THE BIG D

We all experience depression from time to time and in different degrees.
We have all heard that many famous and accomplished persons experienced deep and prolonged depression. Depression is not a sign of weakness.
One of the first principles of psychology that I learned as a college freshman in 1960 was "depression" is 'anger turned inward', that is anger directed toward ones self. Almost 50 years later I still contemplate that simple truth.

Early in my practice I had a patient confined to a wheelchair as a result of a work accident. Peter was a large-framed man who had had a career as a professional athlete. Subsequently as a fire fighter he suffered terrible injuries that resulted in the wheelchair. He may have experienced brain injury as he spoke with a slur. One day he was wheeled in for treatment of musculo-skeletal complaints. I greeted him with a smile and asked How are you?
He answered "mizzzerable." He felt useless and depressed. I shared that I had just finished a book by one of the Meninger brothers, well known Drs. specializing in mental - emotional disorders. I quoted the book which stated very simply that the easiest and best "cure" for depression was to do something for somebody else.
I never saw Peter again. He was unfortunately unable to address what today would be called his "issues."

What were some of the things Peter could have done for himself? Following are some ideas: physical - Peter gets credit for this one because he was seeking care for the bodily pain he felt. Physical therapy, massage, chiropractic, yoga are examples of valid avenues. nutritional - amino acids which are the building blocks for proteins are essential. Supplements of B6 and B12 (sublingual is best) are crucial especially for the aging population. SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) is available over- the- counter and has been successfully used by Europeans for decades. exercise - even stretching assists in producing endorphins which are the hormones that make us feel good.
breathing - as discussed in an earlier blog on this site is something we all forget to do properly.
stimulate olfactory senses - scents, fragrances, foods activate portions of the brain that enhance the joy in our lives.
visual senses - colors . When I think about it now flowers incorporate the last two (olfactory and visual) concepts and it's easy to see why flowers would be universally used as gifts for healing and mood enhancement. Lastly laughter (is this the last laugh?) we know can actually boost the immune system for healing and balance in our lives.

It's All in the Interpretation

The following appeared in the Berkshire Genealogist, Volume 27, Number 1.
You will enjoy it!:
An amateur genealogy researcher discovered that his great-great uncle,
Remus Starr, a fellow lacking in character, was hanged for horse stealing
and train robbery in Montana in 1889.
The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows.
On the back of the picture in this inscription: "Remus Starr; horse thief,
sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1883, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889."
In a family history subsequently written by his descendant, Remus' picture is cropped, scanned in as an enlarged image, and edited with image processing software so that all that's seen is a headshot. The accompanying revisionist history states:
"Remus Starr was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquistion of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana Railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to service at a government facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important
civic function held in his honor when
the platform upon which he was standing
suddenly collapsed."

Extra Vertebra in the spine

Question: "We have an interesting development with our 22 year old granddaughter.
She had been having balance and walking difficulty this summer and after seeing
many specialists and now consulting at Mayo, she has been diagnosed with an extra
vertebra between the 7 and 8th. We are assuming it isn't a very common condition.
Any input would be welcome. Thanks. K & J"
Answer: I'm assuming the extra vertebra is in the neck, cervical (yes, that is the correct term)
which normally has 7 vertebrae however if it is in the thoracic region the following will still apply.
An extra vertebra in the spine is not an uncommon occurrence. It is a "normal anomaly" which means a benign variation= we are all different. I have seen it occasionally. I don't think there
is a direct correlation with the symptoms you mention. In other words not everybody
with this extra vertebra has problems, but it is possible and worth pursuing from a
biomechanical (chiropractic) standpoint. As is so often the case, this sounds like a
last resort option. I hope it works for your granddaughter.