Did you know, that worldwide, there are more than 350 million people who either suffer from depression, or who have suffered with depression at some point in their lives? In the US alone, around 7% of the entire population will deal with a bout of prolonged depression each year, and unfortunately, those numbers are gradually rising. What’s even more worrying, is the fact that experts fear these numbers are actually much higher, it’s just that many people dealing with depression choose to suffer in silence. Rather than seeking help, many individuals fear ridicule and are worried they’ll be mocked by others for admitting they’re dealing with a mental health disorder, and that is such a huge shame. Mental health issues are not to be mocked, and admitting to struggling with mental health issues does not make a person weak. In reality, it is the exact opposite as it takes great strength and courage to admit to having a problem and to seek help. When diagnosed, a lot of people will be prescribed powerful drugs, which unfortunately provide all kinds of other negative side effects that can even make the problem worse in some cases. If you’re dealing with depression and feel that prescription drugs are not the answer, here are a few natural methods of beating depression for good.
List your accomplishments
One common side effect associated with depression is a feeling of worthlessness, as many people feel worthless and as if they’ve accomplished nothing, and have nothing to offer the world, and to their friends and family members. If you’ve ever felt this way, each day, take the time to write down a list of your accomplishments. These accomplishments can be absolutely anything you feel proud of, no matter how small they may be. If for example, you recently felt so depressed that you wanted to spend the entire day in bed, but you forced yourself to get up and get dressed, that is an accomplishment in itself. If you work, list any accomplishments at work, as well as personal achievements such as weight loss successes, and so on. Remember, absolutely anything can go on your list if you see it as a positive.
Clean up your diet
When people are depressed, often they will experience an extreme lack of energy and motivation, meaning that things such as peeling some vegetables, cooking a meal, and washing the pots afterwards, will seem like huge obstacles to overcome. Because of this, a lot of the time they will either eat processed ready meals, or order takeout, which is generally very unhealthy. When you eat junk however, your body feels like junk and you do not function efficiently. Your brain struggles to work, you will not be able to produce enough neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of happiness and relaxation, and you’ll secrete more stress hormones such as cortisol instead. If you consume fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious ingredients however, you’ll find your mood improving, you’ll have more energy, you will feel better, and you’ll find yourself sleeping better at night. You literally will be amazed by just how much better you will feel when you eat fresh and healthy produce.
Force yourself to exercise
It’s easy for somebody to sit there and tell you to exercise, as if it’s the easiest thing in the world, but as you may know, forcing yourself to exercise when you’re dealing with depression can be a huge obstacle to overcome. If you can really dig deep however, you should try to force yourself to exercise a few times per week, as exercise is notoriously beneficial for people dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression. Exercise will not only help you to lose weight, which will make you look better and subsequently boost your self esteem, it will also help to improve your mood as well. When we exercise, our bodies secrete hormones such as dopamine, serotonin, and adrenalin, which make us feel happy, focussed, and confident. To begin with, you’ll feel tired and lethargic, and you will be thinking of quitting. After a while however, once you break through the ‘wall’ as it were, you’ll find yourself feeling much better mentally, and you’ll find yourself enjoying what it is that you’re doing. You will also feel as if you’ve accomplished something, which will improve your mood even further.
Use natural supplements
As opposed to prescription drugs made in a lab, why not try natural herbal supplements instead? There are many supplements out there that have been tried and tested for mental health purposes, which have yielded very impressive results. For example, 5-HTP has been found to be a very potent mood enhancer that is often used to counter the negative effects of depression. St John’s Wort is another herbal supplement that provides beneficial effects on the mood, plus there are countless other nootropical supplements that are commonly used in the battle against depression, with great success.
Socialize more
Another common symptom associated with depression, is not wanting to leave the house and socialize, which is why many people find themselves becoming more and more secluded from the outside world. If you’re dealing with depression, it’s vital that you try to socialize more and to spend more time with people that truly matter to you. Even if you don’t feel like leaving the house just yet, why not invite people over and spend time with them there instead? Doing that will force you to clean up and get yourself a little more organized, which means you will have yet more accomplishments to add to your list.
