph. Hell. Iber. IGN. kali-p. Lach. Lyc. Merc. NAT-M. Nux-v. Op. Ph-ac. PULS. RHUS-T. Sep. STAPH. Sulph. Tarent.

Irritable # cheerfulness - aids. ant-t. ars. Aur. aur-ar. Borx. bov. carc. caust. chin. cocc. croc. cycl. kali-c. lyc. merc. merc-c. nat-c. nat-m. ozone plat. sanic. spig. spong. Stram. sul-i. tell. zinc.

Ailments from grief - Acet-ac. AMBR. Apis Arn. AUR. Aur-m-n. Bell. Bry. Calc-p. CAUST. Cocc. Coloc. Crat. Dros. Gels. Graph. Hura Hyos. IGN. Kali-br. kali-p. LACH. NAT-M. Nux-v. Op. PH-AC. PHOS. Plat. Puls. Samb. Sep  Sol-o. STAPH. Uran-n. Zinc.

Insane from grief - ARS. BELL. Cocc. Plat.

Cheerful # grief - calc-s. graph. Op.

Catalepsy from grief - Ign. Ph-ac. puls. staph.

Complaints from disappointed love - AUR. Aur-m-n. Aur-s. Bell. Bufo Calc-p. Caust. Cimic. Coff. Con. Hell. HYOS. IGN. kali-p. Lach. NAT-M. PH-AC. PLAT. STAPH.

Complaints from rejected love - Aur. Aur-s. carc. Caust. LYC. Nat-m. Pall. Sil. Sulph.

Complaints from death of loved ones – child – Acon. Ars. caust. Gels. IGN. Kali-br. Kali-p. Lach. NAT-M. Op. Ph-ac. Plat. STAPH.

Complaints from death of loved ones – parents or friends - CAUST. IGN. staph.

death of loved ones – mother - Aur-m-n.

Grief from losing money - aur. calc-f. mez. psor.

Complaints from being abused sexually - ACON. ARN. CARC. IGN. Med. Melis. Nat-br. NAT-M. nux-v. OP. Orig. SEP. STAPH.

Complaints from shame - Ign. nat-m. OP. Staph.

 

[Dr. Sayeed Ahmad]

Depression is a serious mental disorder in which a person suffers long periods of sadness and other negative feelings. The term depression also describes a normal mood involving the sadness, grief, disappointment, or loneliness that everyone experiences at times.

Depressed people may feel fearful, guilty, or helpless. They often cry, and many lose interest in work and social life. Many cases of depression also involve aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, or other physical symptoms.

Some depressed patients try to harm or kill themselves. Periods of depression may occur alone, or they may alternate with periods of mania (extreme joy and overactivity) in a disorder called bipolar disorder. This condition is also known as manic-depressive disorder.

Psychiatrists do not fully understand the causes of depression, but they have several theories. Some psychiatrists believe that depression follows the loss of a relative, a friend, a job, or a valued goal. Many psychiatrists believe that experiences that occur during early childhood may make some people especially subject to depression later in life.

According to another theory, disturbances in the chemistry of the brain occur during depression. Brain cells communicate with one another by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters. Some experts think that certain neurotransmitters become underactive during depression and overactive during mania. Some women experience temporary depression in the weeks following childbirth. Experts believe that this condition, called postpartum depression, is caused by fluctuating levels of hormones and difficulty adjusting to the pressures of parenthood. In a few cases, postpartum depression can be severe.Treatments for depression include hospitalization, psychotherapy, drugs, and electroconvulsive (electroshock) therapy. Hospitalization is an essential treatment for depressed patients who are suicidal. In psychotherapy,

the psychiatrist tries to understand the childhood events that make a person subject to depression and (2) the events that preceded the patient's current depression. The most prescribed antidepressant in the U.S. is a drug called fluoxetine. Fluoxetine is marketed under the name Prozac. Lithium carbonate is a drug used in treating bipolar disorder. Electroconvulsive therapy is generally used as a treatment only for patients who fail to respond to other treatment.

