what's the best way to battle depression, the natural way.?
926271
Yes, I agree with the exercising. It is hard to get up and moving when you feel depressed, but just tell your self, you WILL feel better when you're done.\nAlso, I’d suggest St. John's Wort, it is a plant. It is sold, powdered up in capsules. You can find it at any health food store, and perhaps at your drug store in the "herbs and spices remedies" section  ; )\nIt is interesting that here in the U.S. (where I’m at) doctors (medical or psychological) cannot prescribe herbs to patients, even if they think they would help them, because plant remedies are not regulated by the FDA.\nBut, in Europe, it is common for doctors to prescribe St. John's Wort for depression.\nIt is worth a try, if you can steer clear of addictive antidepressant drugs that seem to be so popular these days!
292510
I understand your desire to understand depression, and to search for a remedy. When it\ncomes to your health, remedies that are stronger are\nnot always better. I have three things that have\ngotten me through times when I've been depressed, and\nthey're all gentle solutions that I think will suit an\nintelligent person like yourself. \n\n1 - The first is what Freud calls the "talking cure".\nHe insists that it must be performed by a\npsychoanalyst who you are paying for, but actually\nI've performed it by writing in a diary. The key is to\nbe very honest, and try to find connections that you\nmight otherwise be supressing, because these are the\nareas that need work. For example, what's the first\nthing that pops into your mind when you think of\n"depression"? If the answer is "flying a kite", then\nfollow the chain... What do you think of when you\nthink of "kite" and "flying"... You'll be surprised\nhow quickly this takes you right down to an event in\nyour childhood or an unresolved conflict that might\nhave happened a year ago.\n\n2 - Looking for lies. A chair cannot make you\ndepressed. A lampshade cannot make you depressed. Only\nanother person can make you depressed. I believe it is\nbecause a chair and a lampshade cannot lie. Only a\nperson can lie. Depression, it seems to me, comes from\nbelieving a lie. That conflict (between reality and\nthe lie) takes up so much mental energy to maintain,\nit drains you as a whole. You may find, after using\ntechnique #1, that it leads to you to this conclusion\n#2. For example, after free associating your way to an\nevent, you might find that it was when someone told\nyou that you weren't worth a hill of beans. The\nproblem is not that they insulted you, the problem is\nthat you believed the lie. Beware, giving up on a lie\nthat we've believed in for a long time is tougher than\nit sounds.\n\n3 - This one is going to sound goofy, especially after\nwading in deeply with the other two techniques. Get\nsome light to shine on the cells in the back of your\neyes. Go outside for an extended period of time\nwithout sunglasses (no need to stare at the sun or a\nlight-bulb, indirect light will do). Use one of those\ngentle light therapy products like www.everlyte.com .\nTake a trip on a sailboat. Spend a few hours in open\nfields on sunny days. It's those cells in the eyes\nthat produce much of the chemical that pills and\nherbal remedies seek to replace, but the cells in the\neyes put the chemicals where they are needed, in your\nbrain, and not in your stomach and everywhere else.\nThis third technique will help you with the other two,\nallowing you to think clearly, and get out from being\nstuck in a loop.\n\nI hope this "whole-istic" answer is as helpful to you\nas it has been to me over the years. A gentle look at\nthe whole picture is often better than a sledgehammer\nto just one piece of the problem.
933196
theres many things you can do. when im depressed or feeling low, i call or talk to one of my friends or family members. i also like listening to music. another thing you can do is eat your favorite food.
595491
One thing is great for easing depression AND maintaining a healthy weight - exercise!  Get out there and walk, run, go to a gym if you can afford it, rollerskate, whatever.  It will give you energy and make it easier to concentrate as well as help you lose weight in a healthy way.  \n\nHere's a good link that explains some of the theories about exercises positive effect on people with depression...\n\nGood luck!
1097689
meditation iz verry effective!!! the best thing to do is go outside where u are only surrounded by nature. kinda lay down and relax. make perfectly sure u are not worried about anything. think about happy things that have happened in your life. sit and do that for atleast 30-60 minutes.
