An M.D’s views on 5 alternative depression treatments

In a previous article titled What does depression look like, I wrote that depression is an emotion, or “energy-in-motion,” generated by low vibrational thoughts (negative, distressing, etc.) over time.

Contrariwise, feeling good is a high vibrational energy that come from focusing on desirable thoughts. This emotional feed-back system tells you if your thoughts are generating good emotions or painful emotions.

However, if you are already depressed then you deserve treatment before you will likely be able begin the journey of learning how to channel desirable thoughts consistently. Let’s consider treatment for depression…

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Alternative depression treatments

You may know that prescription medications enhance neurotransmitters such as serotonin or norepinephrine in your brain.

They are good at blunting emotional lows as well as emotional highs. While they don’t reverse the cause of depression, they are useful as a bridge to healing—often with side effects, which are reversible by stopping the medicine. But deeper therapies are needed, so let’s talk about a few…

1. Talk therapy and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)

I have seen so many treatment failures with psychotherapy that I rarely encourage it. This is because this approach doesn’t reach to the deeper stored toxic emotions behind the beliefs. This cognitive approach to treating a painful emotional energy will work only if there are emotional releases along the way. For example, a woman who was abused by her older brother at a young age may think about forgiveness and moving on, but without emotional clearing she will not root out the imbedded anger and resentment — and replace these with forgiveness for her brother and love for herself.

2. Energetic healing therapy

A powerful way to heal is through experiential trainings such as Impact Training. I have experience this training and have seen literally thousands of people root out anger and depression, and replace it with forgiveness, peace and love.

You can begin energetic healing even on your own. It takes learning to breathe slowly, calm your inner voice, turn logical mind (but channel your thoughts, such as by visualizing with your eyes closed), and feel emotions. You will not figure out emotions logically. Let me explain this more.

As you already know, your mind has a natural power to effortlessly provide you with mental images.  A slow “meditation breathing” method in combination with making mental images allows you to create an opening to the “spiritual” or emotional energy part of you.

Want to have an experience with this? If so, read the following short instructions for meditation breathing with guided imagery. You’ll need a place with calming music (Spa music without lyrics please) where you can close your eyes.  Plan for 15-30 minutes of your time.

Follow these instructions for meditation breathing with guided imagery:

Turn on the soft Spa music. Allow yourself to release all distractions, deadlines and stresses as you calm your thinking and feeling state through this breathing technique. Regulate your breath to be deep, slow, and even, with 3-4 seconds in-breath equal to out-breaths. Continue this pattern for 1 minute, allowing for your entire body to relax, yet feel energized.

Next, create a mental picture of a bright light beginning to appear above your head. This is the life force energy. At first it is extremely small as a night light, but as you breathe and relax, it is gradually getting brighter. Soon it is so bright you cannot look directly at it, rather only at its radiance. As you inhale, see that the light radiates down into the top of your head. As you exhale, this light stays in you, and with each in-breath it pulses slowly into you, gradually filling every part of your body. See any part of your body that is unhealthy or painful to receive this light so that it calms, rejuvenates and heals you. Within just a minute you can see your whole body filled with light.

3. Light Therapy

Morning light therapy (from a light-therapy lamp) is effective at seasonal depression, equal to or maybe even more effective than antidepressants. In one study, 98 patients with seasonal depression were assigned to 8 weeks of morning light therapy for 30 minutes at 10,000 lux and a placebo pill, or 30 minutes of dim light at 100 lux and a 20 mg Prozac pill. Both groups achieved a 67% response rate.

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4. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

A patient in the office recently told me about her experience with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). She was given a light sedation for the treatment and woke up feeling well.  She had 3 separate session which did wonders for her depression, and every few years she plans to return if needed.

The literature reports a 60-70 percent response rate. I also had a patient tell me that a family member underwent ECT and permanently lost memory and developed rapid-progressing dementia because of it.

5. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

This is newer than ECT and with fewer side effects. This procedure uses magnetic fields to stimulate your brain nerve cells. A study of 190 patients with major depression were treated with TMS with clinically significant symptom improvement overall and another review concluded that TMS was as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy or medications for relieving depression.

To peaceful and positive emotions for health,

Michael Cutler, M.D.