>> So here is an irony. Perhaps
you've noticed that we are
00:00:00.80\00:00:05.17
living in an era where there are
more fun things to do than ever
before in human history,
00:00:05.17\00:00:08.90
and yet we have so many more
depressed people. >> That is so
00:00:08.90\00:00:15.21
ironic. You would think that
with all the modes of
entertainment we have literally
00:00:15.21\00:00:19.31
at our fingertips, we should
be happier than ever before.
00:00:19.31\00:00:22.92
>> But there are so many people
in Canada who are suffering
feelings of sadness and despair.
00:00:22.92\00:00:28.89
>> We are being told that
depression is reaching epidemic
proportions in Canada
00:00:28.89\00:00:33.80
and throughout the world. >>
Depression is the number-one
cause of disability.
00:00:33.80\00:00:37.57
More people miss work due
to depression than any other
00:00:37.57\00:00:42.07
condition. In today's program,
although we are going to be
discussing the topic of
00:00:42.07\00:00:46.21
depression, we are going to seek
to give you hope, the hope of
00:00:46.21\00:00:51.88
relief, from this crippling
illness. >> Depression consists
of a constellation of symptoms,
00:00:51.88\00:00:56.79
starting with sadness or
feelings of emptiness. >> Other
00:00:56.79\00:01:01.42
symptoms include feelings of
apathy, moodiness, and increased
irritability, a lack of energy
00:01:01.42\00:01:09.20
with increased sleep
disturbances and a lack of
concentration. >> Depression
00:01:09.20\00:01:14.64
gets severe when there are
feelings of worthlessness and a
00:01:14.64\00:01:18.47
preoccupation with morbid
thoughts. >> You know, in this
ancient book, the Bible,
00:01:18.47\00:01:22.11
we are offered answers to the
condition of depression. We
receive encouragement
00:01:22.11\00:01:27.92
knowing that godly leaders
like King David, the prophet
00:01:27.92\00:01:32.62
Jeremiah, and even Moses himself
felt downcast, broken-hearted,
and in despair. >> Yes, the
00:01:32.62\00:01:39.49
Bible records the tragedies of
Job, who proclaimed, "I loathe
my very life," in Job 10:1.
00:01:39.49\00:01:46.43
>> Jesus himself was referred to
as a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief
00:01:46.43\00:01:51.41
in Isaiah 53:3. And yet he
overcame, and he gives us all
00:01:51.41\00:01:56.81
the power to overcome all the
crippling symptoms of sin and
suffering that we see in our
00:01:56.81\00:02:03.08
world. >> So if you find
yourself in a dark place today,
know that you are not alone.
00:02:03.08\00:02:08.92
>> As God comforted his people
in the past, he will comfort
00:02:08.92\00:02:15.30
you, too, today. >> In today's
program, we are going to be
discussing this topic of
00:02:15.30\00:02:19.93
depression with Dr. Nadine
Plummer, N.D., and she's going
to help us see how we can find
00:02:19.93\00:02:26.64
hope and relief. ¤¤ ¤¤
00:02:26.64\00:02:42.72
¤¤
00:02:42.72\00:02:49.70
>> Hello, and thank
you for joining us on
00:02:49.73\00:02:51.47
"It Is Written Canada."
Today in our studio, we have
00:02:51.47\00:02:54.07
Dr. Nadine Plummer,
N.D., and she is a graduate of
00:02:54.07\00:02:58.61
the Canadian College of
Naturopathic Medicine in
00:02:58.61\00:03:01.48
Toronto.
00:03:01.48\00:03:02.88
And she's going to be sharing
with us thoughts on the topic of
mental health and depression.
00:03:02.91\00:03:07.98
So thank you for joining us,
Dr. Nadine Plummer. >> You're
00:03:07.98\00:03:11.69
welcome. >> So wonderful to have
you here in our studio again at
"It Is Written," so thank you
00:03:11.69\00:03:16.56
so much for joining us
once again. >> You're welcome.
00:03:16.56\00:03:19.33
I'm glad to be here again. >>
Yeah. So, the topic of
depression is a big one.
00:03:19.33\00:03:24.03
Have you had people come in to
you as a doctor and deal with
depression in those cases?
00:03:24.03\00:03:31.34
>> I have. I've had
people come in who are
00:03:31.37\00:03:35.18
depressed or
people who have anxiety.
00:03:35.18\00:03:38.15
And often it's been because
they have physical ailments.