531813
First, ignore anyone that tells you to "Just snap out of it!". They are insensitive people that cannot comprehend what you are going though. Seek support from friends or family that do understand (& since depression is hereditary, your family may be able to understand & empathize.)  \nI have had depression all my life. It comes & goes. I know it is difficult to deal with, but I think that using even prescribed medicine just makes the problem worse by making people addicted to them. I know a lot of people that take anti-depressants & act worse than I do. \nI choose to use natural or herbal remedies & other methods  help most of the time but no matter what I always have difficult periods & only time & patience (& plenty of rest) helps me through those times.    \n\nI hope it gets better for you. I would not wish depression on my worst enemy. However,I would wish it on people that are insensitive not to even try to understand how bad it is to have depression.\n\nIf you want to know more about some natural methods you can contact me.
738372
I live with long term depression and can not take the anti-depressants doctors prescribe, yes, I have tried the new ones with the same results, they make me more depressed, not less!\n\nOver many years I have developed a lifestyle that alleviates the depression in a natural way. Here is what I do, I hope it is of help to you and others as well.\n\nCounselling: I find having a person I can rely on to talk to is very helpful when the depression is bad, many counsellors now agree that depression in many cases should be treated in a more natural way.\n\nFood: Eat lots of raw fruit and vegetables and if you have to cook them only just cook them! Natural foods are bright in colour and so are pleasing to the eye to eat. Also ensure you eat fish once a week every week.\n\nDrink: Limit coffee, alcohol, soft drinks and tea, instead try lots of water, fruit based cordials, herbal teas and fruit juice\n\nExercise: Walk outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air for 20 minutes a day. During the walk really look at your surroundings and take note of the big strong trees, cool soft grass, blue sky, and if you are lucky enough to live near water notice the water and how it responds to its environment. We tend to breathe more shallowly when we are depressed so some exercise helps us breathe deeper and increases the oxygen intake making us feel better all over. You dont need to run a marathon, just exercise regularly and only do what is possible.\n\nVitamins: Take multi vitamins one day and Multi B the next. You dont need to overload your system with vitamins otherwise you simply end up with expensive urine! If the Multi B and the multivitamin both have Vit C in them then that is even better.\n\nSunshine is the best and easiest way for human beings to absorb Vit D. So being outside in the sunshine is a good thing. Being sunburnt is not, so take care to wear a shirt, hat and sunscreen. And sunshine just makes you feel good! It actually releases some chemical in the human brain that makes you feel good.\n\nIf you eat lots of white flour based foods, fried foods, and processed foods you will find that this tends to make your digestion system sluggish and seems to add to depression so avoid them.\n\nNew Things: Learning a new thing alleviates depression because it gives us a sense of satisfaction and achievement and you cant feel satisfied and depressed at once! Take on new challenges whether it is getting around to learning a musical instrument, painting, riding a bicycle, or learning Tai chi you will find that a sense of accomplishment feels very good.\n\nGrow something: Carig for something else turns your attention to positive things like what you can do right and what is possible. If you think that you are the worlds worst gardener try this: Ask someone for cuttings of geraniums stick the cuttings in some dirt and water daily for a week. Geraniums are the most amazing flowers to grow because they grow from cuttings so there is no cost involved and if you plant half a dozen cuttings you will get two or three plants from that. Their bright colours and often scented leaves are a delight. An old fashioned plant but a cheerful one. Daisies also grow from cuttings and are bright cheerful plants. Both daisies and geraniums grow really well in pots and so do many vegetables! There are lessons we can only learn by osmosis, we have to absorb the lesson and growing something gives us some of those lessons.\n\nGet Involved in Your Community: Join an interest group, a local health centre committee, or a church or other organisation. Being with others with a common goal can be very upliftng. Being with, caring about and learning about other people leaves no room for you to be wound up in your depression.\n\nMusic: Get a good collection of music of all kinds, try some classical, some heavy rock, some lilting little melodies, african drumming music, aboiriginal music, the more variety the better. listen to all kinds of music.\n\nGet a pet: You dont have to buy a d
758799
Sometimes we are our own worst enemies, we beat ourselves up about the smallest things. Make your mind work for you not against you. Its all in the mind, be positive about things and good things we follow. If you always look at things in a bad light your bound to be depressed. Pick yourself up and start to see the good things in life, even if it is small. If you want things in life you can have them, it just takes determination and will power, because nothing is impossible if you really want it. Believe in yourself and always listen to your truest thoughts. \nThe human mind is the most powerful tool on the planet, control it, don't let it control you.
