Natural Ways To Treat Depression
How To Beat Depression Without Medication
While I was managing 40+ employees and assuring we could meet our $250,000 monthly payroll, I just about lost it. The pressure was too much. It was my decisions that assured their families would eat, their mortgages would be paid, and their kids could go on vacation. It was this weight that began my intense season of chronic anxiety and depression.
While anxiety and depression are not the same, they are similar. It was this moment in my life I was forced to beat it. Without medication.
Disclaimer: I am supportive of medication as a last resort. Too many doctors today are treating symptoms rather than healing the root cause. Pair this with the pharmaceutical industry force-feeding us pills to keep their quarterly profit-and-loss statements in the green, and you have a sad solution for people who truly need help.
Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.
The symptoms were so strong, my wife and I made the decision to change our entire life. We sold our house to move closer to work , we started juicing a few times per week, I began riding my bike in the morning, I read my Bible and prayed for the first 20 minutes of the day, and most importantly, I simplified my life. I watched more movies. I played with my dog. I went out to dinner. I worked less.
I hope my short story is an encouragement on your journey. Below, is a wonderful and practical infographic provided by one of my readers on the topic. I had to share it.
Natural Remedies For Depression And Fatigue
Considering taking herbs for depression?
Sure, theyre natural. But, remember that herbs can still be considered psychotropic drugs and not necessarily safe.
St. Johns Wort, for example, is one of the most recognised natural remedies for depression and safer than SSRIs according to this study . But it comes with one safety warning. Youll need to consult your doctor before taking it if you are on any medication or the contraceptive pill.
And while were talking about the contraceptive pill, research has shown that the pill can cause anxiety, depression and low libido . So it might be worth asking your doctor to review your medication to make sure its suitable and appropriate for you right now.
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Speak To A Professional
When I realized I had PPD it still took me a good couple of weeks to go talk to my health professional.
Just making the appointment was hard. But once I went I felt SO much better. Hearing that its something so many people experience made me feel normal rather than like something was wrong with me.
They also checked my thyroid which is important! So going to your doctor is not just to talk about it but also to check things medically that could be causing it.
Your clinic or doctors office can help you work through treatment options and create a treatment plan.
Women may suffer from a range of concerns from baby blues to things like postnatal depression and even postpartum psychosis.
Tips On How To Manage Anxiety
The best way to combat anxiety is to commit to a comprehensive treatment program. Overcoming anxiety needs to be a lifestyle, meaning that it is something you work towards on a consistent basis. Think about the last time you wanted to get fit for the summer. You knew you had to exercise, but you couldnt just do it sporadically it required consistent healthy eating and exercise to achieve your fitness goals. This is the same with managing anxiety.
That being said, there are various tactics that can help you better manage anxiety and can be integrated into your life at home, without medical intervention.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and other forms of talk therapy can be useful, but the following represent how to overcome anxiety without medicine.
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Natural Treatment For Depression So No Medication
I already know that you clearly want to stay in control of your own recovery.
You want to take charge and thereby avoid becoming reliant on antidepressants. Great! Know that feeling in control of your own destiny is an inborn emotional need! And antidepressants come with far more side effects and risks than youve probably been led to believe.
And you know what?
Youre much less likely to suffer a relapse further down the line when you are in control
Depression is a serious condition, though. Left untreated, it can cause no end of misery, for you if youre the sufferer and your loved ones.
Can depression be cured? you might ask yourself, because you may have already suffered several episodes.
Let me reassure you: mostly, it can.
Sadly, though, some people are left having to struggle through repeated episodes of deep depression. And all too often, loved ones just dont get it.
However, Ive witnessed hundreds of clients get better mostly without medication .
So, lets get started!
They learnt to meet their essential emotional needs in balance. They also made full use of their inborn resources. This strategy is one of the best natural cures for depression as it involves encouraging your body/minds own healing mechanisms.
Foods That May Exacerbate Depression
If you’re coping with depression, it can be just as important to know what not to eat. Unfortunately, many of these foods are the ones people often turn to when they’re having a rough day. Of course, most things in moderation won’t harm you, but being aware of the negative impacts certain foods can have on your mental health can help you make better food choices.
