Anxiety and depression are treatable forms of mental illness. With anxiety, the patients are overwhelmed with worry, too frightened to face a situation and with no other wish than to keep themselves locked up at home. In depression, the patients feel dejected, discouraged, worthless, and sometimes show suicidal tendency in severe cases.

The severity of the symptoms in both these conditions prevents a person living a normal life, or the life that is normal for them. Instead of being in control of their hormones, their hormones control them. It is not surprising then, that anxiety and depression treatment should exist in the form of natural hormones. What might be more surprising is that these hormones for the treatment of depressioncan come in the form of supplements.

DHEA, (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands. It can also be manufactured by the gonads (ovaries for women; testes for men) when the adrenal gland is under stress. DHEA regulates the thyroid and pituitary glands besides exerting a powerful impact on the entire body by keeping up the physical and mental balance of the body.

Usually the level of DHEA hormone is at peak at the age of 25, after that, it starts decreasing at the rate of about 2% per year. Generally by the age of 40 its secretion declines considerably and you the effects of lower DHEA may be felt. DHEA hormone also declines rapidly when the body is suffering from disease. More importantly, if the body is put under stress for long periods of time then DHEA production can drop considerably - leading to fatigue, lowered energy levels, and anxiety depression. It is this connection between DHEA deficiency and anxiety depression that has led people to believe that DHEA can be an effective active anti depression treatment. Research done into DHEA appears to confirm this

Properties of DHEA for Anxiety Depression Treatment

DHEA has a number of useful properties that make it a useful anti depression treatment. Research has confirmed that there is a direct link between taking DHEA supplementation, and the effective treatment of anxiety depression.

Reduction of Cortisol

DHEA helps in depression treatment by reducing the production of the hormone cortisol, which is also produced by adrenal gland. Excessive secretion of cortisol hormone causes cellular damage, and can give rise to some of the symptoms of depression. Cortisol is produced in excess by the adrenal gland when under stress. Supplementation of DHEA helps in improving the symptoms of depression by decreasing the secretion of cortisol and increasing stress tolerance.

Increase of Serotonin Levesl

As well as decreasing the bad, DHEA can also treat depression by increasing the good. DHEA helps in depression treatment by increasing serotonin (a neurotransmitter) levels in the brain and controlling the production of other brain chemicals that help manage stress. Serotonin helps improve mood, and combat the symptoms of depression.

DHEA is widely used in the depression treatment because it enhances stress coping abilities, boosts mood, and gives a feeling of relaxation. The University of California La Jolla showed a significant increase in the mental and physical level of depression patients when DHEA was used. The study conducted on patients suffering from anxiety and depression experienced improved energy levels, better mood, and an ability to handle stressful situations.

DHEA is a controversial supplement because it has often been touted as a treatment for diseases where no known connection is known. However, it is undeniable that DHEA supplements can be used in anxiety depression treatment with positive results.