Is There A Cure For Depression? Third results

by Martha Magenta, exclusive for infoholix.net

Introduction

My first article about depression, ‘Is There A Cure For Depression’, demonstrated that prescribed chemical antidepressants do not cure depression, have dangerous and sometimes fatal side effects, and have more commercial than health benefits.[1] Subsequent updates have focused on the success of complementary and alternative (CAM) therapists in curing depression using non-invasive, drug-free methods.

The first case study of a CAM cure for depression was provided by Dr Frank Lea, a creative hypnotherapist.[2][3] The second case study of successful treatment for depression was provided by Steve B. Reed, the innovative psychotherapist who developed the REMAP process.[4][5]

This, the third, update features the work of Craig Hitchens, a multi-talented Naturopath and Thought Field Therapy practitioner.[6] The case study concerns a person who suffered from depression and anxiety for several years. He was prescribed with Zoloft (Sertraline), which did not alleviate his depression. After only two sessions of TFT therapy the client’s depression lifted and he was able to begin weaning off the drug. Weaning or ‘tapering off’ antidepressants is necessary to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms.[7]

Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride)

Sertraline is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It is approved to treat depression, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in adults over 18. It is also approved for OCD in children and adolescents age 6-17 years.[8] Sertraline HCl is sold under numerous brand names: Zoloft, Sertralin, Lustral, Apo-Sertral, Asentra, Gladem, Serlift, Stimuloton, Xydep, Serlain, Zosert and Concorz.[9]

Side Effects of Zoloft

Sertraline can have adverse side effects including: diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, dry mouth, gas or bloating, loss of appetite, weight changes, drowsiness, dizziness, excessive tiredness, headache, pain, burning or tingling in the hands or feet, excitement, nervousness, tremors, insomnia, sore throat, excessive sweating, blurred vision, seizure, abnormal bleeding or bruising, hallucinations,[10] pruritus, alopecia, extrapyramidal symptoms, hyponatremia, galactorrhoea, stuttering,[11] self-harm, hyperglycemia, hepatitis, akathisia, dystonia, urinary incontinence, Parkinsonism, Parkinson’s disease, liver injury, psychosis,[12] asthenia, confusion, sexual dysfunction, bruxism, decreased libido, increased anxiety and depression, mania and hypermania, suicidal thoughts, suicide, and serious birth defects if taken in pregnancy.[13][14]

The FDA warning

In 2004 the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the dangers of SSRIs, and requested manufacturers to label antidepressants with a warning of possible suicide, worsening depression, anxiety, and panic attacks.[15] The FDA warning applies to all antidepressants including: Effexor (venlafaxine), Cymbalta (duloxetine), Lexapro (escitalopram), Celexa (citalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Wellbutrin or Zyban (bupropion), Zoloft (sertraline) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), atypical antidepressants, Pfizer’s Sinequan (doxepin), Nardil (phenelzine),[16] Luvox, Serzone, and Remeron.[17]

The question of SSRI addiction

Pharmaceutical companies deny that SSRIs are addictive or habit-forming,[18] and have created a distinction between addiction to recreational or illegal drugs and dependence on antidepressants.[19] Withdrawal symptoms are referred to as ‘SSRI discontinuation syndrome,’ ‘SSRI withdrawal syndrome’ or ‘SSRI cessation syndrome’. Withdrawal occurs during or after interruption or discontinuation of SSRI or SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) usage. [20][21][22]

Symptoms of SSRI withdrawal include: dizziness, ataxia, paraesthesia (shock-like symptoms), gastrointestinal disorders, flu-like symptoms, sensory disturbances, anxiety, agitation, hypersexuality, crying spells,[23] vertigo, light-headedness, nausea, fatigue, headache, insomnia, abdominal cramps, chills,[24] depression, compulsions,[25] migraine, neck and back pain, hallucinations, restlessness, sensations of electrical shocks, hypersensitivity to light, sound, colour and stressors, tinnitus, suicidal and homicidal thoughts, extreme irritability, severe agitation, extreme anger, aggressive behaviour, emotional swings, severe malaise, dysphoria, derealization and panic attacks.[26]

The drug dependency related to SSRIs is comparable to that of benzodiazepines such as Valium, which is now prescribed only with great caution because of withdrawal problems.[27] Withdrawal reactions to SSRIs occur because the drug creates adaptive receptor changes in the brain leading to an imbalance between cholinergic and dopaminergic activity.[28] These findings run counter to the manufacturers’ claims that SSRIs correct chemical imbalances.[29] In fact, instead of correcting, they cause systemic chemical imbalances and serious adverse side effects, and those who profit from SSRIs avoid admitting that SSRIs cause harmful changes and dependency.

