This letter is being sent almost a year after the FDA mandated stronger warning labels on 10 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) -- the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants.

However, the FDA still hasn't announced changes to existing SSRI guidelines, and they're urging patients not to stop taking their Paxil.

There is no doubt that depression is a very serious problem that can devastate your health and cause you to leave the planet prematurely by suicide. In my estimation, depression has the potential to cause far more serious health consequences than all the poor food choices, toxins and poisons we regularly expose ourselves to.

If you feel sad or blue and want to see if you are actually depressed please review the comprehensive depression guidelines I compiled that also include effective therapeutic strategies.

Conventional medical wisdom would have you believe that the solution to depression is to pop one or more pills daily, for months or for the rest of your life, to restore your "chemical imbalance" and bring you "back to normal."

But in fact, not only are antidepressants potentially dangerous, many studies show that there is very little difference between most antidepressants and placebos. In the vast majority of cases it may be that some benefit is noticed because the person taking the pill believes that the pill will heal their depression, rather than the pill itself doing anything at all. And if that is the case, why not use a method that does not involve potentially toxic chemicals?

There are far safer and healthier options available to you than taking an SSRI or any other drug for depression:

• Take a high-quality krill oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids. If you haven't read Dr. Stoll's book on this subject, it is highly recommended.

• Start an exercise program today. This is one of the best-kept secrets for fighting depression.

• Learn how to use an energy psychology tool like the Emotional Freedom Technique. Energy psychology tools are one of the most powerful methods I know of, and really are a crucial element of a successful treatment program.

For serious problems, it would be prudent to not treat yourself with EFT; instead, contact a health care professional who is trained in the technique. You can use the list of EFT Practitioner Referrals compiled by Gary Craig.