When the nights get longer, depriving us of the suns ‘feel good’ factor some individuals succumb to mild to severe depression and what is known as SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder. However depression is more than just feeling blue. It can be a devastating illness that affects the patient on a physical, mental and emotional level. It influences self-esteem, the sufferer’s perceptions and can make every day ordinary activities difficult to perform. There are various forms of depression: mild, long-term melancholy, alternating moods of elation and despair (bi-polar), and despondency which leads to a total inability to function and thoughts of suicide. The official definition of clinical depression according to the American Psychiatric Association is based on the following 8 primary criteria:

• Poor appetite with weight loss or increased appetite with weight gain
• Insomnia/excessive sleep habits
• Loss of interest in pleasure or usual activities, decreased libido
• Loss of energy – feelings of fatigue
• Feeling worthless, or inappropriate guilt
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate
• Recurrent thoughts or death or suicide

5+ indicates clinical depression, 4 indicates depression – needs GP medical diagnosis

Liadh M Fitzgerald ND is the Director of Studies of the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM). The CNM is Ireland’s most highly respected and well known complementary training providers of specialist courses in Naturopathy, Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture and Homeopathy. For more info contact www.naturopathy.ie or call 01- 2353094. You can also contact Liadh on 022-49886. Last week we looked at the nature of depression – now we will look at some contributing factors:

• Exhaustion and stress: underlying adrenal dysfunction is closely associated with depression.
• This dysfunction is often the result of stress.
• Exhaustion may indicate an undiagnosed disease so visit your GP.
• Hypothyroidism: Small decreases in thyroid hormones can produce symptoms of depression
• Alcohol/Drug abuse: Alcohol/toxins are brain depressants and they disrupt sleep patterns. Alcohol can lead to a drop in blood sugar which aggravates mental/emotional problems.