I would like to address a lot of the "alternative" approaches to depression, which are becoming available. These include alternatives to prescription medication, aromatherapy, and all sorts of other things. If you're a "veteran" of depression treatment, then chances are you know about most of these and may be tempted to look into a few.

   Let me state right now that I don't want to discourage anyone looking into these things. I've heard that they've helped some people and I'd never want to keep anyone away from something that might help them.

   However, I simply want to point out that this is a totally unregulated market, as opposed to traditional psychiatry, where psychiatric medications are subject to government approval, physicians and counselors are licensed, etc. Remember the saying caveat emptor, or "buyer beware." The claims made on bottles of St. John's Wort (for example) aren't required to be proven true. Practitioners of "holistic healing" (whatever that is--there isn't even a standard definition for it!) are not licensed or overseen. Be careful and aware of what you are getting into and be prepared to find that whatever you try, may not work.

   Some of you may turn to these "alternatives" because mainstream psychiatry hasn't helped as much as you'd like. Well, that's because every case of depression is different. They are not all treated the same and not all treatments work equally on everyone. But think about this: if the regulated psychiatric industry can't help you, don't expect instant miracles out of the unregulated "alternative medicine" industry.

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