Antidepressants do not cure depression

Zoloft, like other SSRIs, is advertised to consumers as ‘correcting a chemical imbalance’, a claim proven to be false and part of an aggressive promotion campaign. Despite the lack of scientific evidence to substantiate the claims, the FDA permitted misleading advertising about the action of SSRIs.[30] Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent promoting Zoloft this way, to mislead people to believe that they must take Zoloft to recover, when all available evidence shows that antidepressant medications do not cure depression,[31][32] and in fact other non-medical treatments may be more beneficial.[33]

The following case study shows how Craig Hitchens brought relief to a client after years of suffering, in two sessions, using TFT techniques and his knowledge of naturopathy.

Profile: Introducing Craig Hitchens B.Sc.Naturopathy, Dip. O.R.Th.

Craig Hitchens has always had an interest in helping and empowering people to understand that they are in control of their healing. He has studied and used Natural Healing Methods for several years. As a practising Buddhist Craig has taken refuge in several Tibetan Buddhist lineages under the guidance of Geshe Gnawan Gendun, Lama Choedak Rinpoche and Karma Luhndrup Rinpoche, and received weekly teachings for 3 years from Yana Dolma at the Serling Arya Tara Goldcoast Buddhist Centre. Craig is currently studying for a Diploma of oriental remedial studies.

Summary of Craig’s qualifications:

• BSc. Degree In Naturopathy.
• Diploma of Vibrational (Spiritual) Healing – Subtle anatomy, energy and application, meditation, psychological and emotional cause of disease, healing methods, and sacred geometry.
• Diploma of Advanced Counselling – Treatment methods and approaches, clinical practice, psychology of illnesses, counselling and psychotherapy, dynamics of relationship and interaction, and empathetic communication.
• Diploma of Reflexology – Structure and functions of the human body, advanced techniques, meridians & the five element chart, location of reflexes and mapping of the feet, anatomy and physiology.
• Diploma of Medicinal Herbalism – Botany, clinical medicine, herbs to use for diseases, biochemistry and chemistry, phytonutrients and pharmacokinetics, first aid, nutrition, Western, Chinese, and Ayurvedic methods of diagnosis, pharmacology, aromatherapy, Bach remedies and tissue salts.
• Diploma of Health Science – Life Science, naturopathy, dangers of drugs, nutrition, dangers of animal products, importance of exercise, detoxification symptoms, human digestive physiology, rest and sleep, fasting, clinical procedures, supplementation, and treatment protocols.

• Diploma of Oriental Remedial Therapies – Anatomy of the subtle body, Yin and Yang, theory of energy, oriental acupuncture/acupressure, foot reflexology, oriental massage/shiatsu, oriental diagnosis, meridian therapy & cycles, environmental medicine, qi gong, and Chinese herbalism.

Certificates in:

• Thought Field Therapy – Additional meridian healing modality for emotional problems.

• Reiki- Level 2. Energy healing modality.

• Huna Massage – Additional massage modality to enhance relaxation massages.[34]

Contact Information:

jentle@iinet.net.au

http://www.craighitchenstherapies.com

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Findings and observations of treatment for depression and accompanying anxiety/trauma – a case study in Thought Field Therapy

© By Craig Hitchens 2007

My name is Craig Hitchens and I am a Naturopath and Thought Field Therapy practitioner based in Dunsborough, Western Australia. The following case presented whilst I was based in Banora Point, New South Wales during the year 2003.

What follows is a condensed version of concluded findings and observations of a treatment for depression and accompanying anxiety/trauma for a patient I will call “Client 1”.

