8 Natural Healing Methods for Depression
Dealing with the blues does not necessarily mean that you have to start popping those orange pills. Studies show that one of the major deterrents to treating mild depression is the fear of patients to be addicted to anti-depressants.
While conventional anti-depression drugs provide an effective way of treating diagnosed depression, it is by no means the only way to elevate your mood. There are a host of natural healing methods that are considered safe and effective in improving mood and altering brain chemistry to take your blues away.
Exercise to Boost Your Mood
Exercising literally pumps you up because it releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins that interacts with your brain receptors and diminish the perception of pain. Much like morphine, endorphins suppress pain by triggering a feeling of happiness and a positive outlook. Unlike morphine though, endorphins are naturally occurring chemicals that do not lead to dependence or addiction.
Scientific evidence points that doing a 30-minute routine of moderate aerobic exercise at least three times a week is effective in alleviating symptoms of depression. Those who maintain their exercise routine even after being treated of their depression are also less likely to return to a depressed state.
Eat Healthy
Depression tends to disrupt normal eating habits, pushing those who suffer the symptoms of depression to either overeat or starve themselves. Taking control of your eating habits does not only keep your body nourished, it also restores a certain sense of control over your life, which also in part relieves your state of depression.
Some studies show that eating foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids found in tuna and salmon, as well as those that are rich in folic acid such as avocado and spinach, helps relieve depression by restoring chemical balance in the brain and nervous system.
Meditate To Relax
Much of the anxiety, stress and symptoms of depression that we experience can be relieved by giving ourselves some time to relax and clear our mind. Meditation enables deep relaxation by clearing the mind of distracting thoughts and focusing on proper and deep breathing. It provides us a means to have an altered state of consciousness.
Meditating on a daily basis is a good anti-depression practice because it trains us to let go of our thoughts, focus our attention on the here and now and cultivate an attitude of acceptance and openness, which could also help relieve depression and the negative feelings associated with it.
Do Yoga
Although most yoga techniques also involve meditation, yoga promotes an added incentive of exercising the body to improve balance, strength, and flexibility while also practicing proper breathing techniques to help clear the mind and focus.
As a whole, yoga works to align the spine, invigorate the nervous system, improve blood circulation, promote mental clarity, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote relaxation and emotional wellbeing. It provides a potent way of alleviating symptoms of depression.
Get Enough Sleep
Being in a state of depression can lead to altered sleeping patterns and make getting enough sleep feel like a tiring battle. Unfortunately, being sleep deprived can heighten your depression and make matters worse.
While it might prove difficult to sleep well, make a concerted effort to make necessary changes in your sleep routine to ensure that you get enough shut-eye when you need it most.
Try going to bed and getting up at a specific time every day to encourage your biological clock to cooperate.
Remove all distractions from sleeping such as TV, computer, or even your mobile phone (the male energy of the devices is not conducive to a good night’s sleep). You can also try a short power nap during the day to relax and feel rejuvenated.
Take Anti-Depression Herbal Supplements
Supplement your diet and boost your mood by turning to natural supplements. Try a relaxing drink of chamomile tea or some St. John’s Wort. Both herbs are said to relieve depression and anxiety.
Have a Massage
We know that touch therapy promotes relaxation and uplifts our mind and spirit. Specific massage modalities such as Swedish, Shiatsu and Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi promote relaxation and healing. The use of aromatic oils and music that promotes relaxation during massage provides a holistic experience to deal with the blues.
These natural healing remedies for depression work well to complement whatever medication or psychotherapy session you may be using to help you improve your mood and promote emotional healing.
Create an Environment for Healing
And, of course, we are here to help you discover the emotional and physical imbalances that are creating the environment that might be blocking your natural state of being.