Home » Misc » Homeopathic supplements for depression

Homeopathic supplements for depression


SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA

Your browser is not supported

Switch to Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari

Main page content

  • SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

    Also visit the online treatment locator.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

English and Spanish are available if you select the option to speak with a national representative. Currently, the 435748 (HELP4U) text messaging service is only available in English.

In 2020, the Helpline received 833,598 calls. This is a 27 percent increase from 2019, when the Helpline received a total of 656,953 calls for the year.

The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

The service is confidential. We will not ask you for any personal information. We may ask for your zip code or other pertinent geographic information in order to track calls being routed to other offices or to accurately identify the local resources appropriate to your needs.

No, we do not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.

  • Suggested Resources

    What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families
    Created for family members of people with alcohol abuse or drug abuse problems. Answers questions about substance abuse, its symptoms, different types of treatment, and recovery. Addresses concerns of children of parents with substance use/abuse problems.

    It's Not Your Fault (NACoA) (PDF | 12 KB)
    Assures teens with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs that, "It's not your fault!" and that they are not alone. Encourages teens to seek emotional support from other adults, school counselors, and youth support groups such as Alateen, and provides a resource list.

    After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department
    Aids family members in coping with the aftermath of a relative's suicide attempt. Describes the emergency department treatment process, lists questions to ask about follow-up treatment, and describes how to reduce risk and ensure safety at home.

    Family Therapy Can Help: For People in Recovery From Mental Illness or Addiction
    Explores the role of family therapy in recovery from mental illness or substance abuse. Explains how family therapy sessions are run and who conducts them, describes a typical session, and provides information on its effectiveness in recovery.

    For additional resources, please visit the SAMHSA Store.

Last Updated: 08/30/2022

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

Your browser is not supported

Switch to Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari

Misusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can have both immediate and long-term health effects.

The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health. These reports and detailed tables present estimates from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Alcohol

Data:

  • Among the 133.1 million current alcohol users aged 12 or older in 2021, 60.0 million people (or 45.1%) were past month binge drinkers. The percentage of people who were past month binge drinkers was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (29.2% or 9.8 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (22.4% or 49.3 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (3.8% or 995,000 people). (2021 NSDUH)
  • Among people aged 12 to 20 in 2021, 15.1% (or 5.9 million people) were past month alcohol users. Estimates of binge alcohol use and heavy alcohol use in the past month among underage people were 8.3% (or 3.2 million people) and 1.6% (or 613,000 people), respectively. (2021 NSDUH)
  • In 2020, 50.0% of people aged 12 or older (or 138.5 million people) used alcohol in the past month (i.e., current alcohol users) (2020 NSDUH)
  • Among the 138.5 million people who were current alcohol users, 61.6 million people (or 44. 4%) were classified as binge drinkers and 17.7 million people (28.8% of current binge drinkers and 12.8% of current alcohol users) were classified as heavy drinkers (2020 NSDUH)
  • The percentage of people who were past month binge alcohol users was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (31.4%) compared with 22.9% of adults aged 26 or older and 4.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
  • Excessive alcohol use can increase a person’s risk of stroke, liver cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, cancer, and other serious health conditions
  • Excessive alcohol use can also lead to risk-taking behavior, including driving while impaired. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver daily

Programs/Initiatives:

  • STOP Underage Drinking interagency portal - Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
  • Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
  • Talk. They Hear You.
  • Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts
  • Talking with your College-Bound Young Adult About Alcohol

Relevant links:

  • National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
  • Department of Transportation Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance
  • Alcohol Policy Information Systems Database (APIS)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Tobacco

Data:

  • In 2020, 20.7% of people aged 12 or older (or 57.3 million people) used nicotine products (i.e., used tobacco products or vaped nicotine) in the past month (2020 NSDUH)
  • Among past month users of nicotine products, nearly two thirds of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (63.1%) vaped nicotine but did not use tobacco products. In contrast, 88.9% of past month nicotine product users aged 26 or older used only tobacco products (2020 NSDUH)
  • Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, often leading to lung cancer, respiratory disorders, heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses. The CDC reports that cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States
  • The CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health reports that more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking cigarettes