A short run down on Thought Field Therapy TFT

TFT uses tapping techniques on the end points of the energy meridians whilst focusing on the troubling thought, incident, emotion, etc. to unlock trapped energy in the system. These are called perturbations. TFT works on the principal that the subtle energy system is influenced by our experiences and these create imprints that can become or create imbalance. These imbalances or perturbations when left create emotional problems, eventually physical problems. The tapping sequences act like a “key” that unlocks the trapped, imbalanced energy and releases it thus creating harmony and correcting these problems very quickly. This technique is the work of Dr Roger Callaghan Ph.D and has been his life’s work for over 35 years.[35]

Case Study 1

Client 1 approached me initially with his wife after suffering repeated bouts of depression accompanied with anxiety. Client 1 had been to several doctors regarding this depression and had been given antidepressant drugs (Zoloft) to try to alleviate the problem. Nothing in the way of counselling was prescribed by these doctors at the time and little was asked of his background as to what he felt was the cause of this depression and anxiety. The drugs were not in client 1’s opinion helping him at all.

My initial line of questioning centred around asking him: a) how long he had suffered this for, and b) where he felt it stemmed from. Upon asking him this second question he became visibly anxious and very reluctant to talk. Now the basis of a TFT treatment is to get the client to mentally tune into the problem or to recall the experience or feeling that causes the upset. Obviously he was doing that very well.

Reluctantly he told me of being held at gunpoint during an armed hold up of the news agency he still worked in. Here we have the initial trauma. Then we focused on this and rated the SUD (Subjective Units of Distress – This gets the patient to rate how bad they feel on a scale of 1-10. We refer to this to show them progress during the treatment.) At 10, the worst it can get, I administered the algorithm (tapping sequence) for complex trauma and after around two minutes of tapping with one procedure for psychological reversal, we had him down to around SUD 2-3. He was then able to talk about what had happened with relative comfort. We see here a very fast and complete turn around in his discomfort level without drugs, or conventional counselling. We simply tapped the meridian points in the sequence for trauma and we arrived at this point. This is typical for this treatment.

We then shifted to his depression, which at this point after doing the treatment for the trauma initially, was less than normal according to client 1. No coincidence as untreated trauma will often manifest depression and anxiety and more to the point the depression was a secondary symptom of an untreated initial trauma. Collapse the main trauma and the rest follows. We focused on the feelings of depression and rated them a SUD of 8. We began the tapping sequence for depression and after one treatment for psychological reversal (This is where the energy system literally reverses and creates opposite polarity. This causes problems but is easily fixed), arrived at a SUD of 4. I then administered the 9-gamut sequence and the SUD went down to 1. Client 1’s session ended here for this day with him feeling in his own words “amazing”. I suggested a follow up visit in one week’s time to address anything further that may surface. In a single one hour session I was able to bring this man relief from what turned out to be years of suffering with a simple technique. No drugs.

The following session revealed that client 1 had slipped back slightly but to nowhere near the degree to which he first presented. I suspected an energy toxin at play. Upon talking and going over his diet in the past week I was able to identify possible toxins. I muscle tested him for them and he was positive for several substances. We agreed to withdraw them from his diet and I proceeded with a toxin reversal sequence and re-administered the depression algorithm with good success and a resultant SUD of 1. He also expressed his intention to see his doctor and wean off his medication.

On his next follow up visit 1 week or so later client 1 reported feeling very well indeed and no further depression or anxiety had returned. He had eliminated the toxins (refined sugars, corn starch, wheat) from his diet and increased his intake of water. He had begun weaning himself from his medications for depression and was doing well. A final follow up visit a fortnight later found client 1 still feeling well and he had in fact lost weight, was motivated to exercise more and could easily talk about the hold up incident with little or no upset at all. He was freeing himself of his medications and was only taking an antioxidant complex to help cleanse his system. No further visits were scheduled by him from here. Client 1 felt he was no longer in need of them. I asked him if he would call me by telephone and give me a progress report for a few more weeks to which he agreed. At no time during the resulting call did he report feeling in any way the same and he stated in fact that his life was looking very positive. He felt his whole attitude was more positive. He was tapping when he felt he needed it and doing reversals each day. TFT is very empowering as it gives the patient a real tool to use when they need to for themselves.

