Women get depressed, not men! False! We know that more women suffer from depression but there are many men who suffer from this condition too although very often they hide it. That actual figure is that out of 14 million Americans who suffer from depression in a year, about 6 million of these are men. The alarming fact is that there are very probably more men than women who are plagued by this condition but it is so well concealed that nobody knows for sure. Another alarming issue is that only about 50% of patients seek out help and treatment such as anti depression medication.

Men’s depression symptoms can be different from women’s. There can be anger and this can manifest itself in very bad temper and road rage when driving. There may also be an increase in impulsive risky behavior such as casual sex or indulging in gambling or extreme sports. They can also be extremely touchy and over sensitive to criticism. Because of shame, low esteem and the feeling that men have to show strength, the condition often goes undiagnosed and sometimes men will turn to drugs and alcohol rather than take anti depression medication.

While most depression symptoms are common to both sexes, women will probably feel more the symptoms relating to feeling empty, weepiness and a sense of hopelessness and reduced sex drive. There may be more suicide attempts among women as well.

The side effects of anti depression medication will not usually discriminate between the sexes but there are certain tendencies which are peculiar to either sex. Women tend to be more concerned about their
societal body-image goals so if weight gain is one of the side effects, this may determine whether they continue with that depression medication or not.

As regards reduced sex drive, men seem to suffer more from the side effects of the SSRIs, the most popular type of anti depression medication, as they may have have problems with reaching orgasm and low libido. Women seem to have already a low sex drive when starting out as this is one of the devastating effects of the condition itself. This therefore leaves a lot of room for improvement which may be the reason why this seems less of a problem for women.

As regards a herbal treatment for depression, the problem of a reduced libido for either sex never arises as the side effects are very mild such as headache and some nausea and oversensitivity to bright light. There are also no other troublesome side effects or risks of getting addicted to depression medication not to mention the risks associated with discontinuation syndrome when and if you have to come off anti depression medication. Herbal remedies for depression are a much safer option all round.

One of the most widely prescribed natural remedies for depression in Europe is St. John’s Wort which is particularly effective in mild to moderate depression. Many people are surprised to learn that this herb is prescribed for up to 50% of depression cases in Germany while <a href=”http://www.onlinepharmacylist.net/13/1/Prozac/”>Prozac is not popular at all. It comes in at a mere 2%! I can bet fairly safely that your medical adviser will not know this or will not even be convinced that a herbal remedy combined with other natural remedies for depression is the way to go. But there have been pioneers in every century!

Let us look at why a natural remedy for depression could and maybe should , in many cases, replace anti-depressants. Why do you think the FDA put black box warnings (the most serious risk) on the boxes of these medications? Why are there warnings on cigarette packets? Because there are grave risks to health. In the case of anti-depressants, there is a risk in younger patients (up to the age of 24!) of increasing suicidal thoughts and depression, agitation and insomnia and a withdrawal from social situations. There are a whole list of side effects as well although they are not in the black box. However the side effects from these meds are well known and can include nausea, blurred vision, constipation and loss of libido.

Let us have a look at other natural remedies for depression. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is often tried with great success. The patient, with the help of the therapist is trained to change his or her whole way of thinking. In this way, negative thinking which inevitably leads to depression and hopelessness can be changed. Sometimes, though, especially in cases of severe depression, this kind of therapy will not give great results. Other cases can be treated with CBT in combination with some medication.

One of the favorite natural remedies for depression is increasing foods with Omega3 or fatty acids which can improve overall health as well as combating depression. Studies have shown that populations with higher omega 3s in their diets have much fewer cases of depression. It can help reduce heart disease, osteoporosis and arthritis so it is a wonderful supplement to add to anyone’s diet.

In choosing a natural remedy for depression, such as a herbal one, tell your doctor that you want to try it and ask for some advice especially if you are already on anti depressants.

First, some bad news. About 40 million Americans will suffer from depression at some point in their lives. Only about 50% will try to get help, yet 90% of depression cases can easily be treated with medication. It has been found that depression can last from six months to a year but there are are many patients who remain chronically depressed for years. The good news is that besides medication with anti-depressants there are many natural ways to treat depression.

Let us take exercise for example. What could be more natural than that? Any from of exercise that is going to get the ‘feel good’ endorphins going and improving your mood is one of the most effective and natural ways to treat depression. Even half an hour three to five times a week doing power walking, running, aerobics, dancing or just a good brisk walk will cut depression symptoms in half.

Social networking is a great way to keep in touch with real people and I am not including Facebook in this one, which is a sort of virtual networking in front of a computer! By social networking, I mean the real thing! That means having real, face to face contact with people through family, friends, clubs, sports and church. It has been found that the more social networking you do, the less likely you are to suffer from depression. This is another one of the natural ways to treat depression.

Anti depressant medications such as Prozac, Zoloft and Marplan can have serious side effects and I know that many patients had to stop taking them because they could no longer put up with the ‘zombie’ feeling. Whenever and if you decide that these medications are no longer for you, see your doctor as these drugs have to be tapered off as discontinuation syndrome can be quite severe if it is done in a cold turkey way. Doctors of course do not want to call this withdrawal but that is basically what it is. As the brain chemistry has been radically altered for such a long time, you can imagine that withdrawal is going to play havoc with your life. Certainly, if you opt for one of the natural ways to treat depression, discontinuation or withdrawal symptoms will never be a problem.

Natural treatment for depression is gaining momentum now as people are more and more wary of big pharm, their profits and their hype. Herbal remedies for depression have so few side effects and do not represent any risk to your health in the long term. Some of the herbs used such as St. John’s Wort and the Passion Flower aid the mind in dispelling feelings of the blues and supporting a positive mental attitude. Coupled with cognitive behavior therapy which is also a natural treatment for depression, these herbal remedies can transform your life. By looking at some natural ways to treat depression, many people have successfully come through depression, much to the joy of their loved ones.