Black people and Mental health.

[Ferrum Phos]

Is a lack of vitamin d3 linked to depression?

Yes, as vitamin D(3), along with omega-3 fatty acids and the B vitamin family, are required for the synthesis of serotonin. I don't know if you're familiar with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) - the major depression that sets in during the winter months due to the sun's inability to reach the right angle for production, and the UV index being too low - but it has been linked with low levels of vitamin D in the body, which plummet during the winter months. As an aside, it's also one of the most important nutrients for the prevention of many different types of cancers, due to its antitumor and antimetastatic properties.

(Seasonal Affective Disorder: An Overview of Assessment and Treatment Approaches)
(Vitamin D as a promising anticancer agent)
(Vitamin D and Cancer)

The darker one's skin, the longer one needs to be out in the sun for proper vitamin D synthesization (assuming one's even in a state with the right UV index). In states like California, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico, production of vitamin D from sunlight can take place most months out of the year, even during the early, early winter months. The colder, northern and northeastern states that see lots of rain and snow, like Washington, Michigan, and New York, for example, forget it - darker skinned people will never receive the right UV index for proper production from the sun alone, and at that point, supplementation is required.

The rule of thumb is: when your shadow is shorter than your stature, the sun is at the right angle for the cholesterol on your skin to start synthesizing vitamin D as soon as the sunlight hits it, which usually takes place between the hours of 11 and 3, roughly. Since most people work indoors, leaving the house before the sun is high, and getting home when the sun is setting, you can see why most people are deficient, regardless of their hue.

(Vitamin D and the omega-3 fatty acids control serotonin synthesis and action, part 2: relevance for ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and impulsive behavior)
(Vitamin D and Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing Studies with and without Biological Flaws)

 

[semtex]

I supplement with vitamin d3

 

[Afro]

I've been depressed since age 6. Here are my tips to stave it off for awhile.

I may add to it later on. Feel free to chime in.

Work In Progress list

• Coping Skills

A GOOD therapist should be teaching you these. How to react to disappointment, how to ask yourself questions to get to the root of a personal issue, etc.
You wont always be able to see a shrink so these are essential. I had a good one years ago and I still use some techniques without even thinking about it.

• Positive Thinking

When something bad happens, you treat the entire event as negative.
Try starting to see what little positivity there is in said event instead.
Didn't get that job? Welp, your in the same place you were before so keep it moving. You got bills to pay.
Girl turned you down? She did you a favor, she won't waste your time or money now. Your free to pursue someone else.

• Be a little selfish

You may be the type to always be down to help someone else with their problems but when it's time for you to vent, POOF!
Everyone is busy. At the same time. At the same party
You need to learn to be all about you first and foremost. Most folks don't give two shyts about you. Friends and family included.
That is natural in this world, American society messed up communities and social skills something fierce.
So, everything you do, should be for you first.

Working out? You.

Making more money? You.

Loving yourself? You. you .you.

You are stuck with yourself for the rest of your life .

Everyone else comes and goes. Figure out what you do like about yourself. Should learn something new everyday

• Stay Active

Most people live a sedentary lifestyle, which means your not getting the blood pumping and everything is at rest 24/7.
No bueno! You NEED to be active, the human body was not made to sit! AT ALL! Run,walk,jog, lift weights, do push ups, SOMETHING.
I started lifting weights a few weeks ago, taking vitamins and gearing up to go to an Akido class. I failed numerous times trying to start. NUMEROUS!
But I'm not doing it for just vanity. I'm doing it because after a long BS day at white folk and co., picking 100lbs+ of weights off the floor gets rid of any anger I have.
I recommend Stronglift 5x5 and follow a diet.

But I digress, ACTIVE!

• Vitamins and Supplements

Most of us don't get the needed vitamins and minerals we need for our body to function.
We usually eat bullshyt all day and wonder why we feel like shyt for most of it.
What you put in your stomach affects EVERYTHING. The reason Psych drugs work is because they alter your chemistry.
These usually have extreme side effects because they aren't natural. I'm not saying toss out your anti-depressants today, but keep in mind that
supplementing is going to alter for chemistry as well. I urge you to look up for yourself what does Zinc, Calcium, Iron, and Magnesium do for your body.

