Most doctors rate depression according to its severity. They may state that you are experiencing a major depressive episode or a mild depressive episode, or perhaps you have seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Dr Henry Emmons has a different approach. He classifies depression as follows:

Anxious Depression Agitated Depression Sluggish Depression

This is a potential break-through in diagnosis and the possibilities it offers for treatment. According to Emmons you may be a combination of the above three types but most likely show a preference to one type or another.

More significantly, each type of depression is attributed to an excess or deficit of chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Many people will already know that low levels of serotonin, otherwise known as the happiness brain chemical, can lead to depression and disrupted sleep patterns. However Emmons suggests that dopamine and norepinephrine also have a role in depression. This is not entirely new, however the attribution of specific types of depressions and tailored treatment is new.

Anxious Depression is characterised by low levels of serotonin and feelings of inadequacy and excessive worry, together with insomnia and potential carbohydrate cravings.

Agitated Depression is said to result from an excess of dopamine and norepinephrine resulting in restlessness, anger, irritability and digestive problems.

Sluggish Depression is characterised by increased sleep, withdrawal and passivity due to low levels of dopamine and norepinephrine.

In Emmons' book The Chemistry of Joy he suggests eating plans for each type of depression, together with generalised recommendations for vitamin supplementation. Most of the information on vitamin supplementation will be familiar and include the usual mainstays, such as B complex, folic acid, omega 6 (fish oil) and the like.

Interestingly Emmons speculates that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), which are commonly prescribed for depression, are not effective long term. This contradicts accepted wisdom, however his reasoning is sound. He hypothesizes that SSRIs simply manipulate existing stores of serotonin and do not help create new sources of serotonin. Accordingly, if an individual has difficulty manufacturing serotonin then over time the existing stores will be depleted as the SSRIs can not stop re-uptake indefinitely. It's an interesting theory. I couldn't find any source for this from published research and it appears to be based on Emmons' observations of his patients but I think the theory has merit.

Emmons favours a combination of lifestyle changes and supplements to treat depression. He does not rule out medication but seems to prefer a diet rich in tryptophan (the precursor to serotonin) together with 5-HTP. If you have a deficit of dopamine and norepinephrine then dopamine/norepinephrine enhancing foods and supplements are recommended.

Although the dietary information is good I am concerned that some people may opt to stop their pills in favour of the diet. Please don't stop your medications without supervision from your doctor!!!

Emmons' book also recommends `Mindfulness Mediation' and making lifestyle changes according to your Ayurvedic body type, a philosophy made popular by Deepak Chopra in several books including Perfect Health.

The final step proposed by Dr Emmons is the daily use of Mindfulness Meditation. In his discourse on the benefits of Mindfulness, Emmons claims that in as little as 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week you can feel calmer, sleep better and get on better with your family and workmates. I couldn't wait to put it to the test!

Emmons uses Jon Kabat-Zinn's definition of mindfulness which he describes as:

"awareness from moment to moment, on purpose, without judgement"

He also suggests that we give up on self-improvement and instead focus on accepting ourselves and loving ourselves, as we are, complete with faults. Instead of trying to fix ourselves Emmons suggests that we will find happiness in self-acceptance. An interesting concept. My own take on it is that self-improvement IS essential. After all, mindfulness and self-acceptance involves learning new skills and changing the way we think. These are simply self-improvement tools. I don't see how one can be separated from the other.

On the subject of the practise of meditation Emmons makes some good points. He advises that you may not always feel restful and relaxed when you meditate. Also that sitting meditation (which is usually the first type of meditation that most of us are taught), is one of the most challenging forms of meditation. That's good news for me - I have to confess there are days I can not sit still to meditate. Instead I enjoy meditating while moving. Most people are led to believe that seated meditation is the ONLY type of meditation. This is not true - you can benefit from a variety of forms of mindfulness meditation.

I find meditating while dancing or walking is easy. Meditating while stuck in one spot makes me want to wriggle and squirm. Oh, and the itches and the aches and pains that I swear I feel when I am confined to a chair!

This is Emmons' own account of meditation:

"I can testify from my own experience that sometimes you'll feel deeply relaxed, and other times you'll be so restless you wonder why anyone bothers with this annoying practice. Sometimes when I meditate I feel real contentment; other times, I feel bored; still other times, I ache with the pain of difficult emotions, troubling memories, or just a diffuse grief that seems to have no source."

Regular mindfulness meditation has not cured my insomnia or magically improved my relations with friends and family but I do feel calmer and more positive and my coping skills have improved. It definitely works, although perhaps not quite as well as Dr Emmons suggests.

The Chemistry of Joy by Dr Henry Emmons is an excellent book - 5 stars - and a wonderful resource for anyone looking to combine Eastern and Western philosophies and make lifestyle changes to reduce or eliminate depression and anxiety.