The Way Up "You who want to find peace can find it only by complete forgiveness."
--Course In Miracles

The Way Up Newsletter
Vol. 24, 10-15-00



TEST FOR DEPRESSION
NATURAL APPROACH TO DEPRESSION


NAMASTE & WELCOME TO THIS MONTH'S WAY UP NEWSLETTER!

HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE DEPRESSION?
Depression & low moods remain an increasingly common & still under-recognized, uncomfortable state of being. The cost in relationship disruption, decreased work & educational functioning, & misplaced health care is staggering.
Depression is increasing in children & teenagers, as well as all age groups. The heavy marketing of antidepressant medications & the educational programs promoted by the drug companies has been insufficient to quell the rising incidence of depression
 
Please also see Dr Slagle's other relevant newsletter.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OBSTACLES TO ACKNOWLEDGING DEPRESSION?

1--Sometimes it isn't recognized because depression may be disguised by physical symptoms, such as headaches, backaches, muscle tension, fatigue, weight changes, sleep problems, eating disorders & so on. The evidence does tell us that depression is a physical disorder. Even though there may be accompanying psychological symptoms, depression is first & foremost associated with changes in brain chemistry. Such changes can also cause physical symptoms & alterations in the body.

2--It may be masked by or coexist with other illnesses. For example a person with heart disease may also be suffering from a separate biochemical depression.

3--Many people mistakenly still consider depression as a purely psychological disorder. They think the depressed person with heart disease is only having an "emotional response" to their medical illness.

4--There remains a stigma (for some) to the admission of depression.

5--It may be hidden by other psychological problems. For example, those with schizophrenia may also be depressed, or the preoccupation with bingeing, fasting & purging in those with eating disorders may detract from the depression. Anxiety & memory problems may also mask or be a part of depression.

6--It can be confused with grieving or reactions to other stressful life events & is not noticed when it passes beyond what would be a normal response to the stress.

7--Depression is such a personalized illness. There is a tremendous range of symptoms & severity in the way it manifests itself.

THE CARROLL RATING SCALE FOR DEPRESSION
Some diagnostic methods are patient & family history & symptom elucidation.
 
Researchers have developed rating scales to diagnose & follow the treament of depression. The most used in research is the Hamilton Rating Scale, but it requires an objective observer.
 
This test has been adapted to a "do it yourself" rating test called the Carroll Rating Scale For Depression. A self-rating scale is good for general screening but should not by itself indicate an absolute diagnosis of depression because there is a chance of denial, loss of insight, or exaggeration of symptoms.
 
The test follows:
Complete all of the following statements by circling YES or NO, based upon how you have felt during the past few days
.1-I feel just as energetic as always. YES NO
.2-I am losing weight. YES NO
.3-I have dropped many of my interests & activities. YES NO
.4-Since my illness I have completely lost interest in sex. YES NO
.5-I am especially concerned about how my body is functioning. YES NO
.6-It must be obvious that I am disturbed & agitated. YES NO
.7-I am still able to carry on doing the work I am supposed to do. YES NO
.8-I can concentrate easily when reading the papers. YES NO
.9-Getting to sleep takes me more than half an hour. YES NO
10-I am restless & fidgety. YES NO
11-I wake up much earlier than I need to in the morning. YES NO

12-Dying is the best solution for me.

YES NO
13-I have a lot of trouble with dizzy & faint feelings. YES NO
14-I am being punished for something bad in my past. YES NO
15-My sexual interest is the same as before I got sick. YES NO
16-I am miserable or often feel like crying. YES NO
17-I often wish I were dead. YES NO
18-I am having trouble with digestion. YES NO
19-I wake up often in the middle of the night. YES NO
20-I feel worthless & ashamed about myself. YES NO
21-I am so slowed down that I need help with bathing & dressing. YES NO
22-I take longer than usual to fall asleep at night. YES NO
23-Much of the time I am very afraid but don't know the reason. YES NO
24-Things which I regret about my life are bothering me. YES NO
25-I get pleasure & satisfaction from what I do. YES NO
26-All I need is a good rest to be perfectly well again. YES NO
27-My sleep is restless & disturbed. YES NO
28-My mind is as fast & alert as always. YES NO
29-I feel that life is still worth living. YES NO

30-My voice is dull & lifeless.

