| Most cases of depression if not all can be | | | | us avoid as much as possible when we are |
| helped with treatment, but many people are | | | | depressed, preferring inactivity and |
| too scared to seek treatment. They may be | | | | isolation. Regular exercise, however, can |
| afraid of the questions that a therapist | | | | boost your mood by eliminating the stress |
| might ask, or they may be afraid of the | | | | hormones in your body as well as by boosting |
| medication that is designed to help with | | | | your own self image as you begin to look and |
| depression, but untreated depression is a | | | | feel better. Exercise itself releases |
| very dangerous thing. There are some natural | | | | mood-boosting chemicals in your brain, and |
| remedies that can at least help with | | | | gives you something productive and hopefully |
| depression. It is best to talk to a doctor | | | | fun to focus your mind on. |
| before following a natural course of | | | | |
| treatment for depression. | | | | Folic Acid |
| | | | |
| 5-HTP | | | | Folic Acid or Folate is a particular kind of |
| | | | B vitamin that is often found to be deficient |
| 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is a | | | | in depressed people. You can get Folate from |
| supplement that works to boost the serotonin | | | | eating leafy greens as well as some beans or |
| levels of the body. Studies have not produced | | | | fortified grains. It is a very common |
| conclusive results yet, however it is known | | | | deficiency because of poor diet, certain |
| that 5-HTP should not be used in conjunction | | | | medical conditions, and various medications |
| with antidepressants. | | | | such as birth control pills that eliminate it |
| | | | in the body. |
| Alternative Medicine | | | | |
| | | | Light Therapy |
| There are natural remedies like yoga, color | | | | |
| therapy, flower therapy, aromatherapy and | | | | Getting enough sunlight is a natural mood |
| acupuncture or acupressure that can have some | | | | booster, and a lack of sunlight can lead to |
| effect. These effects vary from person to | | | | depression. Getting out in the air and the |
| person, so try to see if any appeal to you | | | | sunlight for a walk or a run or other |
| and check them out if you are interested. | | | | exercise can be helpful to boost your mood |
| | | | and can be a double-threat to depression |
| Diet | | | | because you are getting exercise as well. If |
| | | | you cannot get out in the sunlight for any |
| It might be hard to hear that giving up your | | | | reason or if you can't get enough sunlight, |
| beloved coffee or your daily sweets might | | | | you can use lamps that simulate natural |
| help you feel better, but removing sweets | | | | sunlight to help you boost your mood with |
| from your diet can help to keep your mood | | | | this light therapy. Don't forget to wear |
| more stable, preventing the false highs and | | | | sunscreen to protect your skin while you are |
| exaggerated lows as your blood sugar soars | | | | out on your walks. |
| and then plummets. | | | | |
| | | | Omega-3 Fatty Acids |
| Avoiding caffeine and alcohol can also both | | | | |
| help, as both of these dampen moods. The | | | | Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish like |
| alcohol is a relaxant while the caffeine is | | | | salmon, and offer many benefits including |
| an energy booster, but the effects of both | | | | improved mental functioning. Omega-3 fatty |
| quickly wear off leaving us feeling worse | | | | acids can be used in conjunction with |
| than ever and producing symptoms like | | | | antidepressants to help these medications |
| insomnia, anxiety, mood swings and even | | | | function more effectively. Depression is less |
| depression. | | | | common in countries like Taiwan and Japan, |
| | | | which have a culture that consumes much more |
| Since vitamin B6 and Magnesium can both be | | | | fish. |
| gotten from your diet and can help you keep | | | | |
| your natural serotonin levels up, it is | | | | SAM-e |
| important to add food to your diet that | | | | |
| include one or both of these. Magnesium can | | | | SAM-e is short for S-adenosyl-L-methionine, |
| be found in nuts, whole grains, legumes and | | | | and is a chemical that is found naturally in |
| vegetables. As a side effect, eating | | | | the body. It has been shown in studies to be |
| healthier can also help your depression by | | | | more effective than a placebo at treating |
| helping you to feel healthier and boosting | | | | depression, and is available in the United |
| your self-image. | | | | States as an over the counter supplement in |
| | | | health food stores and drug stores as well as |
| Exercise | | | | online. It is somewhat expensive, but it can |
| | | | be argued that it is worth the expense as |
| Like diet, exercise is something that most of | | | | long as it helps. |