Features
Talking About Sexual Diversity
Mood and Substance Abuse Disorders
Mood and Substance
Abuse Disorders
by
Renee Lang, ND
Depression and mental health rank
among the top health concerns for lesbians and gay men. According to a
survey done in 2000, lesbians ranked depression and mental health as their
number one health concern, while gay men ranked it second to HIV/AIDS.
Substance abuse, including alcohol and other recreational drugs, ranked
second and third, respectively, for lesbians and gay men.
Depression affects about
ten percent of the adult U.S. population, but is even higher in the gay
and lesbian community due to discrimination and lack of support. Women
experience depression twice as often as men. Wage discrepancies in a two-woman
household decrease the resources available to lesbians for healthcare.
In our work- and goal-oriented society, depression carries a stigma. This,
added to the persistent stigma of being gay in our society, increases
the difficulty for an individual suffering from depression to access and
obtain healthcare. Partially as a result, self medication with drugs and
alcohol frequently occurs.
Symptoms of depression and substance
abuse behavior result from a biochemical imbalance. Brain chemicals, called
neurotransmitters, regulate mood, appetite, feelings of well-being, and
energy levels in the body. Imbalances in these chemicals may result in
symptoms of depression, including a persistent sad or “empty mood”,
hopelessness, helplessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, decreased
motivation, appetite loss or overeating, chronic pain and insomnia, and
substance abuse.
Causes of neurotransmitter imbalances
include a history of emotional trauma (death, divorce, and abuse), poor
dietary choices, a digestive disorder, an excessive stress history, poor
sleep patterns, and a chronic illness. The cycle of neurotransmitter imbalances
and depression goes round and round, interfering with one’s ability
to implement the changes needed to correct the problem.
Neurotransmitter imbalances
also lead to drug, alcohol, and nicotine addiction. These substances bind
at receptor sites in the brain, replace the natural neurotransmitters,
and provide an artificial stimulate of the receptors resulting in increased
feelings of wellbeing. However, continued use causes an even greater imbalance
in neurotransmitter levels, resulting in an increased need for the drug
and a continual cycle of addiction.
Both depression and substance
abuse often interfere with the quality of one’s sleep. Sleep provides
a necessary time of restoration and replenishment for the body. A healthy
night’s sleep requires seven to eight hours of sound sleep with
cycles of both deep/REM and light sleep. Alcohol, recreational drugs,
and sleep medications often interfere with the REM state, thereby diminishing
the healing qualities of sleep.
The insidious nature of depression
makes it difficult for some people to realize their condition. Symptoms
creep in and over time an individual forgets what it’s like to feel
“normal” or good. They gradually acclimate and accept their
state of depression and don’t realize that they need help. Additionally,
the wide use and acceptance of recreational drugs and alcohol in the gay
community often masks or downplays addictive behavior.
Assessing one’s own addictive
behavior requires honesty, self reflection, and often, external input.
Briefly, substance abuse is characterized by the overuse of mood or behavior-altering
substances that interfere with life’s responsibilities or cause
harm to oneself or others. Additionally, the use of substances to avoid
dealing with underlying mental and emotional issues falls into this category.
Neurotransmitter imbalance is treatable.
Safe and effective natural therapies exist. Under the guidance of a naturopath
or other trained physician, a healthier, happier, and more energetic state
of being can be achieved.
The conventional treatment of depression
focuses primarily on using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
to treat the presumed decreased serotonin levels. Though sometimes necessary
in acute crisis, this approach does not adequately address the complexity
of the neurotransmitter imbalances. Multiple neurotransmitter imbalances
often exist including serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline), and
GABA. Over time, the use of SSRIs causes a decreased production of serotonin
and the number of serotonin receptors. This results in an overall reduction
of serotonin, greater than existed prior to the use of anti-depressants.
Similarly, the traditional approach
to treating substance abuse relies on withdrawal, counseling, and often
the concomitant use of medications (SSRIs and methadone). This approach
may be effective in the short term. However, it ignores the underlying
neurotransmitter imbalances and the accompanying digestive disorders and
nutritional deficiencies.
The naturopathic approach focuses
on rebalancing the neurotransmitters levels naturally and treating the
individual holistically. The implemented natural therapies stimulate the
production of neurotransmitters and their accompanying receptors.
Useful therapies include homeopathy,
herbal remedies, and nutritional supplements. Specific amino acid supplements
provide the building blocks to many neurotransmitters and when used in
appropriate dosages provide symptom relief.
Combining amino acids
with adrenal supportive and nourishing herbs, including ashwaganda and
oatstraw, provides deeper healing. Repairing any underlying digestive
disturbance is crucial to treating depression and substance abuse disorders.
Whole-body health requires proper
digestion and absorption. Successful treatment requires an integrative
approach using psychotherapy, nutritional and lifestyle counseling, improved
sleep and digestive health, and neurotransmitter rebalancing.
Diet is crucial to one’s overall
health. Nutrients in food provide the basic building blocks for all facets
of our body and our health. Essential dietary changes include decreasing
or avoiding caffeine, sugar, alcohol, simple carbohydrates and sweets.
Without proper nutrition, healthy neurotransmitter levels cannot be achieved
or maintained.
Finally, in order to achieve
a true healing, the underlying cause must be treated. This cause may include
deep emotional trauma from childhood, a more recent event, and traumas
associated with being gay in our society. If not adequately healed, the
neurotransmitter levels will likely become imbalanced again in the future.
Dr. Renee Lang is a licensed Naturopathic Physician practicing at
The Healing Way Clinic in Brattleboro. To learn more, visit her website
at thehealingway.net or call 802-254-4369. If you have a specific health
concern or issue that you would like to see presented in a future article,
please email Dr. Lang at dr.lang@thehealingway.net