In our modern and fast-paced society, many people struggle with mental health difficulties. Unable to keep up with the workload and demands of our culture, anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses have reached epidemic levels. According to Canadian Mental Health Association, “By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness” and “it is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder”. 1 In light of this, it is important to understand what depression and anxiety is and what can be done about it.
What is Depression? And What are the Symptoms?
Depression is a mental disorder that affects how we think, feel, and act. It can affect anyone of any walk of life. Depression causes pervasive sadness and lack of motivation that lasts for longer than two weeks. It causes low self-esteem, loss of interest in hobbies and activities, fatigue or insomnia, and feelings of worthlessness. It can also lower cognitive function by impacting memory, focus, and decision making. Depression can also cause thoughts of death and suicide. The difference between depression and general sadness or grief is that depression is constant, whereas sadness and grief come and go. 2
What is Anxiety? And What are the Symptoms?
Anxiety is a natural response that we experience when we are in danger. As a survival response, our body triggers cortisol that puts us in either a flight, fight, or freeze state to combat imminent danger. However, this becomes a problem when we aren’t in danger and the anxiety starts taking over our everyday lives.
Anxiety involves extreme worry or fear and can include phobias, OCD, and PTSD. Often anxiety is accompanied by rapid heartbeat or breathing, sweating, nausea, upset stomach, tight chest, bright vision, hot/cold flashes, fearful thoughts of the future, and a sense of dread. Anxiety can interfere with sleep and concentration and can cause a feeling of a loss of control. 3
What Can You Do?
At Living Alchemy, we are passionate about supporting your physical and mental health. We have a variety of herbal remedies that can support your needs.
ASHWAGANDHA Alive is a fermented adaptogen that helps reduce chronic stress and anxiety, as well as minimize insomnia, chronic fatigue, and digestive issues.
HOLY BASIL Alive reduces mental stress, it brightens mood and calms the mind, and lowers the hormones released during stress.
WISDOM that boosts brain performance, focus and concentration, mood and memory, and provides cognitive and nerve support.
If you are interested in trying any of these herbal remedies to support your wellbeing and aid in reducing stress, please visit our website to see all of our fermented herbals. At Living Alchemy, many of our formulas use these herbs and all of the ingredients used are certified organic, non-GMO, and vegan. Plus we naturally ferment these herbs in a month-long process to activate the nutrients to a higher level of complexity to perform in perfect harmony for you.
If you are experiencing depression and/or anxiety, it’s important to seek medical advice from your doctor. There could be many contributing factors and your doctor will be able to help you find the best treatment for you.Consult your medical health practitioner if you are taking medications before use of any supplements.
If you need immediate assistance or you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can call the Canadian Crisis Hotline at 1-833-456-4566 or visit their website: http://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/
References:
1. Fast Facts About Mental Illness. Canadian Mental Health Association. https://cmha.ca/fast-facts-about-mental-illness Accessed 25 September, 2019.
2. Parekh, Ranna. January 2017. What Is Depression? American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression Accessed 24 September, 2019.
3. Jovanovic, Tanja. What is Anxiety? Anxiety.org. https://www.anxiety.org/what-is-anxiety#types-of-anxiety Accessed 24 September, 2019.