If depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders have
impacted your life, you are certainly not alone. Of the women we talk to, 50–70%
have already been placed on medication for these symptoms, and though some may initially
feel better as a result, the
effects of antidepressant medications are not all good. But there is hope
— through a natural approach that works on the underlying causes.
Why are mood problems so common in women, and what is different about our approach?
We strongly believe that our biography interacts with our biology
to write our emotional history — and current research is bearing
this out.
For example, women may be born into situations where pain and anxiety prevailed,
then grew up to replicate those circumstances because that is what feels “normal.”
Many women with mood issues, had a chaotic and dysfunctional childhood, and this
formed a blueprint of what feels normal for them.
Others may have suffered a series of unfortunate situational factors along the way
that triggered mood dysregulation in its many forms. In terms of chemical imbalance,
poor nutrition alone can send a stressed-out woman over the edge, and our environment
is loaded with stressors, toxins, and endocrine disruptors that have shifted our
collective neurochemistry almost irreversibly.
To add insult to this injury, we occupy a time and place culturally where the unofficial
rules dictate that winners must squelch any negative psychosocial issues, while
those who don’t are the “weak players” in life. Another prevailing
philosophy is “Don’t worry — be happy” (not a “head
case”).
All these factors when compounded explain the high incidence of depression and anxiety
in our society. No wonder we make a headlong rush for the quick fix in the form
of antidepressant and anxiolytic medication. If we buy into the conventional model,
we can either take a pill or we can “learn to live with it.”
But women are smart. We know intuitively that life is just not that simple. We bravely
play by the rules so we can “have it all,” but when life happens it
isn’t always pretty. Our over-drive for success in the outer world can be
a bypass for the inner work that allows us to traverse developmental milestones
with the body, mind and spirit intact.
So, if self-care and inner work are necessary for making safe passage through life’s
joys and sorrows, you might be asking, Aside from antidepressants, what options
are there? There certainly are safe natural options — many of which
have been shown in clinical trials to be equally, if not more effective than drugs!
Mood disorders aren’t all in your head — they develop as a result of
neurochemical imbalances that disrupt your mood regulation pathways. When a woman
relays her physical and psychological symptoms to us, our response is, Let’s
look at what’s going on in your life that could be causing those symptoms.
Imbalance is a consequence of a combination of life stressors, environmental factors,
toxic load, your emotional history, genetic make-up, and present biochemistry.
The good news is that each of these stressors can be addressed by changes you personally
can make in your life, one step at a time. There is hope, but to make progress
you must perceive and treat yourself as a whole woman.
Through a comprehensive approach that integrates such measures as dietary changes,
high-quality nutritional supplements, regular exercise, body work, and in some cases
talk therapy and bioidentical hormonal therapy, the majority of women can begin
to rewrite their emotional histories — with chapters that include a productive
and emotionally fulfilled life. Read on for information on how you can
begin to rewrite your personal story today.
See more articles on depression, anxiety and mood
Natural antidepressants
— do they work better than drugs? While antidepressants are some
of the most widely prescribed drugs in the US, many women wonder if the side effects
are worth it. There are effective natural alternatives to these medications, and
many were the models for the drugs in the first place.
Seasonal affective
disorder — getting back to nature, reviewed by Dr. Amber Hayden, DO.
There’s finally a name for the sadness that can come on as the days get shorter
but it’s still a big problem for lots of women. Get ahead of the problem with our
real-life natural relief options so you can feel better and more like yourself.
Anger in women,
reviewed by Dr. Amber Hayden, DO. It’s okay for women to get mad, but it
isn’t very much fun, or very healthy, if anger is a regular part of your life. Understand
the roots of anger in women, along with the roles that hormones play, and learn
how to use the power of anger for good.
Release negative patterns
— heal yourself emotionally and physically. The Hoffman Process
for emotional healing can help women put their unpleasant pasts behind them. Awareness,
forgiveness and self-acceptance come from understanding your own personal history
and learning to move forward.
The Hoffman Quadrinity
Process — learn to put yourself first. Women's Health Network
outlines the Hoffman Quadrinity Process.
What is postpartum
depression, and how do I know if I have it? If you currently struggle
with PPD, have in the past, or want to help someone who has — read on to learn
what this might tell us about our brain chemistry and its sensitivity to hormonal
changes — and what you can do about it. PPD, like PMS, PMDD, and perimenopausal
depression, lets you know your body needs more support!
Relieve your
adrenal symptoms today