957206
Here are some tips that you can do to make your life more balanced and decrease any depression.\n\n"GET OUT OF BED: \n\nOne of the most important things you can do is get up at about the same time every morning (even week-ends). Preferably, that means about 7 a.m. or earlier. You might not feel like it but Get Up. Such regularity helps your body function more normally so you're more likely to feel normal. \n\nLIGHTS: \n\nLight helps your body function better. So turn on a lot of lights as soon as you arise. Open curtains to get more sunlight. Better yet, go outdoors into the sunshine as soon as you can. Remove any eyewear so light will enter more readily (glass cuts out some of the sun's rays). But don't stare at the sun, of course. \n\nMOVE: \n\nBe active right away -- oxygenate! That means getting up and walking around your dwelling for five or 10 minutes, or perhaps riding an exercycle. Mild exercise gets the blood flowing and transports more oxygen throughout your body (especially to your brain), helping you feel mentally alert and alive. \n\nMUSIC: \n\nSelect and play some energetic, happy music as you dress and have your breakfast. The audiovisual department of most libraries has albums and tapes you can check out. \n  \n\nBREAKFAST: \n\nBegin your breakfast with protein (i.e., meat, eggs, peanut butter, nuts, cheese). When you get up, your body chemistry is ready to convert food, especially protein,into longlasting energy. To balance your most important meal of the day, add an orange or other fresh fruit and whole grain cereal or whole grain bread. \n\nTALK WITH SOMEONE: \n\nOne of the quickest ways to beat the blues is to interact with others. You might not feel like doing that - you'd rather avoid people when blue. So make lt easier on yourself. Talk with someone you enjoy about a subject you enjoy so there is definite give and take. \n\nAnd, force yourself to say "hello" to the persons next to you in class, those where you live, anyone around. \n\nLIMIT CAFFEINE: \n\nThe long-term (four hours or so) effects of caffeine are depression. Try to limit coffee to no more than one cup in the morning. Coffee can make you more alert for an hour or so, but later you get an opposite reaction. Caffeine tends to increase the release of insulin in the blood, and insulin lowers the blood sugar level. When you have low blood sugar levels, you begin to feel less sure of yourself, and have low energy levels, which can lead to the blues or depression. \n\nLIMIT SUGAR: \n\nSugar might give you an initial rush of energy, but within an hour or so the blood sugar level can become low, and when it's low you may feel low, too. \n\nThe caffeine/sugar cycle. It's easy to get caught in the caffeine and sugar cycle -- having coffee, caffeinated soft drinks, or something with sugar every two hours or so to "stay up." For example, cola contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar plus caffeine equal to about half a cup of coffee. In addition to bringing on the blues, this cycle can result in dependence, poor nutrition. and obesity -- reasons to get down on yourself even more and feel blue. \n\nMAINTAIN FIBER: \n\nFiber helps food go through your digestive system at a proper rate, giving a more constant energy supply. Highly processed foods merely provide a quick surge of energy which can be followed by depression. You can maintain fiber in your diet by eating an orange or grapefruit rather than just drinking the juice. Eat fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grain breads and cereals. \n\nSTRESS B COMPLEX: \n\nSome persons report receiving help by taking a concentrated vitamin B complex. You'll find these called something like "Stress B" or "B 50." This is controversial. \nSome nutritionists say, "Yes, this really should be considered," and others say, "No, this is not a good Idea." You can try some and decide whether or not it helps you. If it does help, the
351014
Getting professional help. A community web site,DepNet.com, is an outlet for those who suffer from depression to share their experiences with fellow sufferers or supportive cyber-friends.\n\nOptimism can have a profound impact on your health and life.\nDon't look at the negative side, always have your mind set on the positive side and it will make your everyday full of laughter & fun and automatically you will feel contented and satisfy with your life.\n\nDo some exercises regularly.Do exercise will let your mind have a chance to rest and to delete those negative idea from your brain and heart.After exercise you will feel refresh and have the power to do everything and complete it well.\n\nYou can also share your problems with your family, friends, and beloved. Believe that more brain is always better than one brain.After sharing your problems, you will find that you have just put down a huge rock on your back.\n\nLearn something that your find it interesting like gardening, yoga, drawing, playing piano, mountain climbing and else.\n\nTake part in activities that have the chance to interact or communicate with others. Made friend with others will light up your whole life.\n\nSo, after reading this please be cheer up and lives well because there is people who do care about you and love you. Everyday is a new day and we should face it with a happy mood when we open our eyes on the very first moment.We should cherish every moment of our lives.See you.
