Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Self Reliance for Anxiety and Depression

By Michael Byrd

Self-guided improvement for anxiety and depression does not seem too hard if you think about it.

There are quite a number of scientific research studies which reveal that those who eat 3 to 7 servings of fish a week undergo less anxiety and depression compared to those who don't.

I am not saying that you get more fish and quit using your meds or stop seeing your doctor. I would definitely not recommend that.

This is what I am trying to point out.

Scientific research has shown that you may no longer need your meds and see your doctor during your attacks of anxiety and depression, but scientific research showed that and not me.

Take for example; research that revealed the higher omega 3 fish oil fatty acids people take in, the lesser chance for them to suffer from depression.

Research that was written in the Journal of Affective Disorders [Vol. 26, No. 38, 35-46] concluded, "Major depressed subjects showed significantly lower total omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids?than minor depressed subjects and healthy controls."

And by no means is this study an isolated case.

In another scientific study, subjects who had major depression problems were given supplements of omega-3 fish oil. After three weeks, those who were in the fish oil group showed significant benefits as compared to the placebo group. [American Journal of Psychiatry (Vol. 159:477-479]

Therefore, self reliance for anxiety and depression can be accomplished.

Take a look at it this way. Life is a chain of risk management decisions.

We normally have to be challenged by events in life where we need to make crucial decisions to bring us positive results. And there are also instances where we may find it easier to do, just like when we need to look both ways before we even attempt to cross a street.

Perhaps you are now aware of the pros and cons of the action you will make.

However, some decisions are not as easy as deciding when to cross a street. And there is no eminent danger involved. Often it becomes hard to appreciate the benefits.

In some cases, the outcome does not become too obvious immediately.

Retrospectively, if had you been aware during your childhood days that eating fish helps prevent depression in adults, then possibly it may have been easier to convince yourself to eat fish or again maybe not.

Nevertheless, when you grow up to be an adult you will see fish in a different perspective.

Because you are now aware of the consequences of not eating fish, you may select lesser depression and anxiety by simply adding omega 3 fish oil fatty acid intake, since using supplements are much safer and easier but has the same potency.

And I would call making that decision self-improvement, wouldn't you?

The University of Sheffield psychiatry department research has published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, a total self-guided improvement for anxiety and depression better than anybody has.

The results of their research show depressive symptoms can be "alleviated by omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation." [Vol. 48(2-3);149-55]

Take note they used "alleviate" and it does not get any simpler than that.

As an adult, you may start helping yourself by eating more fish and supplement the diet with good quality fish oil, which should contain all 8 naturally occurring omega 3 factors.

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