C. Shaffia Laue, M.D.
Holistic Psychiatry
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People who suffer from depression and panic disorders often have a tendency to breathe shallowly. There is a long physiological explanation for this which I have available on my web site. When one breathes shallowly they will have a condition of hypoxia, low oxygen and oxygen is an important ingredient for making neurotransmitters. Changing the breathing patterns can drastically change the chemistry of the physical body in many ways, including changing the pH of the whole system. Looking at nutrition is important too. A common occurrence is to totally lose one’s appetite in depression, or conversely to find comfort foods and eat all the time, usually foods with high calorie content and little nutritive value. We need essential fatty acids, which are the building blocks for hormones as well as neurotransmitters. Changing one’s eating habits can have remarkable effects on the biochemistry of the body, however, it will require more time and emotional investment than taking a pill.
Exercise is always mentioned and everyone groans because this takes so much
effort and commitment. If you were sitting in a room with stale stinking air
and there was a fan and a window to open, you would have a choice to make regarding
the effort to open the window and turn on the fan. Physical movement clears
the air so to speak. The contraction of the muscles literally helps to move
the blood and lymphatic drainage while each cell gets to eject it’s waste
material and run its metabolic engine. You are not going to find a pill to
do this for you. The runner’s high comes from the release of neuro-chemicals
called endorphins that the body produces for free when we exercise.
Our thoughts, feelings and reactive emotions can all have an impact on the
biochemistry of our nervous systems. The scientific evidence is well documented.
A great read in this area is Candice Pert’s book The Molecules of Emotion.
In therapy we can examine these areas and options for changing thoughts and
transforming reactive structures. With practice we can learn to control our
emotions rather than being at the mercy of one’s fears and wounds.
The connections one has to other living beings and to spirit are essential
to the healing process. This includes traditional family therapy and family
systems theory, and goes beyond it to the larger human family and the patterns
we carry into all our interactions. It is easy to say, “Everyone treats
me poorly.” It takes significant work but is very empowering to find
ways to allow new scenarios to unfold in your life, to leave behind the patterns
where one is disrespected. Sometimes the hardest thing to learn is self-respect.
Most holistic therapists will help you discover your own path for connecting
with spirit and this does not mean attending a church, although that could
be part of it.
In addition to all the modalities already mentioned there is sometimes a need
for external support, which can also be obtained through homeopathic remedies,
which do not have the range of unpleasant “side” effects one finds
with pharmaceuticals. Combining nutritional supplements with homeopathic remedies,
a shift in meal plans and exercise can have dramatic effects on the nervous
system, feelings of hopelessness and difficulties with sleep. It takes tremendous
courage and persistence to make this work and often times the best clients
are those who have been on pharmaceutical medicines for years. The drugs have
either stopped working or the price of not being depressed is to not have any
feelings at all any more. These are the people most motivated to take control
of their life and their biochemistry. The “easy” way has not worked
for them and now they are ready to heal themselves.
Updated
3/23/09