Beware the New Shock Therapy
By
Dr. Al
Sears
It
almost
sounds soothing and nice.
Did
you
hear about this? Scientists use electrodes to “stimulate” the brains of
depressed people.
The
whole
thing works through surgically implanted probes in your brain that are
connected
to an electrical device sewn into your chest.
They
say
it’s like a pacemaker for your brain.
I
call it the new shock therapy.
People
with Parkinson’s disease use similar things to improve their mobility.
But when
the devices are turned on, the
patients can’t talk. The flow of
electricity interrupts other brain functions.
I
don’t
believe anything that invasive can be good for you.
And
it’s
just another in a long line of “treatments” for depression that the
modern
medical industry has come up with over the last 30 years.
First
there were the original drugs used to treat depression like Prozac and
Zoloft.
They
can
be helpful for those with severe depressive conditions, and millions of
people
have benefitted from their use.
But
recently, doctors have taken it upon themselves to go beyond the
intended use
of some newer medications. There’s a growing list of pharmaceutical
drugs being
prescribed “off-label” to people who
Off-label
means a drug was approved to treat one condition, but is being
prescribed for a
different use – without FDA approval.
For
example, the drugs Seroquel and Risperdal are powerful anti-psychotic
medications. They’re intended to be given only to people who have
schizophrenia, manic episodes or autism. But doctors are giving them to
patients who are depressed, even though the drugs are not approved to
treat
those patients.
Not
only
that, but the drug companies have been hiding the side effects of their
drugs
for years. One of the most common problems hidden from you over these
last 30
years is that many if not all of these drugs are addictive.
Drug
companies have gone out of their way to prove that their medications
are not
addicting. They back up the claims with their own scientific studies,
or don’t
reveal the studies at all if they show the wrong result.
Now
that
we’ve seen non-drug-company-sponsored studies, we know that patients do
develop
problems, both physical and mental, from stopping some prescription
drugs.
This
is
because if you use them for long enough, stopping can cause a response
where
your body creates more of the original symptom so it can receive a
larger dose
of drugs.
The
medical industry likes to call this “discontinuation syndrome.” But it
sounds a
lot like withdrawal because of addiction to me.
And
even
though the symptoms aren’t usually life-threatening, they can be
distressing to
people going through them. People sometimes mistake them as signs of
heart
problems. This has led patients to go to the emergency room, spending
hours
getting diagnostic tests that frighten them even more.
Now
modern medicine is trying something even more frightening: A surgically
implanted electrical device that might help you be in a better mood,
but
impairs speech and other brain functions.
I
believe
you should have the choice as to whether or not you continue to take a
medication. And having surgery should not be a choice between being
happy and
being able to talk.
That’s
why I prefer using natural remedies in my practice. They’re completely
safe and
effective, and have no dangerous side effects.
Try
my
natural four-step prescription for a better mood, more confidence and a
happy
outlook on life:
Step
1: Get some exercise.
Regular physical exertion releases serotonin –
the “feel good hormone” – in your brain. I recommend an invigorating 10
to 15
minutes of exertion at a time. Exercising for long periods is a waste
of time,
and leads to overuse injuries.
Instead,
try doing 10 minutes of calisthenics using your own body weight. That’s
short
enough not to wreck your body, and long enough to leave you feeling
energized.
That’s because exercise also gives you a psychological boost – a
release of
endorphins. They’re the brain’s natural morphine-like pain relievers.
They also
cause a sense of pleasure.
Step
2: Get some sunshine.
There’s a reason we describe someone who is
happy as having a “sunny disposition.” Sunshine enhances your health
and
well-being. You were designed to live under the sun. Sunshine also
releases
serotonin in your brain.
And
here’s something most people don’t know. Many depressed people have
trouble
sleeping because they don’t make enough serotonin. Your body uses
serotonin to
make melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone.
This
is
why it’s easy to fall asleep in the warm sunshine. It’s also why
exercise and
going outdoors are two of the best ways to avoid becoming depressed.
And the
feel-good effect is multiplied if you can exercise outside.
Step
3: Eat foods that are native to you.
Processed foods are filled
with chemicals that affect hormones, brain function and mood. Choose
fresh and
natural instead. Protein contains amino acids, which feed the brain and
regulate emotions.
Stay
away
from stimulants, including caffeine and alcohol. They cause mood
swings,
anxiety, depression and insomnia.
Step
4: Get some extra help if you need it.
If you’re still not
feeling enough relief, there are a few nutrients you should take a look
at.
In
one
study, participants took a pure omega-3 supplement, and their brains
started
growing. In fact, the parts of their brains that grew were directly
responsible
for happiness.1
In other studies,
researchers found that people suffering from major depression had very
low
levels of omega-3 in the areas of the brain that help with mood.2
You
can
easily start boosting your omega-3 intake today. For the full
antidepressant
benefit, take 4 grams per day. Two great sources are cod liver oil,
which gives
you 4.5 grams of omega-3 in just a teaspoon full, and Sacha Inchi oil.
It has
almost 7 grams in every tablespoon full.
|
“Deep
brain stimulation” is what they’re calling it. 
are depressed. 