Naturopathic Depression relief treatments are now being offered in Gilbert, AZ and the surrounding communities of Chandler, Queen Creek, San Tan and Mesa by Board-Certified Integrative Physician and mental health expert Dr. Dylan W. Krueger, NMD.
Overview
Depression is a decreased mood that persists over a continued period of time with sadness, loss of interest and fatigue. It is much more than having a down or off day, with severe cases reaching suicidal thinking. People with depression also experience varying degrees of emotional and physical changes as part of the condition. In America, over 16 million people are affected by depression, with 1 in 6 Americans on antidepressant medications.
- Sadness or decreased mood
- Trouble thinking and concentrating
- Loss of interest in activities that enjoyed
- Fatigue
- Poor sleep or Insomnia
- Changes in weight
- Irritability
- Suicidal thinking
- Neurotransmitter Imbalance
- Neuro-Inflammation
- Genetics
- Lack of support network (Friends / Family)
- Hormones
- Trauma
The diagnosis of depression can be make in office usually through a primary care physician, family medicine doctor, or psychiatrist. It is important to rule out other conditions first through lab-work such as a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, and thyroid panel. After lab-work has been checked, the doctor can make the diagnosis off of case history using the specified requirements of the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Conventional treatments focus heavily on pharmaceutical medications and psychotherapy. Typical first line treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) and the newer serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). If patients are unresponsive to first line therapies, other SSRI’s and SNRI’s will be tried. If symptoms persist, other medications such as atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) will be used. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is generally the last line of therapy for patients unresponsive to all other previous treatments. It involves electrical stimulation to the brain for neurotransmitter rebalancing, but often results in short term memory loss.
Naturopathic Depression Assessment
Naturopathic Physicians also follow the diagnostic guidelines outlined in the DSM-5 for depression, but will often run more lab-work before making the diagnosis. Typical screening lab-work will include, complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, thyroid panel, hormone panel, neurotransmitter testing, vitamin D and vitamin B12 testing, micronutrient panel, and food sensitivity testing. This comprehensive approach to testing allows Naturopathic Physicians to examine underlying and contributing factors to depression. It also aids in the creation of an individualized treatment plan for the patient that includes, nutritional, lifestyle, supplements and cognitive behavioral therapy. This broad ranging approach provides clinical results that often outperform medication based treatments.
Naturopathic Depression Treatment Benefits
- Improved Mood
- Increased Energy
- Better Sleep Quality
- Increased Social Activities
- Emotional Resilience
Depression continues to plague our nation with millions of people each year facing its grim and somber symptoms. Almost everyone knows of a friend or family member who has been affected by this condition. The conventional model can help with symptom reduction at its best, but often leaves patients cycling through medications and constantly battling to stay afloat. Fortunately, there is a more comprehensive approach through Naturopathic medicine with individualized treatment plans for patients in Gilbert, AZ. We go the extra mile with our diagnostic approach to get to the root cause of depression. Our treatment strategies are broad ranging, which achieves outstanding clinical results. This allows our patients to overcome depression and live the life they intended. For more information about our Gilbert location, Integrative Medicine, Stem Cell Therapy, or Platelet Rich Plasma, please call 480-648-1534 or email us at: atlashealthmedicalgroup@gmail.com call 480-648-1534
