Pinnock - Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety is now one of the most common mental health disorders in the UK, but it is greatly under-reported, under-diagnosed and most certainly under-treated. Around 4.7 per cent of the UK population experience anxiety and around 9.7 per cent experience anxiety combined with depression! This is significant.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is another issue that is a particular blight here in the UK. It is essentially a depression that comes on in the winter. For a long time it was written off as a bit of the winter blues, or something that was all in the mind and wasnt taken that seriously. Now, however, we have much greater insight and the condition is recognised by physicians globally. The symptoms can be very similar to depression and can begin as early as September and last through until March! Here in the UK, unsurprisingly, we have some of the worst levels of SAD sufferers. Lets face it, for much of the year the sun is little more than a rumour!

Each of the above conditions will be explored more closely in their own sections in this book.

It is clear these issues are on the rise. Why? Well, Id love to have all of the answers, I truly would. But I feel that it is a cumulative effect of many influences of modern life on good old planet Earth. At no other point in history have we been placed under more unrealistic pressures. We have created a situation for ourselves that is far removed from how we were supposed to live. We are facing stress at a level never before seen. Dont forget, our physiology is still the same as it has been for hundreds of thousands of years. It hasnt caught up with our rapid evolution (perhaps read that as devolution?). Our stresses used to be famine, or predators. Now we are facing insane pressures to succeed, pressures regarding how we live in comparison to others. Pressures on our finances. We are in an age of unmatched communication capacity, yet feel more isolated and alone than at any point in history. We are living in madness.

Then, of course, there is the food. That is where I come in. The food that dominates in the modern world is despicable. Can food cause depression or anxiety well, to be honest, I have no belief that it does in and of itself. But what I do believe is this:

A) It can be a major contributing factor. Lets not forget that our brain and nervous system is an organ and tissue system that, like any other, has its own unique and specific nutritional needs. If these are not met, then the functioning of the system will be impaired.

B) I think food can be a very valid, effective, safe and affordable part of the treatment protocol. Not an alternative. Im talking about a strong and valid part of the picture. If our brain and nervous system is adequately nourished then it will function to its best ability. It can then directly affect how we respond to different situations, how things affect us and how quickly we can bounce back.

With so many influences and pressures, it is hardly surprising that we find ourselves more challenged than ever before. Well, there is little we can do about the world outside, but our diet and lifestyle is the one area where we can exert some control and that is what I will aim to explore throughout this book.