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use data:

  • In 2021, 13.2 million people aged 12 or older (or 4.7%) used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. The percentage of people who vaped nicotine was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (14.1% or 4.7 million people), followed by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (5.2% or 1.4 million people), then by adults aged 26 or older (3.2% or 7.1 million people).
  • Among people aged 12 to 20 in 2021, 11.0% (or 4.3 million people) used tobacco products or used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. Among people in this age group, 8.1% (or 3.1 million people) vaped nicotine, 5.4% (or 2.1 million people) used tobacco products, and 3. 4% (or 1.3 million people) smoked cigarettes in the past month. (2021 NSDUH)
  • Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Among both middle and high school students, current use of e-cigarettes declined from 2019 to 2020, reversing previous trends and returning current e-cigarette use to levels similar to those observed in 2018
  • E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, or pregnant women, especially because they contain nicotine and other chemicals

Resources:

  • Tips for Teens: Tobacco
  • Tips for Teens: E-cigarettes
  • Implementing Tobacco Cessation Programs in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings
  • Synar Amendment Program

Links:

  • Truth Initiative
  • FDA Center for Tobacco Products
  • CDC Office on Smoking and Health
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Tobacco, Nicotine, and E-Cigarettes
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: E-Cigarettes

Opioids

Data:

  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 3. 3% (or 9.2 million people) misused opioids (heroin or prescription pain relievers) in the past year. Among the 9.2 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 8.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers compared with 1.1 million people who used heroin. These numbers include 574,000 people who both misused prescription pain relievers and used heroin in the past year. (2021 NSDUH)
  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2020, 3.4% (or 9.5 million people) misused opioids in the past year. Among the 9.5 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 9.3 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 902,000 people used heroin (2020 NSDUH)
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Understanding the Epidemic, an average of 128 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose

Resources:

  • Medications for Substance Use Disorders
  • Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit
  • TIP 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
  • Use of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Criminal Justice Settings
  • Opioid Use Disorder and Pregnancy
  • Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder and Their Infants
  • The Facts about Buprenorphine for Treatment of Opioid Addiction
  • Pregnancy Planning for Women Being Treated for Opioid Use Disorder
  • Tips for Teens: Opioids
  • Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Grants
  • Tribal Opioid Response Grants
  • Provider’s Clinical Support System - Medication Assisted Treatment Grant Program

Links:

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Opioids
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Heroin
  • HHS Prevent Opioid Abuse
  • Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
  • Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network
  • Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network

Marijuana

Data:

  • In 2021, marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug, with 18. 7% of people aged 12 or older (or 52.5 million people) using it in the past year. The percentage was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (35.4% or 11.8 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (17.2% or 37.9 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (10.5% or 2.7 million people).
  • The percentage of people who used marijuana in the past year was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (34.5%) compared with 16.3% of adults aged 26 or older and 10.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
  • Marijuana can impair judgment and distort perception in the short term and can lead to memory impairment in the long term
  • Marijuana can have significant health effects on youth and pregnant women.

Resources:

  • Know the Risks of Marijuana
  • Marijuana and Pregnancy
  • Tips for Teens: Marijuana

Relevant links:

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana
  • Addiction Technology Transfer Centers on Marijuana
  • CDC Marijuana and Public Health

Emerging Trends in Substance Misuse:

