Ten Home Remedies for Depression
The pits, the blues, the doldrums. We’ve all been there. You are not alone, but sometimes it just seems like you don’t know how to shake the bad feelings. Here is a list of things you can do to help yourself.
We all get the blues at times. If we didn’t , the good times would seem a little less bright. Severe or clinical depression probably can’t be affected by home remedies. If you have been feeling down for a period of longer than two weeks, it may be time to consider seeking professional help. Moods can be affected by all types of outside sources; the bad economy, a loss, strife within relationships. Sometimes depression can be caused by hormonal changes. Whatever the source, if you have a mild case of depression, here are a few suggestions that may help you recover from the blues.
Exercise
Even a low-impact workout, for twenty minutes a day, can raise your heart rate and release pheromones that will elevate your mood. Exercise is so good for you in so many ways. It helps you sleep better. It stimulates your brain function and may help you come up with ideas or creative solutions to things that are bothering you. If you make time to take a walk every day, you may notice a big difference in short order.
Change Your Routine
You may find that taking a drive in the country after work is all that it takes to unwind and feel better after a hard day. If your routine calls for breakfast on the fly, try getting up earlier and taking time to sit down with some fruit and orange juice. If you stay up until midnight, try going to bed earlier. Give some thought to rearranging your schedule and see what happens.
Turn Off the TV
Watching the news can be an extremely depressing activity. We are bombarded daily with information about violence, crime, and natural disasters. We are helpless in these matters and the information can be distorted before it is presented to us. We don’t often hear the success stories, the good stories or the hopeful ones. Instead we hear the bad stuff. How can this not affect our morale? Shut off the TV. Any news that is truly significant will reach you through other sources.
Spend Time With Your Pet
It has long since been proven that animals are great therapy. The presence of a dog or cat can have a calming effect. They lower your blood pressure and provide a happy distraction. It is good to have someone else to think about. The best thing about pets is that they love us unconditionally.
Change Your Diet
Are you consuming too much sugar or caffeine? Try eating more wholesome foods, like fish and green vegetables. Bananas are an excellent choice. They contain tryptophan, a protein which converts to serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which causes relaxation. Low levels of serotonin are believed to cause depression. Turkey is another excellent source of tryptophan.
Call a Friend
Our lives can be so hectic that we sometimes lose touch with those dearest to us. Don’t be a hermit. Call someone your are close to, whom you may not have seen in awhile. Make a plan to get together. If you force yourself to be social, the feelings will follow and your mood will change.
Help Someone Else
Reaching out to someone else in need can be a great mood elevator. Try volunteering for a local cause. Become active in your community. Find out where there is a need for someone with your talents and personality. You can cultivate a sense of belonging, and be where you are needed most. People like you can make a difference in the world.
Meditate
An excellent relaxation technique, there are many websites that can give you free instructions on how to meditate. It usually only takes ten minutes a day, and the quiet and solace that you find will put your mind at rest. Most people find it very rejuvenating.
Take a Bath
This is another way to relax. The cleansing, healing effect of a warm bath is incomparable. Light some candles, use some bubbles, and treat yourself to a little aromatherapy while you kick back in the tub.
Drink More Water
This may seem like an odd solution, but we tend to overlook the remedies that are simplest and best. Eight glasses of water a day may seem excessive at first, but you become accustomed to it and quickly begin to crave it. Water flushes the toxins out of your system and is a great alternative to caffeine and sodas that will upset your Ph balance. Hydration is commonly underrated.
Remember that depression can be serious. If you continue to feel down for an extended period, please seek some professional help. Life is too short to have your quality time robbed by depression.
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