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness in which a person alternates between periods of severe depression and periods of mania (extreme joy, overactivity, or irritability). The illness is also called manic-depressive illness or manic depression. Approximately 3 million people in the United States suffer from bipolar disorder. If treated inadequately, the illness can have tragic consequences, such as suicide.

 

In a period of depression, a person suffering from bipolar disorder may feel sad, anxious, irritable, hopeless, or unmotivated. Depressed patients may experience insomnia or excessive sleeping, decreased or increased appetite, weight loss or weight gain, slowing of thought and movement, and poor memory and concentration. Many think about wanting to die and have feelings of guilt.

In a period of mania, a person may experience euphoria (indescribable happiness). The person may also be unusually irritable or may alternate between euphoria and irritability. Manic patients sometimes behave inappropriately.

For example, they may laugh uncontrollably at funerals. Periods of mania also are characterized by increased energy, racing thoughts, increased rate of speech, decreased need for sleep, exaggerated sense of self-worth, and poor judgment.

Periods of depression and mania may follow one another at intervals of days, weeks, or months. Some patients experience mania and depression at the same time. They are among the most severely affected bipolar patients.

Scientists believe genetic factors cause many cases of bipolar disorder. About half of all patients first show signs of the illness in their teen-age years.

Treatment for the disorder includes drugs and psychotherapy. The most commonly prescribed medications are lithium, carbamazepine, and valproate.

 

Mood disorders, also known as affective disorders, mainly involve disturbances in the person's mood. The two chief mood disorders are major depression (extreme sadness) and mania (extreme happiness and overactivity). People with bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness, suffer from alternating periods of depression and mania. Mood disorders are usually episodic-that is, the person experiences mood disturbances at relatively brief, distinct periods during the course of the illness. People with mood disorders typically return to normal levels of functioning after treatment.

Most people with depression feel sad, hopeless, and worthless. Many also suffer from insomnia and loss of appetite and have trouble concentrating. Some people with depression move and think slowly, but others feel restless. Some feel so hopeless and discouraged that they consider or attempt suicide. About 15 percent of people who seek treatment for depression commit suicide.

 

Antidepressant is the name of a group of drugs commonly used to treat major depression, a severe mental illness. Antidepressants also help treat other disorders (chronic pain/anxiety disorders/obsessive-compulsive disorder).

Antidepressants are thought to work by regulating the brain's neurotransmission system. Chemicals called neurotransmitters carry messages from one nerve cell in the brain to another. These chemicals attach to special molecules

on nerve cells called receptors, both in sending and receiving messages. Antidepressants first increase the concentration of neurotransmitters in the brain. After several weeks of treatment, the receptors become less sensitive,

and depression lifts.

The three main types of antidepressants are

1) selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI's),

2) tricyclic antidepressants (TCA's),

3) monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's).

SSRI's and TCA's prevent brain cells from reabsorbing excess neurotransmitters after the chemicals have delivered their messages. SSRI's block the reabsorption of the neurotransmitter called serotonin. SSRI's include the most widely prescribed antidepressant, fluoxetine (Prozac). TCA's, such as the drug amitriptyline (for example, Elavil), block the reabsorption of several neurotransmitters, including serotonin and norepinephrine. MAOI's, which include the drug phenelzine (Nardil), inactivate a protein that breaks down excess neurotransmitters.

Most antidepressants are taken by mouth, and all require the prescription of a doctor. The drugs may cause various side effects. For example, SSRI's can cause increased anxiety, poor sleep, nausea, and loss of sexual interest.

TCA's can cause hypotension (low blood pressure), irregular heartbeat, and constipation. MAOI's may combine with certain foods or drugs to create life-threatening hypertension (high blood pressure).

 

Ars.: Anxious, insecure, and perfectionistic people who need this remedy may set high standards for themselves and others and become depressed if their expectations are not met. Worry about material security sometimes borders on despair. When feeling ill, these people can be demanding and dependent, even suspicious of others, fearing their condition could be serious.