Love suckin on some Zinc

Also Buy This Book ASAP

• Your going to be alright

Even after you do all the stuff above and maybe your own thing/things, guess what?
You will still end up depressed again! That is ok!
The difference will be instead of shutting down for a few weeks to a month and putting your life on pause,
You will rebound back that same day or less.

Forget the oppression olympics. Do it all for you!

Remember that you deserve to be happy like everyone else.

 

[MoroccanBoy]

My probation officer put me in touch with one of their mental health team today. She was so helpful we were both actually crying. I never dreamed a stranger I just met could care about me so much. Imagine 8 years of bottled up emotions and pain coming out in 1 session. Such a powerful moment.

I needed help since I was like 14 from my day leaving but I bottled it all up and that's why I've been self destructing and ended up a convicted criminal. I'm actually a good guy and someone saw that in me today

Cathartic I walked out that place feeling high naturally. I forgot what it was like to have self esteem and feel happy without the use of drugs

I just had to type this out. If I can get help then so can you

 

[semtex]

My anxiety gets so bad in the spring my goodness. And it's worse this year because I'm on a diet.

 

[Neuromancer]

My probation officer put me in touch with one of their mental health team today. She was so helpful we were both actually crying. I never dreamed a stranger I just met could care about me so much. Imagine 8 years of bottled up emotions and pain coming out in 1 session. Such a powerful moment.

I needed help since I was like 14 from my day leaving but I bottled it all up and that's why I've been self destructing and ended up a convicted criminal. I'm actually a good guy and someone saw that in me today

Cathartic I walked out that place feeling high naturally. I forgot what it was like to have self esteem and feel happy without the use of drugs

I just had to type this out. If I can get help then so can you

Glad to hear, bro.

 

[Neuromancer]

My anxiety gets so bad in the spring my goodness. And it's worse this year because I'm on a diet.

Do you have a hobby? Do you sun? (Like sit in the sun?)

 

[semtex]

Do you have a hobby? Do you sun? (Like sit in the sun?)

I lift weights religiously. No I don't sit in the sun

 

[Karb]

Good discussion on mental health in the black community

 

[Karb]

Another good discussion. It's good that it's finally being addressed .

 

[Neuromancer]

I lift weights religiously. No I don't sit in the sun

You should sun. vitamin d

 

[semtex]

You should sun. vitamin d

I take d3 supps. Top quality based on labdoor studies.

 

[Neuromancer]

I take d3 supps. Top quality based on labdoor studies.

ah.

 

[Paradise50]

a lot of good/research based info being dropped in here.

also for my adhd bros.....most can have anxiety, and/or depression issues

 

[Supa]

Just now seeing this thread.

I've struggled with social anxiety disorder for most of my life and in my experience the absolute worst thing I could do was talk to people about it. People who don't deal with these things aren't qualified to help. I told my mother about it and and got nowhere. Not only that but she told other people in my family which I didn't want her to do. She told my father and he was literally telling me how he can relate because he gets uncomfortable making presentations at work. He was basically saying to just relax and problem solved. I was so furious I wanted to hang up on him. They didn't understand the severity. I needed professional help or someone who could help me without judging.

I remember in college I'd be hungry and have to rush to the cafeteria before they closed. There'd be 100 people there and I'd freeze up. It felt like they were all talking about me and if they were laughing it was directed at me. I'd leave and go hungry for the night. A lot of times I couldn't bring myself to leave my dorm room. There were a lot of nights when I didn't want to go on anymore.

I definitely couldn't tell my boys because they'd clown me. I was stuck.

I've been dealing with this since a kid and no one seemed to notice. My family knows I'm an introvert but most of them never tried to reach out. Honestly I'm ready to wash my hands of most of them.

I only really started to improve when I just started to focus on myself. I hit the gym and started meditating and they have done wonders for my sanity. Marijuana also worked wonders for me in college but I haven't touched it years.