Archive for depression treatments
Best Natural Depression Treatments
Posted by: | CommentsMost cases of depression if not all can be helped with treatment, but many people are too frightened to seek treatment. They may be worried of the questions that a therapist might question, or they may be worried of the medication that is designed to help with depression, but untreated depression is a very perilous thing. There are some natural remedies that can at least help with depression. It is best to talk to a doctor before following a natural course od depression treatments.
Depression Treatment 1: Alternative Medicine
There are natural remedies like yoga, color therapy, flower therapy, aromatherapy and acupuncture or acupressure that can have some effect. These effects vary from person to person, so try to see if any appeal to you and check them out if you are interested.
Depression Treatment 2: Diet
It might be hard to hear that giving up your beloved coffee or your daily sweets might help you feel better, but removing sweets from your diet can help to keep your mood more stable, preventing the fake highs and exaggerated lows as your blood sugar soars and then plummets.
Avoiding caffeine and alcohol can also both help, as both of these dampen moods. The alcohol is a relaxant while the caffeine is an energy booster, but the effects of both quickly wear off leaving us feeling worse than ever and producing symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, mood swings and even depression.
Since vitamin B6 and Magnesium can both be gotten from your diet and can help you keep your natural serotonin levels up, it is vital to add food to your diet that include one or both of these. Magnesium can be found in nuts, whole grains, legumes and vegetables. As a side effect, eating healthier can also help your depression by helping you to feel healthier and boosting your self-image.
Depression Treatment 3: Exercise
Like diet, exercise is something that most of us avoid as much as possible when we are depressed, preferring inactivity and isolation. Regular exercise, but, can boost your mood by eliminating the stress hormones in your body as well as by boosting your own self image as you start to look and feel better. Exercise itself releases mood-boosting chemicals in your brain, and gives you something productive and hopefully fun to focus your mind on.
Depression Treatment 4: Light Therapy
Getting enough sunlight is a natural mood booster, and a lack of sunlight can lead to depression. Getting out in the air and the sunlight for a walk or a run or other exercise can be helpful to boost your mood and can be a double-threat to depression because you are getting exercise as well. If you cannot get out in the sunlight for any reason or if you can’t get enough sunlight, you can use lamps that simulate natural sunlight to help you boost your mood with this light therapy. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen to protect your skin while you are out on your walks.
Depression Treatment 5: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish like salmon, and offer many benefits including improved mental functioning. Depression is less common in countries like Taiwan and Japan, which have a culture that consumes much more fish.
Help you and others suffering from depression
Posted by: | CommentsDepression can be a matter of life and death, so help from others is of vital importance. Since depression affects millions of people each year, chances are you may know someone who suffers from this terrible illness.
Helping someone with severe depression can be frustrating at times. Many depressed people don’t want to be helped. It’s as if they feel they can benefit from being depressed because no one expects anything from them. Some even go as far as to feel that being depressed is simpler than dealing with life’s problems and trying to improve them. It’s vital to realize but, that not ALL people who suffer from Depression feel this way.
Many people suffer from depression needlessly all because they won’t consult with a Doctor or depression treatments. If you know someone like this it’s vital that you do what you can to convince them to seek professional care. Let them know that you care and just want to make sure that they are okay. Sometimes if the person won’t take the initiative, you may have to make the appointment for them and make sure they get there. Be kind but at the same time, be firm. Helping a friend or relative who suffers from Depression is no simple task, but it can be lifesaving. At times, just knowing you care makes all the difference in the world.
Many people who suffer from Depression feel like they are a burden not only to their family and friends, but also to themselves because they feel as if they are helpless and can’t get past their depression so depression treatments are out the question. Some even feel ashamed and humiliated. So, instead of getting help, they isolate themselves some more and in turn drift further and further away.
In order to help a person who suffers from Depression, you first need to have empathy for that person. In other words, try to identify emotionally with them. Be sensitive to their feelings and realize that they really are in emotional pain. What they are feeling is real so try to be understanding. NEVER ever tell a depressed person to ’snap out of it.’ This simply cannot be done without depression treatments.
Other ways to help a depressed person may be to encourage them to talk. You never want them to keep everything bottled up inside them. Avoid judgmental and critical critical comments. Remember, most depression sufferers have very low self-esteem, so try to restore it by reasoning with them. Question them why they feel the way they do and really LISTEN when they talk. By showing them this attention you are showing them that you have a genuine interest in wanting to help.
If you are married to someone who suffers from Depression don’t automatically assume that you are the cause of the depression. Depression isn’t ALWAYS caused by a terrible marriage. But, it can be brought on by friction, guilt or a strained or isolated relationship. Always remember that if you are married to someone who suffers from depression and they lash out at you, don’t take it personal. Remember the emotional pain they are in. Also remember that in most cases, YOU are not the one they’re mad at. Remembering this can help you respond to them in a mild way.
If it’s your wife that suffers from depression, take the initiative by helping cook and clean. If there are kids in the family, help by tending to them instead of your wife having to do it. By doing this you are helping in more ways than you know and is a form of depression treatment.
So, if you know someone who suffers from Depression, always be patient, show empathy and help them in any way you can. Be encouraging and let them know you are thinking about them and you care. Send them a letter or card in the mail. Give them a call on the phone, or better yet, pay them a visit, even if it’s for a small while. All these small things can mean the world to a person who is depressed. Don’t expect someone with depression to get well overnight. It can be a slow process at times. So the best thing to do is to try to prevent it.
If you suffer from Depression and want to prevent or fight it, start by getting plenty of exercise, get proper rest and eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Avoid the ‘depressing foods’ like chocolate, caffeine or other sugars. Don’t build your sense of worth on the like of others, on money, power or your job. Avoid drugs and too much alcohol. Always do the best you can but don’t try to be perfect. There is no such thing. And the number one thing you have to remember is to recognize the early symptoms of depression and seek help immediately. By doing these things you can have more success in conquering your depression with what? Depression Treatment!