CC, you've touched on something that will be rejected by many. This is what the shrinks aim for in treating "clinical depression" but they try to be very gradual when it comes to the approach. "Clinical depression " is a 'real ' condition with physiological manifestations in the brain itself. The brain in simplest terms is a mass of 'receivers', processors, and transmitters . You have neurons, axons, dendrites, and synapses where electrical impulses cause the release of chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Sometimes there is a problem where certain neurotransmitters are depleted and you have depression, or there is a surplus and you have psychosis or schizophrenia....Very delicate and intricate stuff. I personally believe a proper diet and certain elixirs and tonics and healthy exercise can control clinical depression better than seratonin reuptake inhibitors and such.......