00:03:38.15\00:03:42.75
You know, a lot of pain, a lot
of shoulder pain, tightness up
00:03:42.78\00:03:46.52
the neck, which is common with
anxiety, and gut issues also
very common with anxiety.
00:03:46.52\00:03:53.29
And then we have the opportunity
to talk about, you know, what
might be going on mentally
00:03:53.29\00:03:58.23
and emotionally as well as
physically, because it kind
00:03:58.23\00:04:02.84
of expresses itself physically
for a lot of people. >> So you
start off and you're
00:04:02.84\00:04:07.38
seeing physical symptoms,
and then you're leading towards
00:04:07.38\00:04:10.38
that. Do find that some people
have a hard time talking about
that? Like, it's sort of a taboo
00:04:10.38\00:04:15.48
topic, like, "I shouldn't be
weak," or "What is this?" You
know, like, "If it's a
00:04:15.48\00:04:20.12
broken arm, I can talk about it.
But if it's a broken emotion, I
don't want to talk about
00:04:20.12\00:04:24.43
that." >> I think it
takes a level of maturity.
00:04:24.43\00:04:27.56
Some people shy away from it.
There are feelings of shame, as
00:04:27.56\00:04:32.20
well. That's why it's so
important to talk about it. And
I'm glad that we're doing
00:04:32.20\00:04:35.50
this show. Other people, when
you kind of introduce that idea,
00:04:35.50\00:04:41.41
like, "Oh, perhaps there's
something behind the physical
pain that you're experiencing."
00:04:41.41\00:04:47.52
Some people shut down, like,
"Oh. Don't want to talk about
it," or stuff their feelings.
00:04:47.52\00:04:52.05
And for others, it's an
opportunity to really, you know,
open that up a little bit
00:04:52.05\00:04:57.56
and look to see what
contributing factors are. >> So
00:04:57.56\00:05:03.10
by opening it up, by having that
discussion, by talking about it
can produce healing.
00:05:03.10\00:05:07.27
>> Absolutely. Yeah. Think of
depression. I mean, there are
many different causes,
00:05:07.27\00:05:12.44
and we'll talk about them today.
But some of those causes are
00:05:12.44\00:05:17.55
mental, emotional, maybe past
wounds, past emotional wounds,
00:05:17.55\00:05:22.05
childhood trauma, abuse, that
type of thing. When that's
involved, I kind of think of it
00:05:22.05\00:05:27.79
like a wound that has had an
infection is still there under
00:05:27.79\00:05:33.53
the surface. And in medicine,
there's a term called
debridement. It's kind of where
00:05:33.53\00:05:38.50
you get rid of all of the dead
skin and slough everything off
00:05:38.50\00:05:42.67
so you can get to the actual
infection. And that's kind of
what it's about when you're
00:05:42.67\00:05:47.61
opening that up, something from
the past, something unresolved.
00:05:47.61\00:05:51.51
You're debriding so you can
really get to the underlying
00:05:51.51\00:05:55.18
issue. >> Which can be a very
painful process. >> Absolutely.
00:05:55.18\00:05:59.72
Absolutely. It's definitely a
journey. >> So, Dr. Nadine, how
would you define depression?
00:05:59.72\00:06:06.19
>> So, my definition, actually,
that I'm going to give you --
You mentioned some of the
00:06:06.19\00:06:10.47
symptoms -- is not actually
mine. It's based on the DSM-5.
00:06:10.47\00:06:15.50
It's the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental
00:06:15.50\00:06:19.91
Disorders. So this is really
just talking about symptoms. And
that's something that's used
00:06:19.91\00:06:26.05
by medical doctors, it's used
by N.D.s, used by pharmacists.
00:06:26.05\00:06:30.29
And it shows there are many
different types of depression,
but there are basic symptoms
00:06:30.29\00:06:35.66
that most people experience, and
that would include five or more
00:06:35.66\00:06:41.10
of the following -- depressed
mood nearly every day. Your mood
00:06:41.10\00:06:45.67
is low. Decreased interest in
activities nearly every day,
maybe things that you used
00:06:45.67\00:06:51.34
to be interested in and
now you're not. Weight loss or
00:06:51.34\00:06:57.41
weight gain. Sleep.
So important. Insomnia.
00:06:57.41\00:07:01.35
Either you can't sleep or you're
oversleeping nearly every day.
