Depression is one of the human race’s most common and distressing afflictions since the beginning of time. Nearly one in four women and one in six men experience depression during their lifetime. For many, depression can lead to suicide or to repeat suicide attempts.
So, what is depression? It turns out that depression is merely a symptom from chronic inflammation. Inflammation and neurodegeneration appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of depression. If we want to reduce or eliminate depression, we must search for the source of inflammation that is fueling its existence. Stephanie’s Dream is about helping with that search. We believe that a better understanding of inflammation and its contributions to the physiology of depression, suicidal ideation, and various mood disorders is critical. By neglecting the underlying root cause(s) of depression, chronic inflammation persists, recovery is less likely, and one’s risk of developing future medical conditions is greatly increased.
We became familiar with depression for the first time over 40 years ago when our father was diagnosed, and 20 years later when our sister, Stephanie, was diagnosed. Many treatments including shock treatments, therapy, hospitalization, and multiple drug interventions were tried but all had failed. After their long battle and along with our grandfather, they ended their lives. There was very little known about depression during or the years following their deaths; however, today there is a much better understanding.
Depression has been found to be strongly linked to brain inflammation, also known as neuroinflammation which is the result of damage among brain cells. This type of chronic or excessive inflammation is seen in both those who attempt and complete suicide as well as being seen in many neuropsychiatric disorders including bipolar, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury. It is well-known that many inflammatory disorders (i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disorders), neuroinflammatory disorders (i.e. Parkinson’s disease) and inflammatory conditions (i.e. hemodialysis and the postpartum period) may trigger clinical depression. Medical conditions associated with chronic inflammation and immunological abnormalities, including obesity, diabetes, malignancies, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis are risk factors for depression and bipolar disorder. Autoimmunity alone, which can take years to diagnose, can cause a host of neuropsychiatric disorders that may initially present with isolated psychiatric symptoms.
There are also a variety of widely prevalent environmental factors that are associated with the increased risk for developing depression – adverse childhood experiences, chronic stress, inflammatory diet, sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation, physical or brain injury, trauma, toxins, heavy metal toxicity, medications, altered gut permeability, bacterial or viral infections, and nutritional deficiencies, just to name few.
Until the underlying cause of depression can be identified, we feel it is imperative to provide our bodies with the best possible defense against harmful byproducts that are generated from on-going inflammation such as free radicals. That defense involves an understanding of our “antioxidant network system”. This somewhat complicated system was designed by God and formed within each one of us for the direct purpose of protecting our body and brain from the toxic by-products produced from our own metabolism, as well as from the increasing number of countless toxins that we are continuously exposed to everyday. It is this bombardment of toxicity that contributes to excessive inflammation. This then leads to a series of chemical changes like an overproduction of “glutamate” which now puts an even greater burden on our antioxidant system. This increased burden is capable of severely depleting our antioxidants, especially “glutathione” which is critical for sustaining life and for the functioning and protection of our body and brain. Having low glutathione sets the stage for depression, anxiety, psychiatric disorders, chronic illness, disease, cancer, and significantly accelerates the normal aging process!
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is just one example of how antioxidants are affected. Stressful life events substantially increase a person’s risk for MDD. Individuals suffering from MDD are accompanied by lower antioxidant levels including coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, zinc, glutathione, and reduced antioxidant enzyme activities such as glutathione peroxidase. These antioxidants and antioxidant aren’t an option; they are essential for life playing a critical role in protecting our body and brain.
Stephaniesdream.org serves as a “Nutritional Health Warrior” – educating, inspiring, and encouraging others to learn about their “antioxidant network” and “glutamate(rgic)” systems, two of the most important protective systems our body has. Both of these systems are involved not only in depression and suicide; but also anxiety, mood disorders, psychiatric disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism, ADHD, violence, aggression and/or impulsivity as well as most every known medical condition. We believe the best strategy for fighting the overdrive of inflammation and decreasing depression is to understand and protect our “antioxidant system” which can be accomplished by learning how to follow “God’s Way” of living. This means consuming an anti-inflammatory diet, learning why balance, moderation and fasting are so important, and how living a greatly reduced or stress-free lifestyle is crucial to long-term health. Putting our “Hope in Him” is the only way to greatly improve or totally regain our health!