WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Depression is a prolonged general sadness or low mood that affects thoughts, activity, sense of well being, memory, sex life, and relationships. Depressed people may feel sad, empty, hopeless, or anxious.

Feeling sad or depressed can be a normal reaction to such events like the loss of a loved one or a career failure, but if the extent and duration of depression is more than normal and interferes with work and family matters, then it becomes a problem. It can take over your life. But the good news is that there’s help. And it doesn’t necessarily have to come from a bottle of antidepressant pills.

Symptoms of depression

• Do you struggle to get out of bed in the morning?

• Is it difficult to sleep at night?

• Have you lost interest in people or activities that you love?

• Do you feel unable or unmoved to overcome your current situation?

• Are you spending more time alone and less time around friends or loved ones?

• Do you get the feeling that you are limited and stuck?

If you answered positively to any of these questions, you should consider getting help. Depression can quickly consume your life if left undiagnosed or untreated. Feeling like you’re defeated before even getting out of bed in the morning can quickly make every part of life seem like a chore. It makes it even harder to seek out treatment for depression.

CAUSES OF DEPRESSION

It is widely believed that depression is caused by serotonin deficiency. But there is no proof. Even pharmaceutical companies that produce serotonin-increasing drugs state that the mechanism of action is unknown.

Many doctors believe that depression is caused by too much sugar or fructose in the diet. Dr. Kalitenko, a holistic doctor who works by finding the root causes of issues, thinks both of these explanations are too simple. Could your depression be caused by too much fructose in a diet? Possibly. But what if your depression is caused by a brain tumor?

Holistic and functional medicine looks at the whole person and addresses the root cause of depression. We realize that your depression could be stemming from any number of things:

• Stress

• Toxins in your body or blood

• A diet low in macro- and micro-nutrients

• Lifestyle hardships

• Low thyroid

• Hormonal imbalances

• Neurotransmitter deficiencies

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Lack of sufficient, wholesome sleep

These are just a few of many possible causes for depression. Once the root cause(s) is discovered, the patient and doctor can work together to address the real reason for the depression.

HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS FOR DEPRESSION

Our goal at the Center for Holistic Medicine in Long Island, NY is for you to feel vibrant and alive from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep. To do this, we don’t just look at your symptoms. We look at you as a whole being. Dr. Kalitenko examines your entire lifestyle, your medical history and your current physical state. He orders tests as necessary. By thoroughly examining every possible cause of your depression, he can better determine what may be influencing your mood at the root of the issue. Once the root cause is known, then it can be corrected and your life can go on as normal.

Addressing this root cause, depression can often be eased without pharmaceutical drugs. Dr. Kalitenko has often found success with the following techniques that give you the support you need:

• Diet. Knowing what to eat and not to eat.

• Detoxification. Improving the way your brain and body works together.

• Minerals and vitamins. Detecting and correcting deficiencies.

• Hormones. Balancing the levels and setting them straight.

• Neurotransmitters. Boosting levels and connections.

Each patient has a management plan that is as individual as they are. If you have more questions or if you would like to talk to Dr. Kalitenko about your depression, don’t hesitate to give us a call no matter where you are in the New York City area – Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, or the Bronx. With something as serious as depression, there is no time to spare to find the right answers.