Feelings of restlessness,
00:07:01.35\00:07:07.59
feelings of being slowed down,
psychomotor changes. So even
your body slows down.
00:07:07.59\00:07:13.46
The way that you move, you
walk slower, you talk slower,
00:07:13.46\00:07:19.60
indecisiveness, cognitive
fogginess, fatigue, feelings of
worthlessness, as you had
00:07:19.60\00:07:26.51
mentioned, feelings of guilt
that are just inappropriate,
diminished ability to
00:07:26.51\00:07:31.51
concentrate, and recurrent
thoughts of death. Recurrent
00:07:31.51\00:07:36.15
thoughts, perhaps, of suicide.
The interesting thing is, for it
to be a diagnosis of depression,
00:07:36.15\00:07:41.82
it means that those symptoms are
not because of an abuse of
substances, they're not
00:07:41.82\00:07:48.73
because of a medical condition,
and they're at the point where
00:07:48.73\00:07:53.57
they impair your abilities to
function, your ability to work,
your ability to function
00:07:53.57\00:07:59.51
occupationally, socially,
et cetera. >> So, Dr. Plummer,
00:07:59.51\00:08:04.11
do you have to have all of these
symptoms to be classified as
00:08:04.11\00:08:09.05
depressed, or...? >> You have
to have five or more of those
00:08:09.05\00:08:13.76
symptoms. >> Okay. >> And the
classification is over a
two-week period. >> Okay.
00:08:13.76\00:08:17.43
>> So, five or more of
those symptoms... >> Okay.
00:08:17.43\00:08:20.30
>> ...nearly every day over two
weeks. >> Yes. So could you be
00:08:20.30\00:08:24.33
having feelings of sadness and
still not be depressed? >> You
00:08:24.33\00:08:28.97
could. >> Okay. >> And when
people think of depression, they
00:08:28.97\00:08:31.67
think of sadness, and sadness is
part of depression but it is not
00:08:31.67\00:08:36.71
necessarily depression. >>
Right. >> The difference really
00:08:36.71\00:08:41.15
is, you could go through a
situation where you feel very
sad but your sadness might -- it
00:08:41.15\00:08:47.39
might not always be constant
like this. You go out with
00:08:47.39\00:08:50.86
friends and it kind of gets your
mind off of things, or you see a
movie and you laugh
00:08:50.86\00:08:54.76
and there's kind of an
end to sadness. >> Right.
00:08:54.76\00:08:58.87
>> But with
depression, it's... >> Ongoing.
00:08:58.87\00:09:01.64
>> Ongoing, yeah. >> And you
mention for two weeks or more
when you have these
00:09:01.64\00:09:06.27
ongoing symptoms. >> That's
right. There are other types of
00:09:06.27\00:09:09.91
depression where the severity
is less. Symptoms are the same,
00:09:09.91\00:09:14.98
severity is less. And for that
diagnosis, it's actually two
00:09:14.98\00:09:19.79
years. So that's like -- it is
referred to sometimes more lay
-- in a lay way, as minor
00:09:19.79\00:09:26.70
depression. >> Mm-hmm. >> But
major depressive disorders, two
00:09:26.70\00:09:31.40
weeks or more. >> Mm-hmm. >> So,
Dr. Plummer, what -- what kind
00:09:31.40\00:09:36.24
of things can cause depression,
or what causes depression? >> So
that's the key question --
00:09:36.24\00:09:40.91
"What causes depression?" And
I think that science is really
00:09:40.91\00:09:46.08
looking -- And not just science,
but people who are focusing on
00:09:46.08\00:09:50.25
mental health -- are looking to
causes that are beyond chemical
causes or beyond serotonin.
00:09:50.25\00:09:56.49
There's so many contributing
factors to what causes
00:09:56.49\00:10:02.20
depression. And so it's not
really a known answer. It's many
things contributing
00:10:02.20\00:10:07.57
to depression. I focus a lot
on some factors that are part of
00:10:07.57\00:10:14.24
our lifestyle. Sleep, for
instance. >> Right. >> Sleep or
00:10:14.24\00:10:17.95
lack of sleep, a great
contributor. And when I think of
00:10:17.95\00:10:21.12
sleep, I think of the biblical
character Elijah. >> Yeah. >> He
went through a very
00:10:21.12\00:10:24.89
demanding and taxing experience,
which we sometimes go through.
00:10:24.89\00:10:29.49
And then, after that, he
felt like, "Okay. That's it. I'm
00:10:29.49\00:10:34.56
ready -- I'm ready to give up.
