The Science behind Brain & Mood Disorders
For years scientists have been investigating the human brain. The nervous system is arguably one of the most complex systems in nature. It is responsible for coordinating thousands of processes, from muscle contraction to crying.
The center of the nervous system is our brain. With over one hundred billion specialized cells called neurons, the brain also contains very important chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.
The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell your heart to beat, your lungs to breathe, and your stomach to digest. They are also necessary for thought processes, emotions, and other essential body functions, including sleep, energy, and fear.
Experts say that one in four Americans will be diagnosed with some kind of brain and mood disorder at some point in their lives:
- Major depression, a clinical diagnosis marked by extreme emotional pain and an inability to function, is a serious disorder that merits serious intervention.
- Anxiety strikes many in their middle years.
- Insomnia is rampant in children and adults all over the world.
However, many people who feel sad, blue, or down in the dumps are simply reacting to the challenges, losses, and unpleasantness of life.
It’s normal to experience these feelings when you’re going through trying circumstances — but that doesn’t mean you have a disease that necessitates treatment with powerful, side-effect-riddled drugs.
Conventional vs. Alternative Medicine
Unfortunately, conventional drugs can have horrendous side effects.
At the DaSilva Institute, we help our patients address mood disorders with safe, natural solutions.
Conventional doctors are quick to treat almost any degree of emotional distress with antidepressants, most commonly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs such as Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro and others). These drugs have been shown in clinical trials to be no more effective than placebo for the vast majority of those taking them. Even worse, they have a long list of side effects, including weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and increased risk of bleeding.
The most serious adverse effect of these drugs, however, is akathesia (extreme agitation) and increased risk of suicide and aggressive behavior. SSRI antidepressants have been linked to thousands of murders and suicides, and the risk is greatest in young people.
Thankfully, you do have safer options.
At the DaSilva Institute, we believe the function of the central nervous system, including a balance of neurotransmitters, plays an essential and central role in the health of all body systems. Unfortunately, the nervous system can be easily disrupted by stress, poor diet, toxic chemicals, infections — or even genetics.
These factors can cause your levels of neurotransmitters to become either too high or too low.
Neurotransmitters are made from various components of food in a normal, healthy diet. Increasing the amounts of these dietary constituents can help maintain normal neurotransmitter levels.
The key to achieving successful outcomes with nutritional therapies is knowing which neurotransmitters to target and what ingredients to target them with.