by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND | Sep 10, 2015 | Uncategorized |
It might surprise you to know that the serotonin theory of depression has never been proven. Despite the billions of dollars being spent on antidepressants that enhance serotonin in the brain, studies attempting to correlate low serotonin with depression have never panned out. Some studies have even shown that depression may be related to high serotonin. Which might explain why the best studies show that, for most people, there is no benefit to antidepressants over placebo. So what do we know about the biochemistry of depression? The most strongly correlated depression markers are those associated with inflammation – CRP (used to predict heart attack) and IL6. Unsurprisingly, depression and heart disease are strongly linked. So when it comes to balancing your biochemistry naturally, addressing inflammation is an essential target. How do you reduce inflammation? The following natural interventions have been shown to reduce systemic inflammation and reduce depression. Eat a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables. Aim for 5-7 servings daily to get the full antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and mood benefits. Meditate – meditation stimulates the vagus nerve (essential for relaxation and proper digestion), and reduces the size of the amygdala – the part of the brain involved in fear. Exercise – improves cardiovascular health, and lowers blood levels of inflammatory cytokines. It’s time to stop thinking of depression as a disease isolated to the brain. That’s as outdated as treating cardiovascular disease as simply a heart issue. By treating the whole person, you not only decrease the likelihood of side effects and relapse – there’s a good chance you’ll come through better than ever....
by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND | Sep 10, 2015 | Uncategorized |
When Mary and I first met, she was a veteran of webinars and online summits, and was subscribed to dozens of health and wellness newsletters. But despite having a great diet and exercising daily, Mary was exhausted. Emotionally drained. Resentful. After doing a thorough health evaluation, and assessing her Happiness Archetype, and we got to the root cause of her exhaustion. She discovered what was really sucking the joy and vitality out of her existence. Armed with this understanding, together, we built a strong foundation of emotional and physical wellness. Today, Mary has so much more energy, satisfaction and excitement about her life. In her own words: “Dr. Teray has helped me make my life challenges easier to manage. She had valuable insights into my energy blocks and physical limits. My mental and emotional climate has improved. I am more focused on my real “Life.” My future health and vitality look more promising… I now put much more emphasis on my body and self-care. I am now using my visionary gifts to take me where I need to go next. Not to the past, but to the future.” What made the difference for Mary? After years of doing it alone and being strong for others, she finally stepped forward and allowed herself to be supported. She committed to doing what it takes to resolve the nagging issues that had dragged her down for too long. This work has changed her life, and transformed her outlook for the future. If you’d like to chat with me about how you can finally live with vitality and inspiration, click here. You’ll get...
by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND | Sep 10, 2015 | Uncategorized |
“The good times in my life are tinged with the fear that it wont last…” Sound familiar? If you’ve dealt with depression, you’ve probably experienced that tiny tickle of dread in the midst of a wonderful moment. The small ache of looking cautiously around the corner, waiting for the other shoe to drop. How can you feel safe in knowing that your happiness will last? Here’s my take (it might surprise you): Stop being attached to happiness. Happiness is a feeling, a state of being. To desire only to be happy implies that other feelings are wrong or bad. It’s like wanting the world to only be your favorite color. It is to be afraid of pain. But pain can be a sign of growth. Muscles are sore when they are strengthened. A shattered belief can be heartbreaking, but it opens the door to truth. It’s human to avoid pain – it was adaptive for our species. In the wild, the more comfort you can create for yourself, the more likely you are to survive. But in a society where survival is mostly assured, avoiding pain creates a culture that is addicted, empty – and depressed. It’s why I believe in becoming, not simply happy, but deeply happy. Deeply happy is an inner strength, a deep knowing that even though life has ups and downs, there is a part of you that stays anchored and at peace. It’s an inner light that isn’t blown out by the winds of change. It includes all feelings, and welcomes all of you. Here’s how to cultivate becoming deeply happy: Meditate. Get to...
by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND | Jul 9, 2015 | Uncategorized |
Late last week I filmed the first in a series of videos (which I’ll be sharing with you soon) about transforming depression and becoming deeply happy. Now, even though I’ve taught and written about this topic for years, it was an entirely different experience to put it on film. Speaking into the impassive glass of the camera, with the thought of so many unknown and possibly uncharitable people who would watch the video – it was harder than I thought it would be! When we wrapped for the day, I was shaking, craving comfort food, and wanted nothing more than to huddle into my bed and numb out with one of my favorite books. I felt raw and unsafe. I questioned the entire project. I felt depressed and inadequate. I’m sharing this with you, not because this is a unique experience, but because it is common. And I’m guessing you’ve felt something similar, if you’ve ever put yourself out there in a way that felt scary to you. You may have stopped yourself from going against the grain, or trying something new, for fear of the resultant insecurity that often comes after the bold revelation. How did I pull through? Well, first I curled up into a ball. I did eat some comfort food. I mindlessly scrolled through Facebook. I reached out to a couple of trusted friends. And, I re-watched this video of Brené Brown, a talk entitled “Sweaty Creatives.” In this keynote, she brilliantly teaches how to be courageous in the face of doubt. Her main points: 1. Creativity – doing something different, new or original –...
by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND | Jun 25, 2015 | Depression, Enough, Gratitute, Happiness, Self-care, Writing |
You’ve probably experienced the relief that comes from talking about a deep seated problem with a trusted friend or professional. But sometimes there isn’t someone to talk to, or it doesn’t seem to be helping. Research on happiness has revealed that a simple practice can be just as powerful, if not more, for healing trauma and increasing joy: journaling. Here’s why it works so well: the power of writing is in organizing your ideas into coherent sentences. This is turn helps your mind gain clarity on an subject, in a way that talking might not. Recall a rambling conversation that left you more confused than when you started, and you know what I mean. Writing helps you get better acquainted with your true self, and understand how you think and feel. Also, it’s very hard to lie to yourself in writing. When I feel like a hot mess of anxiety, confusion, and just plain whininess, it really helps me to grab a pen and paper, and write down what I feel. I get to identify exactly what is bothering me. I go from an amorphous cloud of upset, to “I feel insecure about what I said at the meeting today.” Boiling it down to its essence calms me down, so I can find a solution, or just move on. Has that ever happened to you? You may be the type of person who loves to write, or who struggles with it. So I want to be clear here that journaling for happiness does not require you be clever, original, or grammatically correct. Inspired...