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Foods That Help With Depression
Whatever your dietary preferences, there are a variety of options that can provide mood-boosting benefits. This isn’t to say that you need to overhaul your eating habits and only consume these foods, but being conscious of which foods impact your mood can help you better manage symptoms of depression.
What To Look For
St. John’s wort is widely available in pharmacies, supermarkets, and health food stores and comes in different doses. Check the Supplement Facts label for the product you choose to ensure you are getting the appropriate dose. This label also provides information about other ingredients the supplement may contain.
The National Institutes of Health suggests looking for products with a seal of approval from a third-party organization that provides quality testing, such as U.S. Pharmacopeia, Consumer Lab, or NSF International.
A seal of approval from these organizations assures a product was properly manufactured, that it actually includes the ingredients listed on the label, and does not contain harmful levels of contaminants. A seal of approval does not, however, guarantee a product’s safety or effectiveness.
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The Depression Epidemic: Our Stone Age Brains
There is an undeniable connection between lifestyle and depression. A modern lifestyle is making us sick. The more modern a society, and the more removed it is from the primitive hunter-gatherer way of life, the higher its rate of depression. Our world has changed phenomenally and our lifestyles have changed along with it, but our brains have hardly changed at all. They remain remarkably similar to the ones that powered people in the Stone Age when sleep was abundant, food was nutritious, and people wandered in groups, constantly on the move in the sunshine.
Our Stone Age brains just werent designed to handle the sedentary, isolated, indoor, sleep-deprived, fast-food-laden, stressed-out pace of twenty-first-century life. -Dr Stephen Ilardi
Our brains are beautifully crafted to support Stone Age bodies that live Stone Age lives. When Stone Age brains are forced to live a modern lifestyle, the effect can be devastating. The brain and the body become depleted of the very things that have been fuelling them for thousands of years before now.
Can I Overcome Depression Without Medications
- 05 Aug, 2016
Today I was working with a client and all of a sudden she had tears running down her cheeks and she was smiling. I asked her what was going on and she said all of a sudden in the middle of my visualization I saw myself giving me a big hug. It felt so good to just be hugged. Up until then it was really hard for her to love herself. She felt worthless, depressed and sad. She now tells me that she cant even imagine how she felt only 5 days earlier. The sadness is completely gone.
It is our birthright to enjoy ourselves and find all of the pleasure in our lives. Pleasure loves company and delights in being discovered. I know I often forget about really enjoying my life. I get consumed by work and by all that I need to do, and I forget to have fun! We only have one life, and a finite amount of moments! Take the time to love yourself. Find even a few minutes each day to really take pleasure in yourself and the people around you. Pleasure can be so elusive that we often miss it. Take a moment to notice that you are surrounded by pleasure. Make a mental note of it and embrace the moment.
The brain and body only have a finite amount of resources. Being stuck in a state of constantly heightened activation and vigilance is incredibly exhausting and draining. Stress accumulation has been shown to damage the neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, reproductive, and other systems, and has been implicated in diseases ranging from lupus and joint pain to cancer!
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Can I Get Over Depression Without Medication
The answer to this question is yes its possible. However, for some, a chemical imbalance may require chemical relief, but remember, practice makes perfect. As you continue practicing the coping skills discussed above, just know that youre on the path toward overcoming depression.
Depression will linger when a person makes up a reason why they cant do these things. No matter the medication youre taking, committing to these activities daily, especially when youre not in the mood, is crucial to the treatment of depression. Positive coping skills require practice and take time, but if we dont take the time to be well, the period of feeling unwell will force it on you later.
Written by: Christopher Schumacher
About Vista Pines Health: Vista Pines Health is a mental health treatment program that is dedicated to providing quality care to those who are suffering from mental disorders. Conveniently located in sunny Pembroke Pines, Florida, we help clients, from all over the country, find healing from conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more. Our programs are designed to put the client first every step of the way, helping them conquer the struggles they deal with on a daily basis.
Do Something You Enjoy
Depression can push you to give into your fatigue. It may feel more powerful than happy emotions.
Try to push back and do something you love something thats relaxing, but energizing. It could be playing an instrument, painting, hiking, or biking.