Lord, take my life. You know, he
00:10:34.56\00:10:38.30
was in a depressed state, and an
angel came to him and said,
"Okay, it's time to eat."
00:10:38.30\00:10:42.74
And then he slept and he rested.
That kind of showed me that he
had gone through something
00:10:42.74\00:10:48.14
that was very demanding, and
he was undernourished. >> Yes.
00:10:48.14\00:10:51.75
>> And he was experiencing lack
of sleep, lack of rest. >> So,
could you say, then,
00:10:51.75\00:10:57.22
that there's kind of a lot going
on here, that when we have a
00:10:57.22\00:11:01.62
period of exhaustion, it can
lead to a period of depression?
00:11:01.62\00:11:05.73
>> Yeah. >> And that it targets
us, you know, and you're just
00:11:05.73\00:11:09.90
like -- you know, you just don't
see it coming. Like, when you're
really, really tired
00:11:09.90\00:11:12.83
and you're really exhausted,
and, you know, you see someone
00:11:12.83\00:11:18.27
who's really down, they're just
down. They can't see any hope in
00:11:18.27\00:11:21.88
that circumstance. And so here
Elijah was, as you're referring
to, God came to him, you know,
00:11:21.88\00:11:27.25
gave him a chance to rest and
then gave him something to eat.
00:11:27.25\00:11:31.75
>> Yeah. Basic needs. This isn't
always the case, but those could
00:11:31.75\00:11:36.06
be contributing factors that
make you more vulnerable. >>
00:11:36.06\00:11:39.59
Right. >> People call it
crashing after they've been
through a very demanding
00:11:39.59\00:11:44.73
experience and they don't kind
of re-nourish and they don't
rest. Sleep is a tough one
00:11:44.73\00:11:50.51
because sleep can affect mood
so gravely. And sleep is also
00:11:50.51\00:11:54.98
one of the symptoms. So when
you're not getting enough sleep,
00:11:54.98\00:11:58.58
then your mood goes down. And
then when you mood goes down,
especially if you're
00:11:58.58\00:12:02.15
already depressed, then it can
go on. Then you don't get enough
00:12:02.15\00:12:06.35
sleep, et cetera. So it becomes
part of this cycle that could
00:12:06.35\00:12:11.46
contribute to the severity of
depression. There have been
studies on sleep and how sleep
00:12:11.46\00:12:19.90
affects mood. Johns Hopkins has
a sleep research named Patrick
Finan, and he went to look
00:12:19.90\00:12:25.54
at how sleep affected not
necessarily depression but
00:12:25.54\00:12:29.78
unhappiness. How can sleep
affect happiness? And he
realized that, with sleep
00:12:29.78\00:12:35.38
deprivation, there was actually
a great risk of depression,
great risk of anxiety, great
00:12:35.38\00:12:41.89
risk of irritability, risks of
forgetfulness. And those are all
symptoms in depression.
00:12:41.89\00:12:45.89
But he also saw that there was a
risk of getting sick, that it
affected the immune system,
00:12:45.89\00:12:51.37
risk of colorectal cancer,
greater risk of type 2 diabetes.
So I would say sleep
00:12:51.37\00:12:57.41
is definitely a contributing
factor for depression and many
other things, as well.
00:12:57.41\00:13:03.11
>> So, we're going to take a
little bit of a break right now,
and we're going to listen to a
00:13:03.11\00:13:05.91
song called "Fill My Cup, Lord."
And I guess a person who's
00:13:05.91\00:13:10.99
feeling depressed has an empty
cup. They feel like they need to
00:13:10.99\00:13:14.76
be full. So we're going to take
a quick break and listen to that
song, and then we'll be right
00:13:14.76\00:13:19.09
back. >> Great.