496518
Depression will usually pass. Try herbal teas like camomille and rosemary. have a big goal in life, like what do you want to do in life? Singer, dancer, writer, artist, engineer, geologist, open a restaurant? What is it you want? Don't you want to travel, see the world, live the good life??? Life is a very, very precious gift, we are extremely LUCKY to be here, to be able to live at all. I couldn't be depressed AT ALL knowing that. Life is the best gift of all, and it only lasts a few seconds in the big scheme of things. Good luck to you, hang in!!
158509
First of all, you are not alone. Everyone on this planet has their ups and downs. Facing the world seems to be a never ending struggle and frankly, thats the spice of life.....its just the way it is.\n\nI suggest that you do the following:\n\n1. Make a "To do List" it keeps you on track and lets you know when you are slipping.\n\n2. Exercise ( Nothing major!) but do a jog around the block or two, to keep the blood circulating.\n\n3. Eat healthy!. When you are going into a depression(which I think you are) avoid overeating as obesity can hit you when you least expect it. Food can be abused when you are depressed.\n\n4. Socialize by going to gatherings at your university or outside of school such as a focus group on a subject of iterest. It keeps you busy and allows you to interact and make new friends.\n\n5.  Spirituality is very important! go to church, synagoge or mosque or whatever..... it allows you to detach from your problems and connect with your creator. This feeds the soul.
143679
Depression is a veary normal thing to feal. You wouldn't be human if you didn't feel depressed in any way at one time or another. What helps is to do the basic things that depression stops you from doing. Eat a meal, Go for a walk, Talk to some one, listen to some uplifing music, write, take a bath. And if you have a faith pray.
676366
When depression strikes, the depressed person isn't the only one affected. Everyone around them -- family, friends, and co-workers -- feels the impact.\n\nHelping a loved one cope with depression can be key to his or her recovery. But it isn't always going to be easy. Here are some tips.\n\n\n\n      Get the facts. The first thing you should do is learn more about depression. Read up on its causes and treatments.\n\n\n      Get other people involved. You can't do this alone. Your friend or loved one may want you to keep his or her depression a secret. But that isn't healthy. It puts far too much pressure on you. So try to get a small circle of family and friends to help. That way, you can help look after your loved one together.\n\n\n      Ask what your loved one needs. Be direct. Unless you ask, you just won't know what your friend or loved one wants from you.\n\n\n      Don't try to solve the problem on your own. Your loved one needs professional help to get better. Depression is a real illness. You wouldn't try to cure a friend's diabetes on your own. You shouldn't try curing depression either.\n\n\n      Offer to help with the practical things. People who are depressed are easily overwhelmed. Everyday stuff -- dressing the kids for school, grocery shopping, or laundry -- may feel like too much. So pitch in. Sometimes practical help can make a big difference.\n\n\n      Take time for yourself. Taking care of someone who is depressed can be overwhelming. So it's key that you set aside time for yourself. Do things that you enjoy. Get out of the house on a regular basis. Take walks or go to the gym. Catch a movie or dinner with friends.\n\n      Given what your loved one is going through, you may feel guilty or selfish for thinking about yourself. But taking care of yourself is crucial. If you don't, you'll burn out -- and that won't help either of you.\n\n\n      Know your limits. There is a lot you can do to help your loved one. But you can't do everything. You can't make your loved one well. You can't watch him or her 24 hours a day. These things aren't in your power. In the end, your loved one has to want to get better, too.\n\n\n      Take threats seriously. Suicide is a very real risk of depression. If your friend or loved is threatening to commit suicide, take action. Don't leave the person alone. Remove any weapons or large amounts of medication. Call a suicide hotline or your loved one's therapist. In a crisis, don't hesitate to call emergency services. You can't keep something this serious a secret.\n\n\nI hope that helps, all the best to you and your friend!I went through a bout of depression, but didn't really tell my friends: I knew that they would say 'just cheer up!' or 'just don;t think about it' or 'snap out of it'... Those are actually the worst things you can say to someone who is depressed, as it makes them feel even worse that they cannot make themselves 'snap out of it'. I would advise you just to be there for her to talk to and do things with... and don't give up on her!
