DEPRESSION TREATMENT & SUPPORT
Natural Relief for Depression and Low Mood
Depression is much more than just feeling sad or having a bad day – it’s a persistent feeling of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness that affects how you think, feel, and handle daily activities. If you’re dealing with depression, you know how exhausting it can be when simple tasks feel overwhelming or when you lose interest in things you used to enjoy.
At Paracelsus Natural Family Health Center in Pasadena and Redlands, Dr. Simon Barker and Dr. Daniel Brousseau understand that depression isn’t a sign of weakness or something you can just “snap out of” – it’s a real condition that affects both your mind and body. They use comprehensive natural approaches to help identify what might be contributing to your depression and support your body’s natural ability to feel balanced and hopeful again.
Many people with depression have been told that medication is their only option, but depression often has underlying physical causes that can be identified and treated naturally, helping you feel more like yourself again.
What Makes Our Depression Support Different
Comprehensive Testing to Identify Root Causes – Rather than just treating symptoms, we work to understand what might be contributing to your depression through comprehensive blood work testing thyroid function, multiple nutrients essential for brain health, blood sugar regulation, inflammatory markers, and hormone levels including testosterone, estrogen, and stress hormones; advanced nutrient testing for omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids that are building blocks for mood chemicals; gut health assessment since gut health directly affects mood including bacterial imbalances, digestive function, and intestinal permeability; and additional testing when appropriate including food sensitivity testing, heavy metal testing, organic acids testing, and genetic testing for nutrient metabolism.
Four-Phase Treatment Approach – We take a step-by-step approach including stabilization and support providing immediate nutritional support while identifying urgent factors like severe nutrient deficiencies or hormone imbalances; addressing root causes by correcting underlying imbalances such as thyroid problems, gut health issues, or nutritional deficiencies; rebuilding and strengthening to restore healthy brain chemistry and energy levels through ongoing nutritional support and lifestyle optimization; and long-term wellness developing sustainable strategies to maintain emotional balance and prevent depression from returning.
Natural Treatment Protocols – Our evidence-based protocols include mood-supporting nutrients with vitamins, minerals and essential fats to support brain chemistry; amino acids and brain chemistry support; adaptogenic and mood-supporting herbs; thyroid and hormone support including nutrients for healthy thyroid function, natural approaches to balance stress hormones, reproductive hormone support, and blood sugar stabilization; gut-brain support with probiotics that specifically support mood, nutrients that heal the gut lining, digestive support, and anti-inflammatory compounds; and lifestyle and energy support including light therapy recommendations for seasonal depression, exercise guidelines, sleep optimization, and stress management techniques.
Safe Integration with Conventional Care – Our natural approach is very safe and can be used alongside conventional treatments. We carefully coordinate with your prescribing doctor if you’re taking antidepressant medications. We never recommend stopping antidepressant medications without a doctor’s approval, and natural treatments complement, not replace, psychotherapy or counseling.
How Our Depression Support Works
Initial Comprehensive Assessment – We conduct thorough evaluations including comprehensive testing to identify potential contributors to your depression. Testing helps identify thyroid problems, nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalances including low testosterone in men, blood sugar issues, gut health problems, and inflammatory markers that may be causing or worsening depression symptoms.
Active Treatment Phase – We provide natural treatments tailored to your specific needs including mood-supporting nutrients with vitamins, minerals, and essential fats; amino acids and brain chemistry support; adaptogenic and mood-supporting herbs; thyroid and hormone support with nutrients and natural approaches; gut-brain support with probiotics and anti-inflammatory compounds; and lifestyle support including light therapy for seasonal depression, exercise guidelines that boost mood without overwhelming you, sleep optimization, and stress management techniques.
Building Long-Term Resilience – We help restore healthy brain chemistry and energy levels through ongoing nutritional support and lifestyle optimization. We develop sustainable strategies to help you maintain emotional balance and prevent depression from returning.
Collaborative Care – We believe the best results often come from combining natural treatments with counseling or therapy. Natural approaches can help balance your brain chemistry and address physical factors, while therapy helps you develop coping skills and address psychological aspects of depression. We’re happy to work with your therapist.
Understanding Depression and Its Causes
Depression can show up in different ways including major depression with persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness lasting weeks or months; seasonal depression (SAD) that comes and goes with the seasons; postpartum depression occurring after having a baby; depression with anxiety where both conditions occur together; persistent depression (dysthymia), a milder but long-lasting form; and depression related to medical conditions like thyroid disease, chronic pain, or hormone imbalances.
Common symptoms include emotional symptoms like persistent sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, loss of interest in activities, feeling worthless or guilty, irritability, feeling numb, and thoughts of death or suicide (please seek immediate help if you have these thoughts); physical symptoms like fatigue, changes in appetite, weight changes, sleep problems, headaches, body aches, digestive problems, moving or speaking slowly, and feeling restless; mental and cognitive symptoms like trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions, brain fog, negative thoughts, feeling overwhelmed, and difficulty thinking clearly; and behavioral changes like withdrawing from others, neglecting responsibilities, giving up hobbies, increased substance use, and isolating yourself.
Underlying factors that can cause or worsen depression include nutritional factors like deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and essential fats, blood sugar imbalances, and poor diet; hormonal imbalances including thyroid problems, hormone changes during menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause or menopause, low testosterone in men, elevated stress hormones, and insulin resistance; gut-brain connection issues with imbalanced gut bacteria that affect serotonin production, digestive problems, poor nutrient absorption, and gut inflammation affecting the brain; medical conditions including chronic illnesses, chronic pain, sleep disorders, and medication side effects; and environmental and lifestyle factors like chronic stress, lack of sunlight, social isolation, lack of physical activity, and trauma or major life changes.
Benefits of Natural Depression Support
People who choose our comprehensive natural approach often experience:
Improved Mood and Outlook
Gradual lifting of sadness and hopelessness as underlying causes are addressed and brain chemistry is supported.
Increased Energy and Motivation
More steady energy throughout the day and renewed interest in activities you used to enjoy.
Better Sleep Quality
More restful sleep as mood improves and stress on the body decreases.
Enhanced Mental Clarity
Clearer thinking and better concentration as brain fog lifts and nutrients are optimized.
Greater Emotional Resilience
Improved ability to cope with stress and life’s challenges without becoming overwhelmed.
Reduced Need for Medications
Some people may be able to reduce their need for antidepressant medications (always done under medical supervision).
Better Overall Health
Improved energy, digestion, and immune function as the whole body comes back into balance.
Most people begin noticing some improvements within 4-6 weeks of starting treatment, especially when we address things like vitamin D deficiency or thyroid problems. More significant changes develop over 3-6 months as underlying imbalances are corrected and brain chemistry is supported.
Ready to Find Relief from Depression?
Dr. Barker and Dr. Brousseau’s comprehensive approach to depression support provides patients with natural treatments that address root causes of depression while supporting brain chemistry and building long-term emotional resilience.
Explore our complete Mental Health Services → or learn about Anxiety Treatment → and Insomnia Support →
Questions about natural depression support?
Call either office to discuss how our proven approach can help you identify what’s contributing to your depression and support your healing.
Call either office to discuss how our proven approach can help you identify what’s contributing to your depression and support your healing.