These activities can provide subtle lifts in your mood and energy, which may help you overcome your symptoms.
Research suggests people who spend time in nature have improved mental health.
Exposure to sunlight may offer some of the same benefits. It can increase your serotonin levels, which can provide a temporary mood boost .
Consider taking a walk at lunch among the trees or spending some time in your local park. Or plan a weekend hike. These activities can help you reconnect with nature and soak in some rays at the same time.
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How To Deal With Depression Without Medication
In this article, youll find advice and tips on how to treat depression naturally and effectively.
But, I would really like you to try and figure out if there could be any underlying cause of your depression. Unless you know whats wrong, youll have a much harder job of making it right again and healing!
So, whats is going on for you? What has happened and what is happening to you now?
Are you unhappy in your relationship, or unfulfilled at work?
Are previous unresolved difficulties in any area of your life rising to the surface again?
Do you have money worries, or are you stressed about the children?
Are you feeling anxious about something or everything?
Do you have relationship problems? Are you in need of relationship advice?
If you can identify the root cause of your worries and troubles, you can start taking practical steps to address them.
Cant seem to put your finger on whats making you feel depressed? Think most of your life is fine?
In that case, too, I can really recommend you talk to a therapist or even a trusted friend. An outside perspective can really help you to figure out whats going on for you right now.
Take Care Of Yourself
Practicing good self-care can be helpful when coping with symptoms of depression. It is important to remember, however, that depressive symptoms can often make taking care of yourself more difficult. Feeling fatigued, unmotivated, disinterested, and distracted can interfere with normal daily tasks.
While it may require extra effort, doing some of the following can help you feel better:
- Eat a healthy diet
- Seek out social support
- Engage in activities you enjoy
Try to avoid isolating yourself when you are feeling down. Depression often causes people to withdraw from friends and loved ones, but reaching out to the people who care about you can actually help reduce feelings of depression.
If you or a loved one are struggling with depression, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
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Upgrade Your Mind Mood
In my work with clients, I like to teach what I call three different mind moods:
- unkind mind,
- kind mind and
- quiet mind.
Theyre all pretty self-explanatory. But suffice it to say that an unkind mind dishes out negative and critical thoughts. A kind mind is when were thinking positively or kindly toward ourselves and others. And when were in a quiet mind mode, were simply in the present moment and our minds are at peace.
Lets say you become aware that your unkind mind has been running the show. Here you are going about your day and you become aware of thoughts like, why bother, things are hopeless, Ill always be depressed, Ill never be happy or everyone else has more fill in the blank.
Now youre at a crossroad. You can keep recycling and believing the thoughts that your unkind mind is dishing out, or you can make a conscious decision to either upgrade your thought to a kinder one or to quiet your mind by turning your attention to something that is actually factually present in the here and now, otherwise known as reality.
As you gain more awareness of your depressive thoughts and more willingness to upgrade them, you will start to get some breaks in the regularly played unkind mind programs.
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Do The Opposite Of What The Depression Voice Suggests
The negative, irrational voice in your head may talk you out of self-help. However, if you can learn to recognize it, you can learn to replace it. Use logic as a weapon. Address each thought individually as it occurs.
If you believe an event wont be fun or worth your time, say to yourself, You might be right, but itll be better than just sitting here another night. You may soon see the negative isnt always realistic.
A lengthy to-do list may be so weighty that youd rather do nothing. Instead of compiling a long list of tasks, consider setting one or two smaller goals.
For example:
- Dont clean the house take the trash out.
- Dont do all the laundry thats piled up just sort the piles by color.
- Dont clear out your entire email inbox just address any time-sensitive messages.
When youve done a small thing, set your eyes on another small thing, and then another. This way, you have a list of tangible achievements and not an untouched to-do list.
All goals are worthy of recognition, and all successes are worthy of celebration. When you achieve a goal, do your best to recognize it.
You may not feel like celebrating with a cake and confetti, but recognizing your own successes can be a very powerful weapon against depressions negative weight.
The memory of a job well-done may be especially powerful against negative talk and overgeneralization.
Focus on times when you feel the most disorganized or scattered.
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