In conclusion we see here a patient who tried repeatedly with conventional therapies only to have them fail him. The simplicity and sheer effectiveness of TFT overcame his aversion to discuss the problem and thus re-live the pain all over again. TFT’s ability to free the subtle energy system of resulting perturbations from emotional trauma, etc. shows us a very real correlation between the subtle energy system and our mental well being and ultimately our physical well being as client 1 was motivated to exercise, eat well and in fact lost weight as a result of freeing himself of this perturbation causing him depression and anxiety. TFT’s ability to diagnose which meridians need to be corrected through the casual diagnosis procedure and the toxin sensitivity test resulted in an approach far more holistic than drugs and talking about it. It goes to the very source of all disease, the subtle energy system. Imbalance and perturbations here left unchecked will manifest mental and physical disease and problems.

This is not an isolated case, there are literally thousands and thousands of cases the world over from thousands of TFT practitioners that are similar or more profound than this. This therapy is in my professional opinion a very real treatment for depression of this kind. Severe clinical depression is still being worked upon but even still, there are some very resounding result there as well. Depression is also exacerbated by poor dietary choices and lifestyle. Client 1 showed psychological reversal as a result of toxins. Once these were eliminated he showed no further signs and his health improved. There is a very real link between what we eat and our emotional state. Toxins will reverse our energies and create problems at the subtle level. It is also no coincidence that when one is suffering a perturbation, one makes less than intelligent choices about diet, etc. thus compounding the problem. TFT helps the patient overcome this as well.

I am yet to see a conventional treatment that can make the claims that TFT can and back them up with results like TFT does. I have no hesitation in recommending this therapy to anyone trying to beat depression.

Craig Hitchins

Conclusion

Craig Hitchen’s case study, like the case studies in previous updates, shows that depression can be cured quickly and cost effectively, using non-invasive, drug-free methods. Yet pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars on misleading promotion of unsubstantiated benefits of chemical drugs, ensuring that depressed people are not cured, and remain drug addicts with a low quality of life.[36]

People with depression and those who care for them would benefit from studying the case histories in this series, because there are a number of serious problems associated with using anti-depressants: they cause dangerous side effects, and instead of curing depression, they create dependency that leads to serious withdrawal symptoms when discontinued or reduced[37]. In contrast, instead of creating dependency, CAM therapies empower patients by giving them tools and knowledge to keep themselves well.

In a world where health has become a massive consumer industry that is controlled by drug companies, conventional, clinical practice is dictated by profits, instead of the well being of patients. Hence, conventional doctors have no incentive to look for less expensive treatments, and no interest in finding genuine cures. A survey in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 87% of 200 authors of clinical guidelines had financial links with at least one drug company, including those whose products they endorsed. Over half of the authors had been paid by companies to conduct research. The training of psychiatrists is confined to the medical model, with no knowledge of alternatives to drug treatments.[38]

More needs to be done to inform people that there is a wide range of effective treatments for depression amongst CAM therapies. This update will be followed by further case studies from therapists who have successfully cured depression for clients whom conventional medicine could not help. If you are a CAM therapist with experience of curing depression and would like to be included in this research, please send in your case studies for publication in subsequent issues. We are particularly interested in patients who have been unsuccessfully treated by conventional methods but successfully treated by a CAM therapy. Please mail to: research@infoholix.net

© By Martha Magenta 2007.

