by Connor GilliganAs an American, I can say, with much sorrow, that I live in the loneliest, most depressed, disconnected, over-prescribed country in the world. Why would this be the case, with all the comforts of modern life? In this country, we have a more-than-decent medical care system, an abundance of material comforts, a great rate of life expectancy, and a high quality of living in general. So why are we so unhappy? In this article, I will attempt to answer this question as best I can. In addition, I will provide evidence of alternative and natural treatments for depression. This month’s theme is “What Really Matters?!” Happiness was the word that immediately came to mind. Far too often, we let objects and other people determine our own happiness. We also seem to be convinced that we need antidepressants to be happy, when they may not be the most effective treatment for our depression. With the amount of antidepressant medication being prescribed steadily increasing, it would be logical to conclude that the number of individuals suffering from depression has decreased. Sadly, and surprisingly, this is far from the truth. In reality, the number of individuals suffering from depression, in America, has also been increasing. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 1 in 10 Americans are currently taking antidepressant medication to treat depression or anxiety. With all the amenities and comforts of life in America, we are still somehow unhappier than ever. This may prove that the adage “money can’t buy happiness” really does have some truth to it. In fact, nothing can buy happiness. It is something that must come from within, not from without. We want everything quick, fast, and in a hurry, happiness included. We have the notion that it can be bought or attained instantly. The truth is: we have to work hard to be happy, and as terrible as that sounds, it is reality (unless you are lucky enough to be in a constant state of glee). Depression can, and will, get worse if nothing is done to combat it. Many of us have live harried lives and we believe that we don’t have time get happy; this may be the reason why people turn to antidepressant medication so quickly. We overlook many treatment options for depression such as Ginseng, Lavender, St. John’s Wort Vitamin D, Fish oil, multivitamins, a good night’s sleep, being in nature, exercise, sunlight, and human interaction, because of our busy lives. These treatment options are, in many cases, more effective than antidepressant medication. In his book, The Depression Cure, Dr. Stephen S. Ilardi states that using some of these anti-depression alternatives, alone or in conjunction with each other, have been proven to be more effective than traditional antidepressant medication in many circumstances. He claims that exercise is the most effective antidepressant medication known to man. In his TED Talk Speech Dr. Ilardi claims that “Exercise is medicine; it enhances brain function as powerfully as any medication. And trust me if big Pharma could somehow capture the neurochemical benefit of exercise, put it in a pill and sell it to you, they would do it in a heartbeat. And then they would finally have a blockbuster drug completely free of any difficult side effects.” Although exercise is the most effective treatment for depression, there is another treatment option that has finally begun to be studied as an all-natural treatment for depression, and escalation of overall mood and happiness (instead of being looked at as a pseudoscience). This treatment is the consumption of psychedelics/hallucinogens such as Psilocybin Mushrooms, LSD, DMT, and more. In this article, I will focus on only Psilocybin. Consuming a single dose of psilocybin mushrooms ranging from 10mg to 3,500mg can cause an almost instant change in mood. This elevated mood level can last over a month without having to re-consume the drug. A single dose has been proven to increase levels of overall happiness and mental well-being, especially if a small to moderate dose is taken in a safe and secure environment. A scientific study directed by The Medical Research Council (a UK medical science advancement organization), conducted last year, focusing 12 patients with severe depression. The study was conducted in the United Kingdom by a group of medical doctors, psychiatrists, professors, and psychologists. The study was performed by giving a group of 12 people (6 men, 6 women), two doses of 10mg and 25mg of psilocybin mushrooms over the span of 1 week. The findings showed that all 12 people saw improvement in the level of their depression lasting from 1 week to 3 months. According to the individuals involved in the study “This study provides preliminary support for the safety and efficacy of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and motivates further trials, with more rigorous designs, to better examine the therapeutic potential of this approach.” (You can view the study by clicking here.) The reason I write about this topic is because prescription medication can be dangerous and can have adverse side effects (especially antidepressants). More people should be aware of the effectiveness of not just psilocybin mushrooms but all other forms of natural antidepressant treatments. Psilocybin mushrooms do not cause physical or psychological addiction and have minimal side effects after the drug has run its course. This is almost the exact opposite of antidepressant medication which are both physically and mentally addicting, cause withdrawal symptoms, and have a long lists of adverse effects. I am not recommending that anyone stop taking their prescribed medication, as it can cause severe withdrawal effects and thoughts of suicide. In fact, I am not recommending anything except: do some research of your own before deciding how to treat your depression (always consult with your doctor before changing depression treatment options). I just want people to be happy. The reason I wrote this article was to inform people on how to remain happy without taking dangerous medication. You do not have to take magic mushrooms to be happy, but maybe you can: spend time with friends, go for a bike ride, call a loved one, compliment a stranger, or just smile for no reason. As a society, we can regain our happiness by doing any of the things I mentioned in this article, and most importantly by connecting with each other. Why are we so sad? This is a question that we must ask ourselves. Imagine how much better of a place the world would be if everyone was just a little bit happier. We can all make the word a better place by increasing our happiness. This is something that I have struggled with for many years and it is a topic that I am passionate about. I try my best to stay happy and make other happy in the process. The reason I wrote this article is to spark a conversation about why we are so unhappy and what we can do to change that. It would be unfair for me to tell you how to be happy without telling you what makes me happy. Some of the things that make me happy are: the outdoors, woodworking, fishing, candle making, spending time with friends and family, making and listening to music, and writing. So, what makes you happy?
4 Comments
VERONICA CICCONE
3/27/2017 05:54:15 am
What a great article and so very true.
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Eileen
3/27/2017 01:52:11 pm
Fabulous article, it reminds me of a Chinese proverb. "If you want happiness for a ...lifetime, help someone else." You have reached out to help many in this article and I know it will help someone.
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Pamela Jones-Jernigan Hamilton
3/27/2017 02:34:36 pm
Great article! What makes me happy - seeing my children happy :-)
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Katrina
3/27/2017 05:31:08 pm
Powerful article! My beau struggles with depression, something I struggle to understand. I am always urging him to talk to someone or maybe even get some medication to help. I'm actually glad he didn't listen to me, had I known of the side effects I never would have suggested it. My new suggestion will be to take a run with me. Thanks for the advice!
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