00:13:19.09\00:13:21.53
¤¤
00:13:21.56\00:13:31.61
¤¤ ¤¤ >> ¤ Like the woman
00:13:31.64\00:13:52.86
at the well ¤ ¤ I was seeking
¤ For things that could not
00:13:52.86\00:14:00.77
satisfy ¤ ¤ And then I
heard my Savior speaking ¤
00:14:00.77\00:14:10.15
¤ Draw from my well that never
shall run dry ¤ ¤ Fill my cup,
00:14:10.15\00:14:20.02
Lord ¤ I lift it up, Lord ¤ Come
and quench this thirsting of my
00:14:20.02\00:14:29.56
soul ¤ ¤ Bread of Heaven, feed
me till I want no more ¤ ¤ Fill
00:14:29.56\00:14:40.14
my cup, fill it up and make me
whole ¤ ¤ So, my children, if
the things this world gave you ¤
00:14:40.14\00:14:52.55
¤ Leave hungers that won't
pass away ¤ ¤ My blessed Lord
00:14:52.55\00:15:01.96
will come and save you ¤ ¤ If
you kneel to him and humbly pray
00:15:01.96\00:15:11.64
¤ ¤ Fill my cup, Lord ¤ I lift
it up, Lord ¤ Come and quench
00:15:11.64\00:15:20.22
this thirsting of my soul ¤ ¤
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I
00:15:20.22\00:15:32.63
want no more ¤ ¤ Fill my cup,
fill it up and make me whole ¤ ¤
00:15:32.63\00:15:41.17
Bread of Heaven, feed
me till I want no more ¤
00:15:41.17\00:15:47.84
¤ Fill my cup, fill
it up and make me whole ¤
00:15:47.88\00:15:59.82
>> The words of that song are
so important. "I found myself
00:16:04.26\00:16:08.80
seeking for things that would
not satisfy" -- that kind of
tells me about the story of
00:16:08.80\00:16:14.34
Solomon, King Solomon here in
the Bible, and how he was the
king, he seemed to have
00:16:14.34\00:16:21.21
everything going for him. And
what was it he had? He had all
00:16:21.21\00:16:25.88
the gold and the wisdom and the
riches. He also multiplied
wives. We're talking about how
00:16:25.88\00:16:32.45
many wives? A thousand
wives? He had 300 wives
00:16:32.45\00:16:36.19
and 700 concubines. And he
was seeking everything. He had
00:16:36.19\00:16:40.80
horses, multiplied horses. And
yet the Bible tells us he wasn't
00:16:40.80\00:16:46.10
happy. Ecclesiastes 2:10 says,
"I had whatever my eyes desired,
00:16:46.13\00:16:53.51
and I kept not
anything from me. And I withheld
00:16:53.51\00:16:57.65
not my heart from
joy. And yet," he says,
00:16:57.65\00:17:04.22
"I didn't like my life" --
"I hated my life," as it says,
00:17:04.22\00:17:06.86
in some translations.
00:17:06.86\00:17:08.42
So he looked upon all the works
of his hands and all that he had
00:17:08.46\00:17:12.26
worked for, and I guess he was
depressed. I think you could say
that. So that's a bummer.
00:17:12.26\00:17:18.33
Some people look at this and
they say, "Maybe there's a
chemical imbalance."
00:17:18.33\00:17:23.34
A lot of people have this idea
of serotonin, that there's an
00:17:23.34\00:17:27.04
imbalance of serotonin going on
with people. >> And that this
imbalance causes depression.
00:17:27.04\00:17:32.68
>> Yes. >> And that has been a
strong theory for quite a while.
00:17:32.68\00:17:38.92
And hence anti-depressants, many
of them target serotonin. There
00:17:38.92\00:17:44.09
are new theories on depression
that actually go beyond
serotonin. Depression is one of
00:17:44.09\00:17:48.50
those conditions that has
many different aspects to it --
00:17:48.50\00:17:53.80
an environmental aspect, a
biological aspect, a genetic
00:17:53.80\00:17:58.21
aspect, and a lifestyle aspect.
So going beyond serotonin, in my
00:17:58.21\00:18:04.01
opinion, is quite important.
Studies are looking into the
association between
00:18:04.01\00:18:07.42
mental health and inflammation.
There might be an association
with neurodegeneration.
00:18:07.42\00:18:12.72
The health of the gut influences
mental health through the
gut-brain access, traumas in the
00:18:12.72\00:18:18.39
past, as I was saying, that are
not dealt with or retriggered,
such as childhood abuse,
00:18:18.39\00:18:24.50
parental loss. Childhood trauma
can contribute to -- even though
00:18:24.50\00:18:30.14
it was in your childhood, they
can contribute to depression as
00:18:30.14\00:18:35.71
adults. Genetics may play a
role. If someone has a
first-degree relative who
00:18:35.71\00:18:41.18
experiences depression or
anxiety, then they are at higher
risk to experience depression
00:18:41.18\00:18:45.55
or anxiety themselves. I
said there are different areas.
