The Opposite of Depression by David M. Carreon MD

Author:David M. Carreon, MD [Carreon MD, David M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: SELF-HELP / Mood Disorders / Depression, SELF-HELP / Emotions
ISBN: 9781496455383
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Published: 2024-04-09T00:00:00+00:00

SLOW FOOD

Two of the hardest months of my life were when I was a medical student on the dreaded surgery rotation. There were stretches of days when I didn’t see the sun much. Rising in the early morning darkness, I had no time for a proper breakfast, but I knew I needed fuel. So I plunged a spoon into a jar of peanut butter and stuck it to the roof of my mouth, like I was some poor dog whose master needed a laugh. Then I ran out the door. En route to the hospital, I worked my way through the calories plastered to my hard palate.

Even back then, I realized this was not a good way to eat. But if I’m being honest, I have to admit that it would be years before I developed a better routine. Here’s a case where you’d be better off following my words and not my example. Unfortunately, too many people are stuck in the habit of grabbing food on the go, and we may not even think there’s a problem with this.

In years past, more people would gather around the table to eat a homecooked meal as a family. Mealtimes were social times—opportunities to converse and connect.

Nowadays, fast food has displaced some home dining. And even when we do eat at home, we’re more likely to dine on processed and ultra-processed foods.[18] Processing foods does many things, but perhaps the most dangerous is that it concentrates calories, sugars, and fats, so that we feel full too late, and thus we eat more food than we need.[19]

Cooking, by nature, is a transient artform. Once the food has been prepared, it may last for less than an hour before it is consumed and gone forever. Yet while it lasts, it is a primary way to bring pleasure to others, and a way to bring people together in a relaxed and social way.

Depression flourishes in isolation and loneliness. It can accelerate in the context of depression-induced poor nutrition. People who are depressed may not have normal hunger cues, but if dinner is always at 7:00 p.m., at least there’s a chance that they’ll eat.

For those who are not depressed, having at least one meal per day—on a plate, sitting down at the table—can go a long way toward elevating their mood and sense of well-being. Mealtime can be an anchor in a day that may otherwise be a continuous blur.

Eat healthily and enjoy what you eat; but don’t overeat. Take your time, whether you’re at a restaurant or at home. Eat with friends or family. Savor the relationships as much as the food.

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