ADHD Linked to Prenatal Antidepressant Use.
Every person I know who has taken antidepressants before or during pregnancy had a child with either ADHD or Autism. Of course I realize this is anecdotal evidence, but studies are now showing this to be the case. And it only makes sense. Everything we ingest while pregnant can affect a developing baby (think smoking, alcohol, coffee, diet).
Antidepressants are now the second most prescribed medication in our country (antibiotics are number 1). We are truly a nation of people who are being drugged into a flatline state. It is amazing to me how quickly and easily we have been conditioned to think we need “medication” for any emotion we feel, or for any time life gets a little difficult.
Of course there are people with inherited mental chemical imbalances that truly may need some form of medication to help with the imbalance. Also there may be times of extreme difficulty, like the loss of a loved one, where temporary use of an antidepressant could be warranted. But for most of us, medication is not only not needed, it often causes more harm than good.
I also contend that most people who are feeling depressed are actually physically depressed, not mentally or emotionally. Many people in our country are so nutrient-deprived from eating the typical American diet of processed food, that they have chemical imbalances that lead to depression.
Here are a couple of tips to help if you are feeling depressed, or blue more than normal and for no real reason:
-make sure you are eating a nutrient-dense diet: greens, fruits, good proteins and healthy fats (fats play a huge role in balancing brain chemistry, so skip the low-fat diet)
-take a good Vitamin D3 supplement (1,000 iu’s, twice a day)
- for temporary depression, or to help bring you out of a funk, try St. John’s Wort (ladies going through menopause, it also helps with hot flashes), try it for a few weeks then wean off and take a break for a few weeks
- exercise, any form of exercise can help alleviate some depression
If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, try to avoid taking antidepressants, and look for more natural alternatives.