[One Thousand Characters a Day] Studying Depression for Precious People <3>

Editor's NoteIt is difficult to understand why depression occurs and to identify its causes. Since treatment often relies solely on the inaccurate statements of patients suffering from depression, accurate diagnosis is not easy. Even if the cause is known, it usually takes several months to find the right medication for the patient. During this process, patients who struggle every minute and second become exhausted, and their symptoms tend to worsen. The author states that treating depression is almost impossible without the help of family members living together. Family members who are always nearby need to understand depression, monitor the patient's condition, and help prevent the patient from being overwhelmed by depression. This requires more effort and is more challenging than expected. Word count: 1003 characters.

I thought I needed to thoroughly examine and change my diet, but I didn’t know which dietary guidelines to follow. People who are obese eat low-calorie diets, and diabetics follow low-glycemic diets, but there is no established diet for people with depression. So, after some thought, I remembered when I was raising children and told my wife, "A sick person should consider themselves like a newborn baby. They need to eat well." I made sure she never let me eat carelessly.

For example, when depression hits, people often crave carbohydrates because insulin secretion is essential for serotonin production, and the lower the serotonin levels, the more one desires sweets. However, consuming refined carbohydrates like rice, noodles, and bread (simple sugars) causes blood sugar to spike and then crash repeatedly, which actually interferes with normal serotonin synthesis and leads to insulin resistance, worsening feelings of depression. So, my wife drastically reduced rice, snacks, noodles, and bread from our diet and ordered plenty of nutritious ingredients like pork belly, beef, and chicken when grocery shopping.

When the bread that was always on the table disappeared and the amount of rice was halved, my wife found it unfamiliar, but reducing carbohydrates and increasing protein also reduced cravings and hunger. I gradually stopped eating ramen, and eventually, I became indifferent even to ramen or noodles, as my appetite was regulated. Perhaps because I stopped eating spicy foods, my ability to taste improved, and I enjoyed food more, finding flavors richer than before.

(Omitted)

Meal quantity was also an important issue. When depression worsened, my food intake sharply decreased, and on gloomy days, I sometimes skipped meals entirely, showing a close connection. When I couldn’t eat properly like this, my condition worsened again, creating a vicious cycle where poor physical condition due to depression led to eating less, which then further deteriorated my condition. After realizing this, I paid attention to cooking methods and portion sizes, and if I seemed to eat too little, I checked whether there were any discomforts with the meal or if the food lacked flavor, looking for ways to eat better.

－ Choi Eui-jong, Studying Depression for the Sake of Loved Ones, Radio Book, 20,000 KRW

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