00:18:45.55\00:18:50.29
There are biological factors
that are involved, possible
00:18:50.29\00:18:55.10
enzyme mutations, sensitivity
receptor issues with serotonin.
But then, you could look
00:18:55.10\00:18:59.77
at nutrition, as well,
nutritional deficiencies. Low
00:18:59.77\00:19:04.31
vitamin D. People tend to be a
little, you know, their moods
not as high in the wintertime.
00:19:04.31\00:19:09.64
Vitamin D levels are low, iron
levels are low, B12 when it's
00:19:09.64\00:19:15.28
low. All of those things can
affect mood greatly. Basic
nutrition is someone
00:19:15.28\00:19:20.76
eating too much sugar. A lot of
stimulants. You're just sending
00:19:20.76\00:19:25.86
your mood on a roller coaster.
>> When you're taking those
kinds of foods like sugar,
00:19:25.86\00:19:30.20
you're in-- you're increasing
inflammation in your body. >>
00:19:30.20\00:19:34.94
Yeah, yes. >> And so your body
is responding to that. And it's,
00:19:34.94\00:19:38.57
you know, the gut-brain
connection you mentioned, as
well, that we have the vagus
00:19:38.57\00:19:43.01
nerve that goes straight from
the stomach to the brain, you
know, hardwired right there.
00:19:43.01\00:19:47.65
So if there's problems within
your digestion, within your
00:19:47.65\00:19:52.55
nutrition, your entire biology
-- This is not just one silver
bullet that's going
00:19:52.55\00:19:57.06
to solve this problem. >>
Serotonin's also in the gut,
produced in the gut as well as
00:19:57.06\00:20:01.36
the brain. >> Wow. >>
But there's something that I
00:20:01.36\00:20:03.90
didn't mention that I think is
overlooked and is definitely a
contributing factor, and that's
00:20:03.90\00:20:09.70
stress. Chronic stress
also makes us vulnerable to
00:20:09.70\00:20:15.21
depression. And you could
experience stress in many
different ways. Maybe stress in
00:20:15.21\00:20:19.11
your job. Maybe you're unhappy
in your job. I mean, this is
00:20:19.11\00:20:22.02
where it gets into lifestyle.
What are you doing here on
00:20:22.02\00:20:26.55
earth? That could be
contributing to depression.
Maybe stress in your marriage
00:20:26.55\00:20:30.26
relationship or stress in
relationship that you can't get
00:20:30.26\00:20:34.46
out of? >> Correct, yeah. >>
That's your environment. Also,
00:20:34.46\00:20:39.23
toxicity in your environment.
But toxic relationships could
00:20:39.23\00:20:43.57
cause toxicity in the body, as
well. So depression is
multi-faceted. >> So, you also
00:20:43.57\00:20:50.31
are aware of this story about
this Dr. Summerfield, and he's a
South African doctor
00:20:50.31\00:20:55.15
who sat down with these
Cambodian doctors, and he had
00:20:55.15\00:20:59.72
spoken to them about
anti-depressants because he's a
psychiatrist. So what happened
00:20:59.72\00:21:04.23
in the case was, the doctors
came and they said, "We have
00:21:04.23\00:21:08.06
antidepressants." He said,
"Well, what is your
antidepressant?" He thought that
00:21:08.06\00:21:11.30
they would be giving them some
kind of -- you know, some kind
of herbal medicine.
00:21:11.30\00:21:15.84
And they said, "No, we sat down
with this doc-- this farmer. He
00:21:15.84\00:21:21.84
was a rice farmer. And he was
crying all the time. So we
rallied around him. We listened,
00:21:21.84\00:21:27.82
and then we realized, obviously,
your pain and your circumstances
00:21:27.82\00:21:35.22
need to be heard. And perhaps
you should get another job.
00:21:35.22\00:21:38.89
Perhaps we can give you a cow."
And so they bought him a cow,
and then he would milk the cow,
00:21:38.89\00:21:44.13
and that's how he made a living,
and his depression went away.
And he said -- And the doctors
00:21:44.13\00:21:49.00
told, you know, this Dr.
Summerfield, "The cow is the
00:21:49.00\00:21:54.21
anti-depressant," right? And
what they were really saying is,
00:21:54.21\00:21:58.58
"You need to listen to the
symptoms. Listen to the pain,"
that sometimes we think
00:21:58.58\00:22:04.29
it's a chemical imbalance. But
really there's an imbalance in
the way that we're living.