1. Martha Magenta, ‘Is There A Cure For Depression?’ 2006, http://www.infoholix.net/article_is_there_a_cure_for_depression.php
2. Frank W. Lea, ‘Creative Mindpower Techniques’, http://www.creativemindpower.co.uk
3. Martha Magenta, Is There A Cure For Depression – First Results 2007 http://www.infoholix.net/article_is_there_a_cure_for_depression_first_results.php
4. Steve B. Reed, Dallas Counseling & Psychotherapy: http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/the_remap_process_toc.html
5. Martha Magenta, Is There A Cure For Depression – Second Results 2007: http://www.infoholix.net/article_is_there_a_cure_for_depression_second_results.php
6. Craig Hitchins Therapies – Natural Healing Therapies, http://www.craighitchenstherapies.com
7. Charly Groenendijk, ‘Tapering Off (SSRI/SNRI) Anti-Depressants’ 2006, AntiDepressants Facts, online: http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/taper.htm
8. Pfizer Inc, 2005, About Zoloft, http://www.zoloft.com/zoloft/zoloft.portal?nfpb=true&_pageLabel=about_zoloft
9. Wikipedia, Sertraline, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sertraline
10. MedicinePlus, Sertraline, 2007, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a697048.html#side-effects
11. Sertraline, International Programme on Chemical Safety, Poisons Information Monograph 177, Pharmaceutical, http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/pharm/pim177.htm
12. Charly Groenendijk, 2004, Zoloft or Lustral (Sertraline) Side-Effects, Antidpressants Facts, http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/zoloft-ADF.htm
13. Wikipedia, Sertraline, Side Effects, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sertraline
14. Pringle E., ‘Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)’ The Sierra Times, 25 Nov 2006, Baum Hedlund’s Pharmaceutical Antidepressant Litigation Department, online: http://www.sierratimes.com/06/11/25/75_7_242_70_12181.htm
15. FDA Issues Warning On Antidepressant Dangers, 2004 King Features Syndicate, Inc., The People’s Pharmacy, http://www.peoplespharmacy.com
16. Pfizer Inc, 2005, About Zoloft, Common Questions, http://www.zoloft.com/zoloft/zoloft.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=common_questions
17. FDA Issues Warning on Antidepressants, March 2004, Stone Hawk, http://www.narcononstonehawk.com
18. Pfizer Inc, 2005, About Zoloft, Common Questions, http://www.zoloft.com/zoloft/zoloft.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=common_questions
19. Wikipedia, SSRI discontinuation syndrome, Definition of Withdrawal, http://en.wikipedia.org
20. Wikipedia, SSRI discontinuation syndrome, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI_discontinuation_syndrome
21. K Black, C Shea, S Dursun, and S Kutcher, ‘Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome: proposed diagnostic criteria.’ J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2000 May; 25(3): 255–261, online: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1407715
22. Wikipedia, Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin-norepinephrine_reuptake_inhibitor
23. Dr Ben Green, ‘Persistent adverse neurological effects following SSRI discontinuation (PANES)’ 2003, Psychiatry on-line: http://www.priory.com/psych/panes.htm
24. Counselling Resource, ‘Information About Sertraline, Sold As Zoloft (US) or Lustral (UK)’ http://counsellingresource.com/medications/drug-pages/sertraline.html
25. F Benazzi, Sertraline discontinuation syndrome presenting with severe depression and compulsions. Biol Psychiatry. 1998 Jun 15;43(12):929-30: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez
26. Charly Groenendijk, 2006, Addiction and Withdrawal, Antidpressants Facts, http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/addiction-withdrawal.htm
27. Sarah Boseley, ‘Seroxat maker abandons ‘no addiction’ claim’ Saturday May 3, 2003 The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,948620,00.html
28. C. Heather Ashton, Allan H. Young, SSRIs, Drug Withdrawal and Abuse:
    Problem or Treatment? 1999, The Ashton Manual, online: http://www.benzo.org.uk/ssri.htm
29. Alliance for Human Research Protection,’A Matter of Disclosure: Shame on JAMA editor / Shame on Harvard Scientists / FDA Adds SSRI Warnings’ 20 July 2006, online: http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/296/55
30. Alliance for Human Research Protection, ‘A Matter of Disclosure: Shame on JAMA editor / Shame on Harvard Scientists / FDA Adds SSRI Warnings’ 20 July 2006, online: http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/296/55/
31. Pobojewski S. F., University of Michigan Depression Center, ‘Conquering Depression’, Interview with John Greden, 2002, online: http://www.medicineatmichigan.org/magazine/2002/summer/depress/default.asp
32. Psychology Information Online, ‘Medication’ Treatment for Depression, online: http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/treatment.htm
33. Wikipedia, Sertraline, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sertraline
34. Craig Hitchins Therapies – Natural Healing Therapies, http://www.craighitchenstherapies.com/about.html
35. Roger J. Callahan, Callahan Techniques, Ltd., http://www.tftrx.com
36. Wikipedia, Sertraline, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sertraline
37. C. Heather Ashton, Allan H. Young, SSRIs, Drug Withdrawal and Abuse:
    Problem or Treatment? 1999, The Ashton Manual, online: http://www.benzo.org.uk/ssri.htm
38. Phil Thomas and Pat Braken, ‘Time for openness on antidepressants’ Monday March 4, 2002. Society Guardian, online: http://society.guardian.co.uk/mentalhealth/comment/0,,660311,00.html

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