| Many of us feel depressed at one time or another, but | | | | the digestive system and lead to weight gain, even if |
| for some, depression may be chronic and even | | | | you are eating normal amounts. |
| debilitating. | | | | Once the possibility of man and depression has been |
| Emotions are a normal part of our life. We all | | | | cross-linked inside of the mind a a depressed male, |
| experience anger, sadness, worry or fear on occasion | | | | you now have the challenge of judgment to deal with. |
| and it does not lead to disease. It only leads to health | | | | Men often judge others who struggle with depression |
| problems when emotions are excessive or repressed | | | | as weak. Or, even if they accept and support |
| for long periods of time. Emotional stress will tend to | | | | someone who's depressed, they will not afford |
| weaken your "Qi", or energy, or your Qi can stagnate | | | | themselves the same love and acceptance. This is a |
| or move in the wrong direction. | | | | real stopper. Some men, realizing they are a man and |
| Depression can also start from a physical source. For | | | | depression is permeating their life will live in isolation for |
| example, insomnia, working too much, or a chronic | | | | years. That man might think, "I can do this on my own. |
| illness can weaken your Qi, resulting in being upset | | | | No one must know about this or... If I were only strong |
| easily or out or proportion to the situation. A weakened | | | | enough... If my marriage were only better... If I had the |
| digestive system or lack of proper fluids can cause | | | | right job..." Any of this sounding familiar? |
| the quality or quantity of blood to be poor, resulting in | | | | There is stigma in general around being depressed, no |
| depression. A lack of exercise easily leads to Qi | | | | matter your gender but you can triple that for the man |
| stagnation and depression. | | | | and depression sufferer. Depression in men who even |
| Long-standing depression may be due to repressed | | | | recognize and seek treatment for it, often sabotage |
| anger or resentment. In Chinese Medicine, this most | | | | themselves by stopping medication too early and they |
| commonly affects the Qi of the Liver, causing it to | | | | stop using the life skills they were taught to battle |
| stagnate. Aside from depression, other symptoms of | | | | depression. Man and depression have a long way to |
| Liver Qi Stagnation may be irritability, "snapping" easily, | | | | go. |
| and intense feelings of frustration and impatience. | | | | Often the drugs given to treat depression cause |
| Physical symptoms of Liver Qi Stagnation may include | | | | further stagnation and accumulation of dampness, |
| distention under the rib cage, stomach area, or | | | | perpetuating the underlying physical cause. Western |
| abdomen, belching, sighing, nausea, moodiness, a feeling | | | | drugs can be an important part of the treatment, |
| of a lump in the throat, and pre-menstrual irritability and | | | | especially if there is a danger the patient will possibly |
| breast tenderness. If the Qi of the Lungs or Heart has | | | | harm themselves or others, or if it makes it possible |
| stagnated, symptoms may include weeping and | | | | for the patient to function enough to seek additional |
| sadness, and you may be easily affected by the | | | | means of help. It is extremely important to address the |
| problems of people around you. | | | | underlying problem, whether through acupuncture, |
| Though usually in the early stages of depression only | | | | herbs, counseling, light therapy, nutrition, exercise, or a |
| the Qi of various organs is affected, eventually this | | | | combination of treatments. Never abruptly stop your |
| leads to other problems such as formation of | | | | prescription, and only reduce it gradually with the |
| dampness, phlegm, blood stagnation, or heat. This | | | | supervision of your Western health care provider. If |
| causes further stagnation and can lead to a vicious | | | | you decide to take herbs or amino acids, make sure |
| cycle. Liver Qi Stagnation can disrupt the functioning of | | | | they are compatible with your medications. |