278784
I understand your desire to stay away from "sledgehammer" solutions that involve powerful, sometimes untested prescription medicines. When it comes to your health, remedies that are stronger are not always better. I have three things that have gotten me through times when I've been depressed, and they're all gentle solutions that I think will suit an intelligent person like yourself. \n\n1 - The first is what Freud calls the "talking cure". He insists that it must be performed by a psychoanalyst who you are paying for, but actually I've performed it by writing in a diary. The key is to be very honest, and try to find connections that you might otherwise be supressing, because these are the areas that need work. For example, what's the first thing that pops into your mind when you think of "depression"? If the answer is "flying a kite", then follow the chain... What do you think of when you think of "kite" and "flying"... You'll be surprised how quickly this takes you right down to an event in your childhood or an unresolved conflict that might have happened a year ago.\n\n2 - Looking for lies. A chair cannot make you depressed. A lampshade cannot make you depressed. Only another person can make you depressed. I believe it is because a chair and a lampshade cannot lie. Only a person can lie. Depression, it seems to me, comes from believing a lie. That conflict (between reality and the lie) takes up so much mental energy to maintain, it drains you as a whole. You may find, after using technique #1, that it leads to you to this conclusion #2. For example, after free associating your way to an event, you might find that it was when someone told you that you weren't worth a hill of beans. The problem is not that they insulted you, the problem is that you believed the lie. Beware, giving up on a lie that we've believed in for a long time is tougher than it sounds.\n\n3 - This one is going to sound goofy, especially after wading in deeply with the other two techniques. Get some light to shine on the cells in the back of your eyes. Go outside for an extended period of time without sunglasses (no need to stare at the sun or a light-bulb, indirect light will do). Use one of those gentle light therapy products like www.everlyte.com . Take a trip on a sailboat. Spend a few hours in open fields on sunny days. It's those cells in the eyes that produce much of the chemical that pills and herbal remedies seek to replace, but the cells in the eyes put the chemicals where they are needed, in your brain, and not in your stomach and everywhere else. This third technique will help you with the other two, allowing you to think clearly, and get out from being stuck in a loop.\n\nI hope this "whole-istic" answer is as helpful to you as it has been to me over the years. A gentle look at the whole picture is often better than a sledgehammer to just one piece of the problem.
609143
This will work:\n\nTry a 4 hour job (part time) job; that you don't necessarily LOVE, but you do it for the sake of it, and some money. It may take your depression away forever.
83212
Talking to trusted family and friends, moderate exercise (brisk walk, 30 min/day), and daily exposure to sunlight can help.\n\nIf depression lasts more than a couple weeks, you should see a doctor.  It is best to talk to a psychologist or social worker.  Psychiatrists do a better job than family practitioners of prescribing medicines for depression because they have so much more experience with it.\n\nAlcohol is a depressant, not a stimulant.  It is best to stick with drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist.