Fighting Depression in the
Library Field with Dr. DeMel Coleman
Ted Gentle
While an outsider might observe the library field as fun
and stress free, in actuality it contains many bullying situations,
confrontations, potentially violent altercations, and other obstacles. Weathering the bad days that troublesome
patrons and coworkers have in store for you can be one thing, but the feeling
of depression that can strike when you are by yourself is arguably even more
difficult to handle. How do we keep the
levels of serotonin and other chemicals manageable in our brains? To formulate some strategies as to how to
best confront depression in this field, I had a chat with expert psychiatrist Dr.
DeMel Coleman.
Ted Gentle: What
would you say is the one best way for a person to confront depression?
DeMel Coleman: Well,
you would be surprised how important a role diet plays in a person’s mental
health and depression. There is a very
close relationship between the gut and the brain, and the brain is what makes a
number of chemicals like serotonin and dopamine that keep you in a positive
frame of mind. I just cannot stress the
importance of good gut health. Before
you start that new library job, you might want to stock up on Probiotic
Yogurt. Cottage cheese is also good to
maintain that chemistry. Bananas have a
large number of healthy chemicals in them, too, including a lot of fiber. And nuts and peanut butter are high in Zinc,
which is also good for the brain.
When you eat chocolate, make sure that it is dark, and
drink Almond Milk instead of actual milk.
Milk and milk products contain casein, which leads to inflammation that
can cause depression. Those steps are a
good start and can really make a difference.
And it’s also fun to eat healthy!
Ted Gentle: What
can we say about exercise?
DeMel Coleman: Obviously
these are things that work in tandem with the good meals. They have actually done studies, and rats
that choose to exercise have higher dopamine levels than rats that are forced
to with electricity. They also are able
to overcome cancer more rapidly when they exercise by choice. Injections of cocaine into rats work the same
way in terms of choice; if they choose to pull a lever to get a cocaine shot,
the level of dopamine goes up. I cannot
stress the importance in overall health of choosing to exercise, and this will
stimulate good chemicals in the brain.
Even a small amount of exercise, research has shown, can make a big
difference. So try to take a walk.
Ted Gentle: Walk
around the block before that night reference shift!
DeMel Coleman: Exactly.
Ted Gentle: We’ve
spoken before about my depression after leaving my first library job. In addition to these things, you recommend
some breathing techniques, massage therapy, and hot baths.
DeMel Coleman: Right. Deep breathing in for five seconds and then out,
counting each second, for five seconds activates a nerve called the Vagus
nerve. This nerve will tell you to
relax, and in fact runs the length from your brain to the other end of your
body. Meditation is also very important,
and sticking to a regular schedule with it, and I personally recommend
Transcendental Meditation for my patients to research. A large amount of clinical research
recommends massages to effectively treat depression, and if you need something
quick, you can massage your body with a tennis ball. Hot baths, as I think many people know, can
very effectively cure a bad mood, and to prepare for a good night’s sleep,
consider adding Epsom salt, Lavender, and Melatonin, which they sell. Melatonin, in particular, helps to prepare the
body for and administer sleep, and the body also makes more Melatonin because
of the sunlight from when you take a walk.
Works
Cited
Coleman, DeMel.
Interview.
February 5, 2021.
No comments:
Post a Comment