You may have noticed some changes lately. It might be hard to get out of bed, you may be sleeping all the time – or can’t sleep at all. You might dread social interactions and notice things you used to enjoy just aren’t so fun anymore. You may be experiencing depression.
Don’t worry, our Naturopathic Doctors can help get you through this.
Integrative Depression Treatment
Depression affects each person differently. At Onyx Integrative Medicine, our doctors take a comprehensive look into the underlying cause of your depression, such as hormones imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, lifestyle choices, past traumas, as well as thought patterns.
Our Naturopathic Doctors take a whole-person, holistic approach to depression treatment and use natural treatments for depression.
Our integrative depression treatments address the root cause of your depression using a combination of natural therapies such as herbs, diet & lifestyle changes, counseling, and acupuncture – all individualized to you.
Depression is complex.
It is often caused by a combination of factors which means that your depression treatment should address all aspects of your mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
Some common causes of depression include:
- Past trauma/abuse
- Low self-esteem
- Lack of exercise
- Hormone imbalances
- Food allergies/intolerances
- Poor blood sugar control
- Birth control pills & hormonal IUDs
- Antibiotic use & gut flora imbalances
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
- Chronic inflammation
- Nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin D, magnesium, and B12
- Low anti-oxidant, highly processed diets
- Genetic predisposition
- Lack of meaningful social interactions
- Excessive social media use
We offer advanced laboratory testing to uncover imbalances in gut flora, adrenal, thyroid and sex hormones, food allergies, and genetic aberrations, which could be contributing to your symptoms.
After identifying what underlying causes are contributing to your depression, you and the doctor will create a comprehensive care plan to help you work through your thoughts and feelings, and resolve your depressive symptoms.
Our Depression Treatments Include
- Advanced Laboratory Testing
- Individualized Diet & Nutritional Counseling
- Counseling & Talk Therapy
- Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
- Targeted Herbal & Nutritional Supplements
- Homeopathy
- Vitamin IV Therapy
- Stress Reduction & Mind-Body Therapies
- Medication Management
Each treatment plan is completely customized to you.
At Onyx, it is our focus to approach your depression treatment with natural therapies that treat the underlying cause – not just mask the symptoms with medications. By treating the root cause, we’ll not only help you feel better, but we’ll also help you stay better so you can feel more balanced, lighter, and brighter long-term.
Conventional Depression Treatment
The downside of conventional treatment for depression is that it does not typically address the underlying imbalances that are contributing to your depression. It is uncommon for a conventional doctor to take a whole-person approach, which is optimal in treating depression.
Typically, conventional first-line therapy for depression is anti-depressant medication. These drugs increase the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain by decreasing its breakdown. Interestingly, low serotonin was previously thought to be the cause of depression. However, it is well established that this is not the case. The idea of a “chemical imbalance” causing depression is misinformation.
Unfortunately, the conventional standard of care has not yet caught up with this understanding, and anti-depressant drugs are still often prescribed for depression. The truth is, research shows that these medications work no better than a placebo (a sugar pill with no active ingredient). Moreover, these drugs come with numerous side effects that are in some cases, worse than the depression itself! Importantly, coming off of anti-depressants can be a long process with various withdrawal effects. Therefore, it should always be done under the supervision of a trained physician. Naturopathic Doctors are trained extensively in pharmacology and can help you manage your medications.
Our Naturopathic Doctors work with people in-person at their practice in Gilbert AZ, as well as people located all over the country via telemedicine. If you are ready to resolve your depression with natural therapies that treat the root cause, schedule an appointment today.
