If you suffer from Depression, Low Energy, CFS, or Fibromyalgia and are "Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired" give us a call at:
 
(417) 883-0115 to schedule a FREE CONSULT.

You can also schedule a phone consult, just click here: Phone Consults

TAKE BACK CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH TODAY!


What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

Everyone at one time or another has felt depressed, sad, or blue. Being depressed is a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or an injured self-esteem. But sometimes the feeling of sadness becomes intense, lasting for long periods of time and preventing a person from leading a normal life. This is depression, a mental illness that if left untreated, can worsen, lasting for years and causing untold suffering, and possibly even result in suicide. It is important to recognize the signs of depression and seek help if you or your loved one is exhibiting any of the following symptoms.

These are some of the signs and symptoms of depression that you should be aware of:

• Sadness
• Loss of energy
• Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
• Loss of enjoyment from things that were once pleasurable
• Difficulty concentrating
• Uncontrollable crying
• Difficulty making decisions
• Irritability
• Increased need for sleep
• Insomnia or excessive sleep
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Stomachache and digestive problems
• Decreased sex drive
• Sexual problems
• Headache
• A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Attempting suicide

Here is one type of depression common during winter.

Seasonal Affective Disorder 

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal depression, called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a depression that occurs each year at the same time, usually starting in fall or winter and ending in spring or early summer. It is more than just "the winter blues" or "cabin fever." A rare form of SAD known as "summer depression," begins in late spring or early summer and ends in fall.

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder

People who suffer from SAD have many of the common signs of depression: Sadness, anxiety, irritability, loss of interest in their usual activities, withdrawal from social activities, and inability to concentrate. But symptoms of winter SAD differ from symptoms of summer SAD.

Symptoms of winter SAD include the seasonal occurrence of:

• Fatigue
• Increased need for sleep
• Decreased levels of energy
• Weight gain
• Increase in appetite
• Difficulty concentrating
• Increased desire to be alone

Symptoms of summer SAD include the seasonal occurrence of:

• Weight loss
• Trouble sleeping
• Decreased appetite

Who Experiences Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Between 4-6% of the U.S. population suffers from SAD, while 10-20% may suffer from a more mild form of winter blues. Three-quarters of the sufferers are women, most of whom are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Though SAD is most common during these ages, it can also occur in children and adolescents. Older adults are less likely to experience SAD.

This illness is more commonly seen in people who live at high latitudes (geographic locations farther north or south of the equator), where seasonal changes are more extreme.

Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia


Chronic Fatigue, also known as CFS is quite similar to another condition called Fibromyalgia. In fact, you hardly see one without the other.

Getting treated for either condition is sometimes a challenge, as no definitive tests exists for absolute diagnosis. Many times, those with Chronic Fatique or fibro have to endure not only the scepticism of their family and friends but sometimes, even the doubt expressed by their own doctor. Although it is now known that these are real conditions presenting real suffering for those who endure them, some doctors still prescribe nerve pills or sleeping pills, as if the condition were all in one's head. And since there are no outward debilitating signs of disease or illness, even friends and family may question just how serious the condition is for the person who is dealing with it. In fact, CFS and FMS are not even defined as disease or illness by the medical profession but as syndromes. Diagnosing either one cannot be done as simply as taking a blood test because symptoms, or sets of symptoms must be tracked until a pattern emerges. It is the specific set of symptoms appearing together, over time, that provide a pattern that can be identified as Chronic Fatique or Fibromyalgia.

Research is revealing that people who have FMS also exhibit certain defects in the neuroregulartory system, including an abnormal production of neutortransmitters. The imbalance of neutrotransmitter production effects sleep, pain, and immune function.

One of the main reasons that CFS and FMS wear down a person so mercilessly is that both interfere with natural restful sleep.

One of the main difficulties with fibro and chronic fatique is called the "raw nerve body" sensation. It feels as if your entire leg, or some other part of my body, were nothing but a raw exposed nerve. Everything that touched it hurt. Even clothing hurt, or sheets across that area in bed. It is truly a maddening feeling.

With both Chronic Fatique Syndrome and fibro, the myofascia is a major factor. Myofascia is a sort of connective tissue that holds all your body together. It is around all muscle tissues and provides proper function when it is not tight or thick. However, with CFS and FMS, this thin film becomes thicker than it should be, and more tight. Then the myofascia cannot send and receive neurotransmitter messages as it would in a healthy state. Communication becomes distorted, confused, and untrustworthy.

The effect on myofascia and neurotransmitter function is becoming more commonly known but what is less well known is the effect CFS and FMS can have on digestion. Our body naturally considered digestion to be it's top priority. Normally, proper digestion of foods will rule out over whatever else might be needed because the body knows we must receive nourishment for energy to stay alive. However, when this confusion sets in within the system, there begins to be a problem with malabsorption and also, in particular, regarding the enzyme amylase. Amylase is a digestive enzyme that takes care of carbohydrates and starches we consume, so that the body can use them for fuel and for energy.