00:22:04.29\00:22:08.99
And we need to look at the
lifestyle and how people are
00:22:08.99\00:22:13.43
living. So can there be triggers
to depression? >> Actually, in
00:22:13.43\00:22:18.10
the case of that farmer, what
triggered his depression was an
accident. He was working, and he
00:22:18.10\00:22:24.07
lost his limb, and so it was a
big change in his lifestyle. >>
00:22:24.07\00:22:27.54
Yes. >> And he was probably
experiencing a little bit of
post-traumatic stress disorder.
00:22:27.54\00:22:32.05
>> Exactly. >> So
situations like that can trigger
00:22:32.05\00:22:36.25
depression, a change in your
life, the loss of a loved one.
Grief can actually,
00:22:36.25\00:22:42.19
for most people, they grieve,
and then they come out the other
00:22:42.19\00:22:45.49
end. But for some people,
grief actually is the step. They
00:22:45.49\00:22:50.20
grieve and move into major
depression and continue to be
depressed. When people think of
00:22:50.20\00:22:56.40
loss, they think of loss of a
loved one, it can be a loss of a
00:22:56.40\00:23:00.11
job. It could be loss of a pet.
So things like that can trigger
00:23:00.11\00:23:05.65
depression. Postpartum
depression triggered after, you
know... >> The birth.
00:23:05.65\00:23:10.02
>> After the birth of a child.
So, yes, depression can
definitely be triggered.
00:23:10.02\00:23:15.56
Sometimes when people have an
accident, they're in pain.
Constant pain can trigger
00:23:15.56\00:23:19.66
depression. So definitely,
definitely can be triggered.
00:23:19.66\00:23:24.47
>> So, Dr. Plummer, as
Christians, people have said
00:23:24.47\00:23:30.21
that it's not good -- As
a Christian, we shouldn't be
00:23:30.21\00:23:33.58
depressed. >> Right. >> Right?
So what does the Bible say about
00:23:33.58\00:23:37.88
this? >> So I think you'd given
some excellent Bible verses in
00:23:37.88\00:23:42.52
your introduction. We can find
examples in the Bible where
people are experiencing low mood
00:23:42.52\00:23:46.02
or depression. They experience
loneliness, a sense of
00:23:46.02\00:23:51.19
hopelessness to the point where
it could actually be called
00:23:51.19\00:23:54.83
suicidal ideation, which is when
the symptoms of depression in
Jonah 4:3, Jonah says, "Now,
00:23:54.83\00:23:59.03
Lord, take away my life. It's
better for me to die than to
00:23:59.03\00:24:02.97
live." Jeremiah 20:14-15, "Curse
be the day I was born. May the
day my mother bore me
00:24:02.97\00:24:08.41
not be blessed. Curse be the man
who brought my father the news.
00:24:08.41\00:24:12.25
Why did I ever come out of the
womb? To see trouble and sorrow
00:24:12.25\00:24:15.32
and to end my days in shame?" >>
He does sound depressed. >> So
we people in the Bible
00:24:15.32\00:24:20.42
struggle with depression,
as well. Definitely suicidal.
00:24:20.42\00:24:23.46
So sometimes it could be
triggered by different
situations, different states,
00:24:23.46\00:24:28.36
maybe, that some of these Bible
characters were going through,
00:24:28.36\00:24:32.57
and then they experienced
depression and suicidal
ideation. >> This is very
00:24:32.57\00:24:37.11
serious. So what would you
recommend if a person is feeling
like that right now?
00:24:37.11\00:24:41.91
>> If someone's feeling
suicidal right now, then I would
00:24:41.91\00:24:46.92
recommend that they go and see,
if they could, they go to see a
counselor, go see your family
00:24:46.92\00:24:51.99
doctor, and definitely
start to talk about it. >> Yes.