 YES NO
31-I feel irritable or jittery. YES NO
32-I feel in good spirits. YES NO
33-My heart sometimes beats faster than usual. YES NO
34-I think my case is hopeless. YES NO
35-I wake up before my usual time in the morning. YES NO
36-I still enjoy my meals as much as usual. YES NO
37-I have to keep pacing around most of the time. YES NO
38-I am terrified & near panic. YES NO
39-My body is bad & rotten inside. YES NO
40-I got sick because of the bad weather we have been having. YES NO
41-My hands shake so much that people can easily notice. YES NO
42-I still like to go out & meet people. YES NO
43-I think I appear calm on the outside. YES NO
44-I think I am as good a person as anybody else. YES NO
45-My trouble is the result of some serious internal disease. YES NO
46-I have been thinking about trying to kill myself. YES NO
47-I get hardly anything done latley. YES NO
48-There is only misery in the future for me. YES NO
49-I worry alot about my bodily symptoms. YES NO
50-I have to force myself to eat even a little. YES NO
51-I am exhausted most of the time. YES NO
52-I can tell that I have lost alot of weight. YES NO

 

Compare your answers to those listed below.
Give yourself 1 point each time your answer is the same.

.1-I feel just as energetic as always. . NO
.2-I am losing weight. YES .
.3-I have dropped many of my interests & activities. YES .
.4-Since my illness I have completely lost interest in sex. YES .
.5-I am especially concerned about how my body is functioning. YES .
.6-It must be obvious that I am disturbed & agitated. YES .
.7-I am still able to carry on doing the work I am supposed to do. . NO
.8-I can concentrate easily when reading the papers. . NO
.9-Getting to sleep takes me more than half an hour. YES .
10-I am restless & fidgety. YES .
11-I wake up much earlier than I need to in the morning. YES .
12-Dying is the best solution for me. YES .
13-I have a lot of trouble with dizzy & faint feelings. YES .
14-I am being punished for something bad in my past. YES .
15-My sexual interest is the same as before I got sick. . NO
16-I am miserable or often feel like crying. YES .
17-I often wish I were dead. YES .
18-I am having trouble with digestion. YES .
19-I wake up often in the middle of the night. YES .
20-I feel worthless & ashamed about myself. YES .
21-I am so slowed down that I need help with bathing & dressing. YES .
22-I take longer than usual to fall asleep at night. YES .
23-Much of the time I am very afraid but don't know the reason. YES .
24-Things which I regret about my life are bothering me. YES .
25-I get pleasure & satisfaction from what I do. . NO
26-All I need is a good rest to be perfectly well again. YES .
27-My sleep is restless & disturbed. YES .
28-My mind is as fast & alert as always. . NO
29-I feel that life is still worth living. . NO
30-My voice is dull & lifeless. YES .
31-I feel irritable or jittery. YES .
32-I feel in good spirits. . NO
33-My heart sometimes beats faster than usual. YES .
34-I think my case is hopeless. YES .
35-I wake up before my usual time in the morning. YES .
36-I still enjoy my meals as much as usual. . NO
37-I have to keep pacing around most of the time. YES .
38-I am terrified & near panic. YES .
39-My body is bad & rotten inside. YES .
40-I got sick because of the bad weather we have been having. YES .
41-My hands shake so much that people can easily notice. YES .
42-I still like to go out & meet people. . NO
43-I think I appear calm on the outside. . NO
44-I think I am as good a person as anybody else. . NO
45-My trouble is the result of some serious internal disease. YES .
46-I have been thinking about trying to kill myself. YES .
47-I get hardly anything done latley. YES .
48-There is only misery in the future for me. YES .
49-I worry alot about my bodily symptoms. YES .
50-I have to force myself to eat even a little. YES .
51-I am exhausted most of the time. YES .
52-I can tell that I have lost alot of weight. YES .
Any score greater that ten reveals some degree of depression, & the severity of the depression increases with the score.

 

This test is taken from my book, The Way Up From Down (with permission from Bernard J. Carroll, M.D., Ph.D ) . My book details how depression can be treated naturally. If you even score 5 or above, I suggest you temporarily stop all sugar & alcohol, decrease caffeine to no more than one serving per day & eat as healthfully as you can.

  • Next, start a good multi-vitamin mineral in the dose directed on the label of the one you choose.
  • Then take Co-enzyme B Complex 2 with breakfast.
  • Take pyridoxal-5-phosphate (a form of vitamin B6) 2 upon arising on an empty stomach, with either 3-4 capsules of tyrosine or 1 flat tsp of tyrosine powder.
  • At bedtime take 1-2 5- Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) .
    Wait 2 weeks, and if you are not clearly improved add sublingual B12 / folic acid by dissolving 2 under your tongue upon arising.

You might also want to read my book to understand more about depression & this natural approach which also works excellently for low moods, short of actual depression & for stress protection. If you are already taking anti-depressants, the only part of the program which won't mix with the serotonin enhancing antidepressants is the 5-HTP.

Sorry, but no way to make this particular newsletter shorter.

If you know someone for whom this newsletter is relevent, please forward it to them.
Please visit to see all the previous newsletters if you haven't received them.

Let me know your interests.

Until next month,
Priscilla Slagle M.D,

"There is but one law, and that is the
law of love; love all, love what is, love yourself
as you are, ---No matter how diverse expressions
appear to be, realize that they are all differentiations
of your own essence in various contexts."
---Starseed Transmissions
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