  • Methamphetamine—In 2019, NSDUH data show that approximately 2 million people used methamphetamine in the past year. Approximately 1 million people had a methamphetamine use disorder, which was higher than the percentage in 2016, but similar to the percentages in 2015 and 2018. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Data shows that overdose death rates involving methamphetamine have quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Frequent meth use is associated with mood disturbances, hallucinations, and paranoia.
  • Cocaine—In 2019, NSDUH data show an estimated 5.5 million people aged 12 or older were past users of cocaine, including about 778,000 users of crack. The CDC reports that overdose deaths involving have increased by one-third from 2016 to 2017. In the short term, cocaine use can result in increased blood pressure, restlessness, and irritability. In the long term, severe medical complications of cocaine use include heart attacks, seizures, and abdominal pain.
  • Kratom—In 2019, NSDUH data show that about 825,000 people had used Kratom in the past month. Kratom is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia with leaves that can have psychotropic effects by affecting opioid brain receptors. It is currently unregulated and has risk of abuse and dependence. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that health effects of Kratom can include nausea, itching, seizures, and hallucinations.

Resources:

  • Tips for Teens: Methamphetamine
  • Tips for Teens: Cocaine
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse

More SAMHSA publications on substance use prevention and treatment.

Last Updated: 03/22/2023

Homeopathy against depression - "Provincial pharmacies"

The beauty of autumn often goes unappreciated due to health problems. ARI and depression deprive the joy of languid walks in the city parks. But the treatment can be canceled, it is enough to arm yourself with homeopathic remedies purchased at Pharmacy No. 1, where you can also get competent advice from homeopathic specialists.

An ideal remedy for the health of the nasopharynx should combine a number of properties: the ability to block the reproduction of viruses, maintain the functions of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, effectively eliminate swelling and inflammation, facilitate nasal breathing and strengthen the immune system. Of course, this effect can be achieved only due to the complex composition of the drug. Spray Euphorbium compositum is a homeopathic spray for all types of rhinitis (including allergic and chronic). This remedy has been manufactured in Germany for more than 60 years by the company Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH, the largest manufacturer of complex homeopathy in the world. Euphorbium compositum contains only biological components of plant, mineral and animal origin, therefore it is not addictive and does not dry the nasal mucosa. It has not only a pronounced immunomodulatory, but also an antiviral effect, which makes it possible to consider it as one of the main means in the treatment of infections of the upper respiratory tract. It can be safely recommended to children: the drug does not cause allergies and other negative reactions. A convenient form of release - spray - provides uniform irrigation of the mucosa. For rhinitis, it is recommended to inject Euphorbium compositum spray 1-2 times into each nostril 3-5 times a day (children - 1 dose 3-4 times a day).

You can support the effect of the spray by taking Engystol homeopathic tablets, containing homeopathic sulfur and dove extract, which also have pronounced antiviral properties.

Relieve stress with homeopathy

Often, autumn depression is caused not only by natural factors, but also by stress. Stress provokes a number of unpleasant symptoms. In addition to increased levels of anxiety or restlessness, it can be a variety of manifestations of insomnia, from periodic disturbances in falling asleep to long sleepless nights, sudden attacks of fear, loss of appetite, fatigue and increased fatigue. Doctors also include hormonal imbalances and symptoms from the cardiovascular system, expressed in palpitations and minor heart rhythm disturbances. The use of potent means is not always the best way out of this situation. It is much more reasonable to help the body cope with stress and anxiety on its own, support its defenses, gently and reliably soothe and restore healthy sleep. This has always been effectively dealt with by preparations created on the basis of natural ingredients, various medicinal herbs according to the principles of modern homeopathy. One of the most effective remedies is Valerianahel homeopathic drops, which are produced by the Heel company in Baden-Baden (Germany). Valerianahel is not just a tincture of valerian. This is a real "bouquet", made up of a number of medicinal herbs prepared according to homeopathic technology. Each of the components has a calming effect on the body, and together they provide a complex effect that allows you to normalize sleep, improve overall well-being, relieve anxiety and anxiety. Moreover, the components normalize cardiac activity, pressure and hormonal imbalance in the body. The homeopathic preparation Valerianahel eliminates attacks of fear and anxiety, gently calms, normalizes sleep and speeds up falling asleep. The drug acts in a targeted, complex and fast way, it is sold in pharmacies without a prescription.

