If you wish to fight your depression without the side-effects and expense of psychiatric medications, there are many things your can do to control your moods naturally.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: N A
Here's How:
- Sleep and mood are intimately related. Keep a regular schedule and get adequate rest.
- Avoid caffeine and other stimulants. Although they give temporary energy, they can deplete your serotonin levels in the long-run.
- Take a multi-vitamin regularly if you do not eat well. Several vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to depression symptoms.
- For mild to moderate depression, some find that St. John's Wort, SAMe or 5-HTP can be helpful and may have fewer side-effects. These remedies cost less than prescription medications and help put you in control of your own treatment.
- Get in touch with your spiritual side through prayer or meditation. Remember, spirituality is not the same thing as religiosity. You may be spiritual without ever setting foot in a church, synagogue or mosque.
- Get more exercise. This doesn't mean you have to start up a vigorous daily workout. Even a walk around the block can be energizing.
- Avoid excess alcohol consumption. Alcohol is a depressant and toxic to your body as well.
- Eat a well-balanced diet.
- Your thoughts have a direct bearing on your mood. Learning about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, either through a therapist or self-help books, can help you stop the negative thoughts that bring you down.
- Stress can be physically draining. Learn to control your stress levels through time management, meditation, biofeedback training, etc.
- Combat feelings of loneliness by reaching out to others who are less fortunate.
Tips:
- An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Be aware of your mood and take remedial steps when you first feel your mood begin to slip.
- Don't feel like a failure if you need prescription medication. Depression is an illness just like diabetes or any other other. It is not always within your control.
