Treating Depression Naturally
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Unfortunately, clinical depression is becoming increasingly common, in children as well as adults. It is considered to be the second most common psychiatric ailment in western society, with anxiety being the first.
There are many changes to lifestyle which can help ease the problem, whether not medication is taken as well.
A good, healthy diet is vital. This should include fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains rather than white flour, oily fish or plenty of sesame, sunflower and linseeds (these have high levels of the fatty acids essential to good mental health).
There are also many foods that should be avoided. First of all is refined sugar. The consumption of excess quantities of sugar can lead to unstable blood sugar levels which can then lead to anxiety, depression and related symptoms.
Many of the additives in processed foods can have negative effects on moods. The artificial sweetener, aspartame, has been linked to depression. Alcohol is a brain depressant and also affects various body functions including sleep cycles. Products containing caffeine are also not recommended because they use up the body’s stores of B vitamins which are vital for mental health and also can give you a boost which is often followed by a low.
It is also important to consider any food intolerances or allergies. These can affect mood quite considerably. We tend to be intolerant to items that we get cravings for, so try eliminating these and see how you feel.
I consider a good, all round, multinutrient is vital for everybody, especially those with any sort of health problems. It is very hard these days to get enough nutrients in the diet, and by the time we are feeling ill we are already usually deficient in something. Many nutrients such as vitamin B, zinc, omega fatty acids and amino acids are vital to mental health.
Exercise is something else that is very important. It has many useful functions in keeping the body healthy. It produces endorphins which make us feel better. Going out in the park or, even better, in the countryside is also important, many people feel noticeably better after a brief time in nature.
It is also important to talk and to cry if you feel the need, but also to realise that you can feel better and to look at all the positive things in your life. There are many books available now on this subject. Find one that suits you.
Laura says...
While I agree that there are many non-medical ways to treat depression, when someone is in the depths of a depressive episode it can be very hard to make the kind of positive lifestyle changes that can help. If a person can’t get out of bed, regular exercise isn’t going to be feasible. Likewise, if a person has no appetite, eating a healthy diet isn’t possible. Having someone help evaluate the individual’s situation and making specific recommendations (and providing support) is so important. Some people may need short-term medication so they feel better enough to start exercising/eating right. Others need long term medication.
Tom says...
Most discussions of depression recommend exercise, but few caution that if one is not careful, over-exercise can exacerbate the problem. This happened to me about 2 years ago… being so determined to overcome depression I undertook frequent vigorous exercise, only realising later that I was making the problem far worse.
Lately I’m in relatively good mental health, but still have some improving to do. I’m currently trialing a comprehensive treatment to try to overcome depression completely using broad-based amino acids, omegas and nutrients, and improving the functioning of the digestive system.
Toms last blog post..Day 1