The homeopathic center is located at the address: Pharmacy No. 1, Krasnoyarsk, Mira Ave., 75 (2nd floor), tel. 265-12-68

dietary supplement. IS NOT A MEDICINE.

causes of drowsiness, weakness and fatigue

Periods of moral fatigue occur even in stress-resistant people. By unconsciously pausing emotions, a person protects himself from the more severe consequences of mental stress. Therefore, a short-term decrease in social and psycho-emotional activity is considered the norm. We can talk about violations of mental health, if the depressed state drags on - indifference to life appears.

In clinical psychology and psychiatry, apathy is considered as an independent syndrome of loss of motivation or a symptom that accompanies mental disorders, addiction, neurological diseases. It is quite difficult to get out of this state without the help of a specialist. Especially if the situation is aggravated by misunderstanding of relatives. How does it manifest itself, why does apathy arise? Should she be treated with medication as a mental illness? We will answer these other questions in the article.

What is apathy?

Apathy and demoralization belong to a group of symptoms that combine deviations in the psychobehavioral, emotional, and cognitive spheres. There are several opinions about the typological affiliation of apathy in the structure of psychopathological disorders. Many experts characterize the apathetic state as the suppression of goal-directed behavior against the background of preserved intelligence and physical capabilities. Banal laziness and apathy are not identical concepts. A lazy person tries to avoid duties, but at the same time does not lose emotions, motivation for things that interest him. An apathetic patient lacks any initiative, cognitive activity and emotional response sharply decrease.

Along with mental and motor retardation, apathy is included in the symptom complex of depression. This allows us to classify the apathetic state as a psycho-emotional dysfunction:

  • Anhedonia is the loss of the ability to experience positive emotions: pleasure, delight, joy. A person cannot enjoy pleasant things, people, situations. The brain refuses to act because it does not receive a “reward” in the form of positive emotions.
  • Abulia - lack of will, psychological inability to perform actions, seek and make decisions. The patient does not lose consciousness, but cannot do anything.

Sustained decrease in mood (hypothymia), indifference to ongoing events are characteristic of different types of depressive disorders. With true major or minor depression, a person is haunted by feelings of guilt, obsessive negative thoughts about the past, present, and future. With apathetic depression, there is no concern about what happened, the desire to participate in what is happening, the motivation for life planning. A person does not care about either negative or positive events. Relatively speaking, the toggle switch "desires - feelings - interest" is turned off.

Types of apathy

Many clinical cases are presented by passive apathetic depression. Loss of motivation is accompanied by severe symptoms that are noticeable to others. A person is changing before our eyes, without hiding it. From a sociable and hardworking employee, an attentive relative, he turns into a closed "beech", devoid of emotional reactions.

Active apathy is much less common. The patient loses interest in what is happening, loses the meaning of life, but diligently disguises it with imaginary activity. With difficulty, a person continues to perform daily duties, experiencing severe mental discomfort. This condition is considered more dangerous, since it gradually destroys the psyche, leads to the degradation of the personality, and provokes suicidal thoughts.

The difference between apathy and anhedonia is the lack of separation of life aspects. Anhedonia can be partial, that is, cover one side of life - social, physical or intellectual-aesthetic. An apathetic state is almost always total - a complete loss of interest in any aspect of life.

Causes of psycho-behavioral and emotional disorders

The basic trigger for apathetic depression in healthy people is mental exhaustion resulting from:

  • occupational burnout;
  • prolonged psychological stress;
  • exhausting and unbearable loads against the background of lack of proper sleep;
  • hypertrophied responsibility, perfectionism, "excellent student syndrome";
  • long struggle with severe illness.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can cause lethargy. Indifference to the outside world develops against the background of psychotrauma. For example, the death of a loved one, a difficult divorce, loss of property. The degree of indifference depends on the personality accentuation - personal vulnerability to certain psychogenic factors. Etiologically, the condition is comparable to a protracted reactive psychosis - a distortion of the worldview in the patient's mind.