00:24:51.99\00:24:54.96
>> That is the first step. When
you're at that point of suicidal
00:24:54.96\00:24:59.43
ideation, that's a big flag that
you need to address it right
away. >> Yeah, you need people
00:24:59.43\00:25:05.80
rallying around you and helping
you. And usually we withdraw,
00:25:05.80\00:25:09.84
right? When we're in those
states. I've seen people
withdraw. >> And if
00:25:09.84\00:25:13.81
it's a matter of
suicide, I would say you need a
00:25:13.81\00:25:17.45
professional. It is good to talk
to someone about it, but if
you're at that point,
00:25:17.45\00:25:21.68
go to a professional, go to
a counselor, go to your family
00:25:21.68\00:25:25.32
doctor, and then start that
process. >> Yeah. We are running
00:25:25.32\00:25:29.66
out of time, but I really want
to talk about, are there things
that we can do? Is there a way
00:25:29.66\00:25:33.83
we can treat this? Is there a
lifestyle change? What would you
00:25:33.83\00:25:39.03
recommend? >> What you said
about what they did for that
farmer, they looked at his
00:25:39.03\00:25:43.47
needs. >> Yes. >> And what's
happening a lot in society is,
00:25:43.47\00:25:47.41
people's needs are not being
met. People are tending to
experience more loneliness, more
00:25:47.41\00:25:52.78
isolation, especially as we move
into a digital era. So one of
00:25:52.78\00:25:57.79
the things that can help is
actually not being as isolated
but joining a group,
00:25:57.79\00:26:03.36
doing something fun that's
active. You want to feel like
00:26:03.36\00:26:06.39
you belong. Lifestyle changes
can be made, including exercise.
00:26:06.39\00:26:10.53
So important. Changing your
diet. Going to get more sun.
00:26:10.53\00:26:16.27
Looking to see if you
have deficiencies in iron, B12,
00:26:16.27\00:26:21.08
vitamin D. You have to really
address the stress in your life.
Feelings from the past,
00:26:21.08\00:26:27.22
addressing them, going to
see a professional. Cognitive
00:26:27.22\00:26:31.02
behavioral therapy is very
effective, especially if anxiety
is in the picture. And really,
00:26:31.02\00:26:39.76
prayer, also, is such an
important part. Just as you'd
said, Jesus himself had also
00:26:39.76\00:26:45.40
suffered. So, really going to
our maker and asking for help. I
believe that brings
00:26:45.40\00:26:52.71
a lot of hope. But doing all
of those things and looking at
00:26:52.71\00:26:58.38
depression from that approach is
multifaceted and feeling like we
00:26:58.38\00:27:05.29
belong here and you're not on
your own. I think those are some
-- some good starts.
00:27:05.29\00:27:09.86
>> Thank you very much. Yeah,
that is very promising. And can
I ask you to pray for us
00:27:09.86\00:27:16.10
as we close off the program
together? >> Lord Jesus, we just
00:27:16.10\00:27:20.34
thank you so much for another
day of life. Lord, if there are
people who are listening, Lord,
00:27:20.34\00:27:25.07
who are experiencing depression
right now, Jesus, I pray that
00:27:25.07\00:27:28.34
they will feel hope and they
will feel a sense of renewal.
And I just ask that
00:27:28.34\00:27:32.65
you'll touch them right now,
Jesus, and show them -- show
them what they can do
00:27:32.65\00:27:38.39
to start this process of change
and moving out of depression. In
Jesus's name, we pray. Amen.
00:27:38.39\00:27:43.73
>> Amen. So, today, we have
not only covered the topic of
00:27:43.73\00:27:48.70
depression but we have looked
for answers. And we have an
offer for you today called
00:27:48.70\00:27:53.07
"Secrets to Peak Mental Health."
And in there, you will find some
00:27:53.07\00:27:58.27
answers. And to receive that
offer, here is the information
00:27:58.27\00:28:03.75
you need. >> To request
today's offer, just log on to
00:28:03.78\00:28:07.18
www.ItIsWrittenCanada.ca.
If you prefer, you may call,
00:28:07.18\00:28:12.12
toll-free, at 1-888-CALL-IIW.
And thank you for your prayer
00:28:12.12\00:28:17.86
requests and your
generous financial support.
00:28:17.86\00:28:21.03
>> So, Dr. Plummer, thank you
very much for joining us again.
And there are times
00:28:21.06\00:28:25.97
when we feel overwhelmed, and
you have pointed us to the word
00:28:25.97\00:28:30.87
of God. Thank you for doing
that. >> You're welcome. >>
00:28:30.87\00:28:33.74
Yeah. Friends, thank you for
joining us again here on "It Is
00:28:33.74\00:28:37.75
Written Canada." Just want to
remind you the words of Jesus
where he says, it is written,
00:28:37.75\00:28:42.45
"Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that
proceeds out of the mouth of
00:28:42.45\00:28:49.26
God." ¤¤
00:28:49.29\00:28:59.00