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Dr. Steve Ilardi, a clinical psychologist, is convinced that rather than taking drugs, people who suffer from depression should just change their lifestyles. He claims that by eating foods rich in omega-3s, getting enough sun and sleep, exercising regularly, and doing something meaningful with their time, people will be cured of their depression.
We’re not convinced. Some people have chemical imbalances that require medical attention, often in the form of antidepressants. If a little sun and fun were all it took to cure people of debilitating depression, then it probably wouldn’t be so hard for millions of people to live with.
via Natural News
Dr Ilardi’s only mistake is making a sweeping diagnosis, when he’s really making a cultural commentary. It’s true that levels of depression and anxiety, and even ADD, are intensely related to lifestyle. Too much screen time with Videogames/TV/Internet, specialized cubicle jobs (that feel meaningless), and all the chemicals/hormones in our food are TOTALLY related to levels of the aforementioned afflictions. But Definitely not all: people still do have persistent chemical imbalances that vary from depression to plain old crazy.
But I think what he’s responding to is our automatic reliance on drugs as a cure for pretty much everything. When it comes to depression, it’s definitely a good idea to check lifestyle and environmental factors first. And Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves that it’s OKAY to be sad for periods of time– something society doesn’t often let us do.
But not all