Other factors that provoke an indifferent attitude to life include:

  • Shift in the level of hormones and neurotransmitters, damage to the frontal lobes of the brain. Changes are typical for infectious lesions of the membranes of the brain, craniocerebral injuries, neurogenic, endocrine diseases. Endogenous disorders play a leading role in the development of apathetic depression in women in the postpartum or menopausal period.
  • Mental disorders. These are all types of schizophrenia, schizoid psychopathy, Alzheimer's disease, especially uncompensated forms (lack of treatment with specific drugs). The condition is complicated by the loss of the ability to separate the main from the secondary, to establish connections between phenomena.
  • Addictions - alcoholism, drug addiction. The loss of motivation and the meaning of life is associated with severe withdrawal symptoms when alcohol and drugs are given up. The withdrawal syndrome is accompanied by a feeling of fear, irritability, psychosis, which is replaced by complete indifference.
  • Side effect of sleeping pills. Medicines inhibit the synaptic transmission of nerve impulses, so in the morning many people feel detached, indifferent.

In men, the causes of psycho-emotional dysfunction are more often associated with the professional sphere, in women - with interpersonal relationships, hormonal changes. Despite this, women are less prone to apathy. The gender imbalance is explained by the lability of the female psyche, the high involvement of women in social and family ties, and the excess of social roles.

Symptoms

In case of mental disorders, endogenous disorders, neurogenic diseases, addictions, apathy accelerates the impairment of cognitive functions and reduces the quality of life. Apathy is manifested by refusal of treatment. Melancholy grows, unwillingness to perform any actions - get out of bed, leave the house, wash, comb your hair.

In contrast to depressed patients, who usually acknowledge their hopelessness and the need for medical help, apathetic people rarely acknowledge their condition. The following symptoms help to suspect psycho-emotional dysfunction in a person:

  • Detachment from family, social, professional problems. A person does not want to take part in discussions, take the initiative.
  • Desire for loneliness, seclusion.
  • Exhausted look - a haggard face, circles under the eyes, a detached look.
  • Lack of emotional reactions. Do not cause reciprocal experiences sad or joyful news.
  • Reticence, reticence, monotonous and poor speech. An apathetic patient avoids communication with relatives, colleagues, friends, easily breaks off old ties, refrains from making new acquaintances.
  • Stingy facial expressions, gestures. A smile practically does not appear on the face, the movements are constrained, a little clumsy.
  • Decreased appetite, physical activity. There is a retardation of attention, thinking.
  • Changing habits. It includes giving up hobbies, participation in family and friendly gatherings.

In women, the symptoms of lethargy are reflected in appearance. They stop wearing make-up, dressing beautifully, because appearance, like everything else, ceases to be significant.

Internal state is characterized by:

  • Chronic fatigue. Physical and moral weakness is always present (regardless of the time of day).
  • Daytime sleepiness, decreased quality of night sleep. There are different types of insomnia - frequent awakenings at night, inability to fall asleep quickly.
  • Oppression of sexuality. There is no libido, psychophysical pleasure from tactile sensations.
  • Indifference to former pleasures. For example, a person refuses delicious food, outdoor recreation, SPA treatments, etc.
  • Loss of desire to develop, contemplate the beautiful - listen to music, travel, watch movies, read books.

Psycho-emotional state affects physical health. There are regular headaches that are difficult to remove with painkillers. Aches in the bones, dyspepsia, problems with bowel movements appear, muscle tone decreases.

Treatment

When the psyche is not destroyed, and the patient himself is aware of the causes of apathy, rest, good sleep, healthy nutrition, physical activity help to cope with indifference. If apathy continues for two weeks or more, specialist help is required. Therapy is aimed at stabilizing the functioning of the nervous system, restoring mental health, and maintaining physical fitness.

Comprehensive treatment includes: