Depression Treatment Center
The Mood Cure Program
Natural Solutions for
- Depression
- Anxiety, and
- Other Negative Mood States
A Successful Alternative to Antidepressant Drugs
Our Clinic was founded in 1988 by Julia Ross, M.A., M.F.T., an internationally recognized authority in the field of nutritional psychotherapy, who serves as our Executive Director. Ms. Ross' book, The Mood Cure (Penguin 2004), a finalist for the Books for a Better Life Award, documents the development of our Clinic's innovative programs and their effectiveness in thousands of cases.
Click on the FOUR FALSE MOOD TYPES QUESTIONNAIRE to see which MOOD, ENERGY, ATTENTION, or SLEEP PROBLEMS you might need our help with.
A Cure for False Moods:
Fully 50% of Americans over the age of 14 suffer from depression, anxiety, or other mood problems. These extraordinary numbers, reported in a large 2005 GOVERNMENT STUDY, are much higher than can be explained by psychological adversity alone. Most experts agree that deficiency in the activity of the brain's own antidepressant and anti-anxiety chemistry is the primary cause of this fast-growing epidemic. Many medical doctors as well as psychiatrists and psychotherapists acknowledge this fact and regularly recommend pharmaceutical drugs that affect serotonin or other mood-enhancing neurotransmitters. Unfortunately, these medications can often be ineffectual or harmful. Detailed information on problems associated with antidepressant drugs.
Fortunately, our clinic has found safer and more effective ways to correct mood chemistry deficits. We can easily determine which neurotransmitters are deficient in a particular person by using detailed symptom profiles derived from years of neurochemistry research. The top candidates are serotonin and norepinephrine, our natural antidepressants; but others, such as pleasure-promoting endorphin and calming GABA, may also be in short supply. These powerful mood-enhancers are made from simple proteins, or amino acids, which our Clinic staff can provide as supplements, along with other key nutrients and mood-supportive diets. This nutritional therapy can quickly raise the levels of the targeted neurotransmitters, creating positive changes in mood that are typically evident within a few days. Side effects are rare and withdrawal effects non-existent.
Eliminating Every Factor That Can Contribute to False Moods
Neurotransmitter function can be negatively influenced by a number of factors, notably: genetic tendencies; low-protein, low-calorie, or high-carb diets; excessive stress; dark weather; lack of exercise; or imbalances in adrenal, thyroid, or sex hormone levels.
In addition to providing customized supplement programs and food plans that identify and eliminate any mood-impairing foods, the clinic staff may recommend: bright light therapy; blood-sugar level balancing; exercise therapy; support for thyroid, adrenal, or sex hormone function; or investigation of such factors as heavy metal toxicity. Whether false moods arise in the brain or from malfunctions in other areas of the body, their roots are thoroughly explored and addressed by our Clinic's nutritionists in collaboration with our expert medical consultants.
Effective Alternatives to SSRIs:
Fully 50% of Americans over the age of 14 are suffering from depression, anxiety, or both. These extraordinary numbers, reported in a large 2005 government study, are much higher than can be explained by psychological adversity alone. Most experts agree that deficiency in the activity of the brain’s own antidepressant and anti-anxiety chemistry is the primary cause of this fast-growing epidemic. Many medical doctors and psychotherapists acknowledge this fact and regularly recommend pharmaceutical drugs that target serotonin or other mood-enhancing neurotransmitters. Unfortunately, these medications can often be ineffectual or harmful.
Our program’s primary concern is your emotional safety and wellbeing. If you are already on antidepressants, commonly called Selective Serotnin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) or other mood-targeted medications that have helped you and you do not wish to stop taking them, we will support your continued use of these medicines.
If, like most of our clients, you are experiencing side effects, limited benefits, or withdrawal problems, and would like to see whether you can do better using alternative therapies, we can provide strong holistic options. In collaboration with your prescribing physician, we can help you to monitor a careful withdrawal from your medication.
We would begin such a medication withdrawal, however, only after you had completed a two-week trial of brain-targeted nutrients while still taking your original dose of medication. If this trial clearly confirms the benefits to you of the nutrients (it usually does), you’ll be ready to consult with your physician on when and how to taper off of your medication. During this tapering-off process, our nutritional brain-support program will typically eliminate drug withdrawal reactions. If you stop feeling better on the nutrients at any time, you can resume your use of the medication (though this is rarely necessary).
Note: If you are on more than one medication that affects a particular neurotransmitter (e.g., serotonin), we might not be able to use all of our nutritional tools until you have cut down to only one such medication. We can discuss this with you in your initial phone appointment.
Your Psychological Needs
In our initial telephone assessment and extensive in-person workups we will explore both your psychological and physiological needs so that we can make appropriate holistic recommendations. Initially, psychologically triggered mood states can sometimes be hard to distinguish from biochemically triggered mood states. If your negative moods are not quickly relieved by nutrient therapy, the need for psychological exploration is often indicated, particularly if you have suffered significant loss or other trauma, or are currently living under highly stressful circumstances, and have not received psychotherapeutic care. In these situations we will recommend individual, couple, family, or group counseling, as needed.
In addition to providing customized supplement programs and food plans that identify and eliminate any mood-impairing foods, the clinic staff may recommend: bright light therapy; blood-sugar level balancing; exercise therapy; support for thyroid, adrenal, or sex hormone function; or investigation of such factors as heavy metal toxicity. Whether false moods arise in the brain or from malfunctions in other areas of the body, their roots are thoroughly explored and addressed by our Clinic's nutritionists in collaboration with our expert medical consultants.
A Mood-Enhancing Diet
When the brain is producing neurotransmitters at optimal levels, it generates normal, healthy appetites as well as normal, healthy moods. When we increase neurotransmitter production with nutrient supplements, not only does mood improve, but cravings for caffeine, carbohydrates, chocolate, junk foods, and any other addictive foods are eliminated as well. This makes it possible for our clients of all ages to easily make mood-supportive dietary changes. It also means that the health and wellbeing that result become easy to maintain for life, and that the therapeutic nutrient supplements can be eliminated after a few months.
"For years I have suffered pretty acute negativity, irritability, a sense of feeling unstable mentally at times, anxiety and anxiety attacks. Recovery Systems has given me my life back through amazing care, great education, unequalled support. The nutritional technologies they use are phenomenal and absolutely worked wonders for me."
Sabrina
"I have been in therapy for years and tried just about every prescription drug you could imagine.
When I first heard of this program, quite honestly, I laughed, thinking amino acids would never even phase me and was really against going in for the interview at first. However, I was literally at rock bottom and willing to go for anything...
I became a lot more outgoing, got into school, made REAL friends, and started to get my life back! Not only that, but I am now able to think clearly and learn from the negative rather than dwelling on it! Now I'm told I have my shine back!"
Claire
- sexual dysfunction
- headaches
- nausea
- jitteriness
- fatigue
- disturbed sleep
- weight gain
- emotional flatness
- anxiety
- reduced interest in sex
- increased depression
- mania-bipolar symptoms
- heart damage – Effexor
- sleep disturbances in older women
- impaired male fertility
- Effexor – increased risk of death
- diabetes – double incidence
- weight gain
- impaired bone density – double fracture rate
- internal bleeding, especially in elderly
- increased risk of Parkinson’s
- toxic or fatal serotonin syndrome when combined with migraine or antimicrobial drugs
Adverse Effects of SSRIs (revealed since 2002)
- suicidality and self-harm in children and adults
- violence and aggression, especially linked to Prozac, in children and adults
- in infants: birth defects, pulmonary hypertension, slowed growth, convulsions and other withdrawal effects, stillbirth, premature birth
- breast cancer: higher risk (especially Paxil)
- reduced response to Tamoxifan
- liver failure – Serzone withdrawn due to deaths)
When I came to Julia’s clinic, I had been on Xanax in the daytime and Halcyon (the same drug) at night for four years. I had tried to get off and couldn’t. My doctor said I should just stay on them for life. But my coordination was so bad I was dropping things and could no longer drive. My sleep, though initially better, had gotten worse then ever. I was exhausted and in a fog all day. I was emaciated and weak, so the first thing they did was to make me stronger. But, to do it, they had to take me off of wheat and milk products. I hated it at first, but I got so much energy and my shoulder stopped hurting right away. After that I was happy to change my diet.
When I’d gained some weight and some vitality back, the clinic gave me supplements to help me get off the benzo’s. Their medical consultant gave me a prescription for a longer acting benzo—but I never used it. The first night off the benzos, I only slept four hours but it was the best sleep I’d had in years. After that I slept for longer and longer stretches. Now I sleep normally again. I’m driving again too and having lots of fun.
Eileen, age 75