Those who have chronic fatique and FMS tend to have low amylase levels and many have lipase deficiency as well. Lipase is the enzyme needed to digest fats. There is a sort of enzyme chain reaction that is happening by this point in the syndrome because improper lipase deficiency eventually will lead to fatty acid and hormonal imbalances, which leads to deficiency in the third major enzyme our body needs to stay healthy: protease. So here, you end up with a system deficient in all three major enzymes that our system uses to repair tissues, cleanse the blood and keep organs functioning properly, not to mention properly digest our foods so that we can retrieve proper nutrients from the food we eat. Is it any wonder that, over time, the person with Chronic Fatique or Fibro finds themselves getting weaker and weaker and weaker? Add to this the very important fact that stress and illness both devour far more enzymes than what is required to maintain a healthy state and you will see that your body is desperate for enzymes if you have FMS or CFS. Also, most people don't realize that enzymes are first used for digestion. What this means is that every time you eat foods that don't contain enzymes (This would be anything cooked!) your body is forced to take enzymes it could be using to repair your system and using them to digest the cooked food.) Therefore, it makes sense to eat more raw foods (which have at least enough enzymes in them to digest the food itself) and also to supplement with enzymes whenever eating food that is cooked or whenever ill.

Because of the enzyme connection, we believe that supplementation with potent, pure plant source enzymes should be an important consideration whenever one is looking at holistic options for managing FMS or CFS. Supplemental Plant Enzymes, at therapeutic grade dosages, has been successfully utilized to help Chronic Fatique sufferers regain strength, stamina and energy and, if taken long enough for the body to work with them, to restore former states of health. It is important to remember that your body did not get in it's weakened state overnight and true, permanent healing may take time. Be prepared, when dealing with Chronic Fatique Syndrome in particular, to dedicate six months or more to regular use. Give you body the tools it needs and is so desperately lacking. Enzymes will nourish your cells, help your body cleanse toxic build up, support your digestive system, fortify your pancrease, and give your body ammunition to fight fatique and pain and to restore your natural state of health.

Great Diet for CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and Fibromyalgia:

 Breakfast

 Organic oatmeal, milk, soymilk, or goat’s milk, 3 Tbsp. fresh ground flaxmeal

Hot brown rice cereal w/cinnamon, green tea

 Organic cottage cheese with flax oil, organic fruit or raw nuts (almonds, walnuts), green tea. 

Organic yogurt (no sugar), 1 Tbsp. flax oil or 3 Tbsp. ground flaxmeal,  ½ cup organic berries

 Poached organic omega-3 eggs or three egg omelet, sweet potatoes w/rosemary

2 organic eggs any style, 1 slice whole grain toast, 3 tablespoons freshly ground flaxmeal

 Lunch and Dinner

Season sardines in water (green and white label), green salad

Flank steak, baked potato, green salad with flax oil dressing

 Broiled red snapper, steamed broccoli, baked yams

 Large mixed green salad w/ oil and lemon juice, small can of tuna, chopped yellow and sweet red pepper

 Broiled red snapper, steamed broccoli, green beans or other vegetable

Beef, lentil and vegetable soup, (celery, carrots, onion, cabbage)

 Chicken salad made with sugar-free mayonnaise, roasted vegetables, spinach salad

 1 cup cottage cheese or yogurt, 1 tablespoon flax oil, 1 tablespoon natural preserves

 1 chicken breast with rosemary, ½ cup black eyed peas, roasted onions or garlic, spinach salad.

Snacks

Protein shakes with freshly ground flaxseeds added, handful of raw almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, or  sesame seeds, an organic apple, pear, or grapes, sugar-free yogurt, rice cakes with nut butter

 Green vegetable juices: three 6 ounce glasses per day, freshly made only from green vegetables (celery, spinach, dandelion, zucchini work well).

 Herbal teas: licorice, ginseng, and green tea.

 Avoid

Sugar, hydrogenated oils, safflower, sunflower, corn oils, soft drinks, alcohol

 Suggestions and goals

Adequate rest and even long vacations is one of the most important strategies for helping manage cfs and fm.  Treating digestive disturbances is also critical to the management of fibromyalgia.  Also, check for candida, food allergies, and low grade viral infections. Some other causes of fatigue include food allergies, hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, anemia, and prescription drugs such as anti-hypertensives, anti-inflammatory agents, birth control pills, antihistamines, and corticosteroids. Craniosacral therapy can be very helpful, as can massage and acupucture.

Supplements

Essential Adrenal (Great for Energy)

Essential Enzymes (General Digestive Enzyme)

Essential Amylase Enzymes (Mentioned in CFS/Fibromyalgia Article)

Essential Lipase Enzymes (Mentioned in CFS/Fibromyalgia Article)


A mixture of the following can be useful: Elder Flower, Codonopsis, Motherwort, Hyrdangia Root, and Dong Quai, the last two being calcium antagonists.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia byR. Paul St. Amand, M.D., details how a medication called guaifenisen may be useful in the treatment of
fibromyalgia.  The book also outlines a specific diet needed to maximize the benefits of the drug. While there are no hard clinical studies to back it up, this treatment has a growing following.

If you suffer from Depression, Low Energy, CFS, or Fibromyalgia and are "Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired" give us a call at (417) 883-0115 to schedule a FREE CONSULT.

You can also schedule a phone consult, just click here: Phone Consults

TAKE BACK CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH TODAY!