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In milder forms of depression, counseling
and psychotherapy can be used, usually with
a high success rate. More extreme forms
of depression can warrant the prescription
of antidepressant drugs, such as Prozac,
but there are pros and cons to this approach
[insert link to Prozac?]. In the
most extreme cases, where the sufferer may
be at risk of committing suicide, hospitalisation
in a psychiatric unit may be necessary,
although this is rare.
Depression and diet
Anxiety, stress, insomnia and, most importantly,
depression, have all been linked to diet.
To function properly, hormones rely on balanced
nutrition. Therefore, dietary choice plays
an important role in determining mood. Food
has a direct influence on the production
of neuro-transmitters, the chemical messengers
that transmit impulses from one nerve to
another in the brain. These endorphins,
the body's opiates, can deliver natural
highs if triggered properly.
In short what we eat can determine whether
we get out of bed as Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde
by influencing the production of two specific
endorphins, serotonin and noradrenaline.
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