Aur-met.: can be helpful to serious people, strongly focused on work and achievement, who become depressed if they feel they have failed in some way. Discouragement, self-reproach, humiliation, and anger can lead to feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. May feel worse at night, with nightmares or insomnia.

Calc.: A dependable, industrious person who becomes overwhelmed from too much worry, work, or physical illness may benefit from this remedy. Anxiety, fatigue, confusion, discouragement, self-pity, and a dread of disaster may develop. A person who needs this remedy often feels chilly and sluggish and easily tires on exertion.

Caust.: Feels depressed because of grief and loss (either recent or over time) may benefit from this remedy. Frequent crying or a feeling of mental dullness and forgetfulness (with anxious checking to see if the door is locked, if the stove is off, etc.) are other indications. People who need this remedy are often deeply sympathetic toward others and, having a strong sense of justice, can be deeply discouraged or angry about the world.

Cimic:: Can be energetic and talkative when feeling well, but upset and gloomy when depressed - with exaggerated fears (of insanity, of being attacked, of disaster). Painful menstrual periods and headaches that involve the neck are often seen when this remedy is needed.

Ign.: Sensitive suffers grief or disappointment and try to keep the hurt inside may benefit from this remedy. Wanting not to cry or appear too vulnerable to others, they may seem guarded, defensive, and moody.

They may also burst out laughing, or into tears, for no apparent reason. A feeling of a lump in the throat and heaviness in the chest with frequent sighing or yawning are strong indications for Ignatia. Insomnia (or excessive sleeping), headaches, and cramping pains in the abdomen and back are also often seen.

Kali-p.: feels depressed after working too hard, being physically ill, or going through prolonged emotional stress or excitement, this remedy can be helpful. Exhausted, nervous, and jumpy, they may have difficulty working or concentrating - and become discouraged and lose confidence. Headaches from mental effort, easy perspiration, sensitivity to cold, anemia, insomnia, and indigestion are often seen when this remedy is needed.

Nat-c.: Usually mild, gentle, and selfless - making an effort to be cheerful and helpful, and avoiding conflict whenever possible. Can become depressed, after being hurt or disappointed, can become depressed, but keep their feelings to themselves. Even when feeling lonely, they withdraw to rest or listen to sad music, which can isolate them even more. Nervous and physically sensitive (to sun, to weather changes, and to many foods (milk), they may also get depressed when feeling weak or ill.

Nat-m.: Seem reserved, responsible, and private - yet have strong inner feelings (grief, romantic attachment, anger, or fear of misfortune) that they rarely show. Even though they want other people to feel for them, they can act affronted or angry if someone tries to console them, and need to be alone to cry. Anxiety, brooding about past grievances, migraines, back pain, and insomnia can also be experienced when the person is depressed. Craving for salt and tiredness from sun exposure are other indications for this remedy.

Puls.: Have a childlike softness and sensitivity - and can also be whiny, jealous, and moody. When depressed, they are sad and tearful, wanting a lot of attention and comforting. Crying, fresh air, and gentle exercise usually improve their mood. Getting too warm or being in a stuffy room can increase anxiety. Depression around the time of hormonal changes (puberty, menstrual periods, or menopause) can often be helped with Pulsatilla.

Sep.: Feel weary, irritable, and indifferent to family members, and worn out by the demands of everyday life may respond to this remedy. They want to be left alone and may respond in an angry or cutting way if anyone bothers them. They often feel better from crying, but would rather have others keep their distance and not try to console them or cheer them up. Menstrual problems, a sagging feeling in internal organs, sluggish digestion, and improvement from vigorous exercise are other indications for this remedy.

Staph.: Quiet, sensitive, emotional people who have difficulty standing up for themselves may benefit from this remedy. Hurt feelings, shame, resentment, and suppressed emotions can lead them to depression. If under too much pressure, they can sometimes lose their natural inhibition and fly into rages or throw things. A person who needs this remedy may also have insomnia (feeling sleepy all day, but unable to sleep at night), toothaches, headaches, stomachaches, or bladder infections that are stress-related.

 

 

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