What Causes Depression? Apparently, not Serotonin Deficiency.
About one year into the pandemic, the renowned medical journal, The Lancet, published a study in which 34% of COVID-19 survivors were diagnosed with a new neurological or psychological condition within 6 months of infection.1 It’s one of the many reasons why so many members of our community are struggling with low mood and mental health concerns right now. Many conventional treatments for depression hinge on the entrenched theory that serotonin deficiency causes depression. But this theory has been questioned many times, including very recently by authors of a large review paper, who emphasize that we have no convincing evidence for this established Serotonin Hypothesis.2 It’s time to leave this myth behind us and seriously explore additional avenues of treatment for depression.
I’ve received a lot of calls lately from panicked patients with a tick bite and a rash at the bite site. Their question: Is this a Lyme Disease rash and do I need to go get antibiotics? 
Many of us are already aware that even mild chronic dehydration contributes to fatigue, brain fog, headaches, constipation, insomnia, and many more health challenges! Quantity matters.
Respiratory viruses don’t cause chronic fatigue. Or at least that was the prevailing conventional wisdom before this pandemic and subsequent research that identifies somewhere between 10 and 60% of people with lingering symptoms 6 or more months following COVID-19 infection. We call this “Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2” (PASC). For the millions of people diagnosed with “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”, “Fibromyalgia”, or even “Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome” (POTS) – all of unknown cause – the mainstream recognition of post-viral causes of fatigue might be accompanied by a sense of relief and hope: “Is this the cause of my symptoms too?”
Can you prevent depression and anxiety? The research says that yes, sometimes you can! By practicing the skill of optimism.
I’ve been watching some great webinars presented by the Institute of Functional Medicine, that summarize current research about COVID-19. The science is piling up to support what many of us know to be true for other infections: our lifestyle habits play a key role in risk of developing severe illness, and we have more control over our risk than commonly acknowledged.
The answer to this question can help you stick to the most difficult healing work: Exercise, dietary regimes, reframing your thoughts and perspectives about life, healing a chronic illness, spiritual growth. In other words, what is so meaningful to you that through pain or discomfort, you’d still want to do the work? This is what you’ll use to find the strength to continue choosing the healing work each day.*
This time, I’m writing this article just as much for myself as for the wonderful people who explore our website for health inspiration and insight! It’s been a stressful year for many, and with a fourth wave and fall weather on the horizon, few of us can spare the lapse in our health that occurs from not exercising.
Some communities are still struggling with COVID variants. Thank you for working with us to adapt to these evolving regulatory requirements! Please find some of our COVID-related appointment and COVID-screening policies, below. 