I’ve been ruminating recently upon the topic of depression. As you know if you’ve read my work or heard me speak, you’ll know that I make it a point to take a contrarian position to modern (I would say “western”, but that’s rapidly changing) medical dogma. The medical system’s approach to depression and other mental disease is no different.
If you’ve dealt with chronic illness such as topical steroid withdrawal or any other autoimmune issues, you’re probably no stranger to melancholy. I found on my own journey of healing that, in fact, mental and physical illness are nigh inseparable. It’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
This observation has lead me to an interesting mental shift.
As is their wont, the medical industry tries it’s absolute best to convince everyone that, first, there’s something wrong with you, and second, they have just the drug you need to get better (and that it’s the only way to get better). In order to bolster this bold claim, they necessarily reduce every symptom, every ailment, to it’s most minute detail. This is not in itself a terrible thing, seeking knowledge never is. But it’s the conclusion that’s so ridiculous.
You’ve probably become aware of the increasing trend of people talking about “brain chemistry imbalances”, about “depression running in the family”.
Both of these hypotheses have merit, in that, yes, a depressed brain is by definition a brain that is not functioning properly, and yes, if your parents were depressed, you’re more likely to be depressed too. However, the medical industry takes these observations and, through them, declares that depression and mental disease are hereditary, genetic in origin, and incurable. That’s a big jump.
Through my own experience and research I’ve discovered that depression is, in fact, (perhaps unsurprisingly) a very natural reaction to adverse circumstances, bad health, isolation, perpetual fatigue and various other factors. To my mind there’s no actual evidence or even any reason to believe that depression has a genetic component to it. The only reason I can fathom would be that the genetic component would be a good excuse for selling pharmaceutical drugs for depression. “It can’t be cured, you’re born with it, so these pills are your only choice, really”.
Once again, modern medicine is not working in the best interests of the people it medicates, it is not working toward curing disease but only to mask symptoms, and modern medical ideology is not your friend!
The greatest sham ever to be invented by humankind, right up there with communism and reality TV, is modern medicine. Now, before I go on another rant on the despicable practices of doctors and pharmacists everywhere, I need to make clear that I do sincerely believe that in specific cases modern medicine can work absolute wonders. Skin grafting for severe burn wounds, pain medication (in some cases), various surgical procedures for acute illness or accidents. But I will also say this: 99% of pharmaceutical drugs are unnecessary and harmful. I say this from the bottom of my heart, having discovered the incredible capacity for health that human beings inherently possess.
Contrary to the subtle propaganda we’re exposed to every day, health and thriving are a human being’s natural state. The reason we’re all so ill and depressed and tired and stupid is not (for the most part) because there’s something inherently, genetically, incurably wrong with us, but rather there are multiple factors that are wrong with our environments, our diets, our upbringing, our mental habits, our relationships.
I’ve come to the conclusion that physical inflammation and hormonal imbalances due to various factors, not least of which is improper diet and a malfunctioning immune system, are the main causes of depression in modern times. There are certainly other factors, but I would say that bad physical health is the major one. A diseased digestive tract will have exponentially detrimental effects on all areas of the body, and soon enough these effects will seep into the mind as well.
It might help to switch around some terminology. Generally we use the term “depressed” to describe a specific mental state. What if we were to talk about “physical depression”? A body that’s sick, failing to thrive, constantly lethargic and weak. Our bodies and our minds are not so far separated as we may think. Our mental diets and habits affect our bodies in multiple ways, and vice versa.
When I overcame my chronically diseased state through fasting and a simple diet I was amazed by the quick physical recovery I experienced. I was astounded, however, by the incredible mental changes I was blessed with. My depression lifted to a large degree, anxiety more or less disappeared, and I just had so much more hope for everything in my life. Obviously the simple fact that I was no longer dealing with chronic illness had a very deep uplifting effect, but I’m certain that this great boost toward happiness was caused in no small measure by my body becoming truly healthy for the first time in my life.
These days I’m striving to learn more about mental health, having dealt with various mental issues throughout my time here on earth. The more I learn, the more I’ve come to despise our modern mental-health care system. They do so much more harm than good. As I fall further down this rabbit hole I become gradually more aware that there are a hundred tiny, seemingly inconsequential habits that we partake in daily that are contributing to our state of collective disease. Things that, theoretically, may be okay in moderation but that we do in excess. Things like the average four to six daily cups of coffee, like jerking off to high-speed internet porn on a daily basis, or falling to sleep over violent television series, or the endless sugar binges, or getting drunk on pasteurized alcohol every weekend, things like ruining our attention spans by checking our smartphones every thirty seconds.
These things, among so many others, are what’s making us depressed and anxious and attention-deficient. In order to heal this mental malaise we must take full ownership of our circumstances. It won’t do to blame the pharmaceutical industry, as much as I dislike them. We must take responsibility for ourselves and our health in all aspects, because that’s the only way we can truly heal.
May you find the health you seek.
If you want to delve further into these matters, might I suggest that you check out my book (cha-ching!) Health, Simplified, available through Amazon here. It’s a nice and concise tome on my own healing journey, the insights I’ve gained, and the incredible transformation that’s possible through taking full responsibility of your own health.
You can also check out the other videos on my YouTube channel, where I go deep into various aspects of health.