Even as a little child Pierre was asked, "Why are you so sad?"

Years ago, depression before puberty was rare, with less than 1% being considered clinically depressed. However, within the last year, a Harvard psychologist found depression rates have risen 23% for children and teens. The Department of Health and Human Services now says 1 in 8 adolescents fit the description. Even 4% of pre-school age children are now said to be depressed.

His daughter referred Pierre, 67, into my office last November because he had been struggling with lower back pain intermittently over the previous twelve years. The pain forced him into a posture of bending to the left. His neck was stiff also.

Pierre had visited a chiropractor at the initial pain onset years ago, but the doctor told him he couldn't help because of the magnitude of the spinal problem, which included a significant amount of arthritis.

He attended an introductory orientation at my office with his daughter to learn more about my unique approach to pain relief and health restoration. He later told me that he figured I could probably help his back feel better and possibly stop going into periodic spasm, but he believed the parts about spinal care often improving other types of health concerns were most likely "a pile of c…!"

In spite of his skepticism, because he wanted to feel better and because his daughter had raved about how much I had helped her with her back, hip, and leg pains while training for a marathon, he decided to follow my corrective care regimen.

Not only did Pierre's x-rays verify that he had major misalignments and degenerative decay in his spine, but the computer assessment of his nervous system function revealed a severe amount of stress disturbance in the autonomic portion. This aspect regulates all internal organs, immune response, and the chemicals of the brain reward cascade, which interfaces with our emotions and gives each day a sense of meaning and value.

Pierre told me that he had been depressed constantly his entire life to some degree. On a 1-100 scale, he said he averaged about 15 as a child. He always kept a lid on all of his emotions.

Doctors noticed he had a crooked spine as a teenager after he had been lifting heavy things that had put a strain on his back.

Pierre's condition magnified severely into diagnosed clinical depression 17 years ago when he divorced. Crying, sleeplessness, and suicidal thoughts plagued him frequently. He worked through it without help but then greater disaster struck when an attempt at a new relationship 3-4 years ago didn't work out. His level at his worst during this time was 95-100.

"Depression is like a constipated rhino sitting on your chest." - Rob Anderson

His medical doctor placed him on medication, but he stopped soon thereafter because it put his life slightly out of focus and he couldn't handle it.

Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or nearly 10%.

At the time Pierre came to see me, said he was at about 45 (1-100 scale) on the depression scale.

We initiated a game plan to correct Pierre's spinal condition, and the nervous system disturbances it was causing, and then see what positive self-healing his body was capable of.

Let me clarify now that Pierre had written on his history form that anxiety and depression were two of his symptoms and I had acknowledged them. However, he was clear that he was there looking for relief of his back pain. As had been his lifelong pattern, he offered no discussion of his emotional state.

Over the first three weeks, Pierre was diligent in pursuing our help. During this period, he received adjustments three to four times per week.

My perception of Pierre from the beginning was that he was respectful, and nice and polite enough, but not a very happy person. He never really smiled and seemed to be without joy or enthusiasm. Sadly, this describes too many people these days, including a huge number not necessarily considered depressed, who appear to be going through the motions of life. However, Pierre was more extreme in his lack of facial expression.

This ongoing state made it seem all the more surreal, catching me quite off guard, when one day about 2-3 weeks into his care, when I asked him how he was doing, he replied "great!" I responded with a surprised and matching positive tone, but then moved on without a sense of how to further comment at that moment. I had been noting what seemed to be gradual increases in energy and favorable perspective in Pierre, but I was struck more dramatically that day.

(Stay tuned next month for the exciting completion of this story, further understanding of the nature of depression, and how to gain greater victory)!

Visit our web site!

Visit Dr. Norton's web site. The Norton Chiropractic Wellness Center web site is packed with a vast amount of news, tips, and health information. If you are experiencing pain, or just want more information on your health or how we do business, please stop by!

News & Events

1. Dr. Norton's latest article "Summer Stress Strategies" was published in the current June issue of Fresno Magazine. You can either pick it up in local newsstands and bookstores or you can read it by going to the Newsletter Archive page of the website at: www.DrMatthewNorton.com/archived_newsletters.php because it was the May 2006 newsletter.

2. During the week of July 17-20, 2006 Norton Chiropractic Wellness Center will conduct another C.O.W. (Chiropractic Opportunity Week). This is a very special time because all people new to our office or who have not been present for at least 6 months will receive multiple benefits as follows:

   The consultation, full examination (including the unique computerized nervous system stress assessment), any needed x-rays, and the doctor's report of findings cost only $30 and there is no obligation to initiate care! This is up to a $240 value and is only offered 3x per year.

   Please call ASAP for the best times and share this with anybody you know who may suffer with pain or illness of any kind. We must hear from you by July 20th to be included! If you would like to learn more about our work and us first, then please go to: http://www.DrMatthewNorton.com for everything you could ever want to know.

Visit our Center!

Norton Chiropractic Wellness Center (View Map) at 5670 N. Fresno St. Ste. 102 in Fresno, Calif. Call us at (559) 490-9550 or contact us here.

If you are in the California Central Valley call Norton Chiropractic Wellness Center at 559-490-9550 or visit us online at www.DrMatthewNorton.com for a virtual tour and to schedule an appointment to see if we can help you.

You will also appreciate the valuable tools on the Learning Resources page of the website if you are not in our area!

Healing Hints

1. Pay attention to what you are really feeling. What are you angry about that you have suppressed? What hasn't happened for you, or what hasn't someone done to save you or make your life better?

   Anger and other emotions like frustration, anxiety, and fear are often the result of facing high levels of challenge without the necessary skill development to meet them and thrive. This often leads over time to an internal state of giving up or shutdown.

   TRUTH: IT IS UP TO YOU TO CREATE YOUR LIFE! DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT AND GRAB THE BULL BY THE HORNS!

2. Eliminate your Blocks! Where are the blockages in your life that have stopped your flow of energy and vitality? Do they require physical, emotional, or spiritual evaluation and release, to allow you to grow and move forward? If you have tried an emotional intervention for example, and are still stuck, then choose a physical avenue.

   Get any help you need to clarify which aspects of your being need attention, and then generate an action plan to get going toward CREATING THE LIFE OF FREEDOM YOU WANT.

3. Make an appointment ASAP to have your spine and nervous system evaluated to see if the blockages may be structural, at least in part, and then follow the corrective plan to get that issue solved.

   This is still absolutely important and necessary even if you say that you don't have back pain! Pain is commonly not present in many stages of spinal/nervous system conditions (like dental cavities, cancer, and heart disease), even though the condition could be stealing your health and life.

   Call today.

About Dr. Norton

Dr. Norton unites his passion for learning, teaching, and healing with a compassion for those who are struggling with pain and illness or not performing at their peak. He brings to his work a high level of academic achievement and cutting-edge bodymind research. However, he also brings a deeply caring heart transformed by difficult personal life experiences. Read more.