Depression affects more than 300 million people worldwide. It can be as crippling as it is common. It’s no surprise, therefore, that many have turned to natural remedies for help. From essential oils to vitamins, there are so many simple ways you can take back control of your mental health. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most powerful natural remedies for depression. From home remedies to highly-reviewed medications, the tips you’ll read here are sure to help you feel happier again.
1. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is the number one natural remedy for anxiety and depression because it helps the brain produce natural chemicals that relieve stress. Lack of sleep leads to increased stress and increased symptoms of depression. Sleep is very important not only for your mental health, but your physical health as well. Lack of sleep has been linked to weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Your brain isn’t functioning at its best when you aren’t getting enough sleep. Sleep is important for your mental health and your physical health. Lack of sleep has been linked to weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Your brain isn’t functioning at its best when you aren’t getting enough sleep.
2. Exercise
Exercising can reduce feelings of stress and improve your mood. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are naturally produced by the brain to combat stress, resulting in a feeling of happiness. It’s important to find activities you enjoy so you continue to exercise regularly.
3. Eat Healthy
Eating healthy can improve your mood by providing nutrients your brain needs to function properly. The brain also requires protein, carbohydrates, and fats in order to function correctly. While dietary recommendations vary depending on your specific mood disorder, there are a few general guidelines that can help relieve anxiety. First, avoid simple sugars, refined carbohydrates, and saturated fats. These types of foods have been linked to spikes in cortisol, which can increase anxiety. Healthy foods include proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients have been shown to have a calming effect in those with anxiety.
4. Talk To Someone You Trust
Talking with a trusted friend or family member about your feelings and problems can help you process them, which can relieve your discomfort. Talking with a therapist can be helpful, but if you do not already have one you may find that you feel better talking with someone you care about and have a relationship with already. You don’t have to share every detail; simply vent and let out your emotions.
5. Don’t Miss Out on Opportunities
Don’t let depression get in the way of living your life to the fullest. While you should take care of yourself, you should also prioritize the things in your life that bring you joy. Work should be fulfilling, your social life should be healthy, and your hobbies should bring you joy. Try your hardest to involve yourself in activities you have enjoyed in the past, because this can significantly increase your mood and help you overcome depression.
6. Spend Time in Nature
Many believe that a person’s emotional health is closely tied to the natural world. Therefore, emotional health can be improved by spending time in nature. Spending time in nature can be used to treat problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress.
7. Avoid Drugs and Alcohol
Both drugs and alcohol can sometimes alleviate symptoms of depression for a short period of time, but they do not address the underlying issues that are causing your depression. Drugs that affect brain chemistry can lead to dependence and long-term symptoms that may not have existed before taking them. Drugs and alcohol can also impairs your cognitive function and cause you to behave irrationally. Instead of relieving your depression, these activities can make it worse by increasing your brain activity in certain parts of the brain that are responsible for fear-based reactions.
Conclusion
Although it can feel like you’ll never get rid of your depression, you can find ways to manage it. Natural remedies like meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy can help you to manage symptoms of depression. Remember that it’s important to have faith in yourself and your abilities. Depression can be crippling and it can feel like you’ll never get over it, but you can find ways to overcome depression and feel better.
Asheville Recovery Center
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent unhealthy behaviors and help those who are already struggling. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or mental health, it is important to get treatment. At Asheville Recovery Center treatment specialists utilize a 12-step program and practice holistic rehabilitation.
Services at the center include:
partial hospitalization program – At Asheville Recovery Center we offer a partial hospitalization program for clients who need post-residential treatment as well as for clients who need primary treatment but are unable to enroll in inpatient programs. Our PHP track offers a variety of therapeutic services and benefits to individuals in early recovery from substance addiction.
Outpatient Rehabilitation – During intensive outpatient treatment (IOP), clients live at home or in a sober living residence while completing an addiction treatment program. IOP is a place where clients can process their experiences in twelve-step fellowships and support one another in those individual journeys.
Addiction is difficult to overcome alone. If you feel that you or a loved one is struggling, our specialists are on standby and ready to help. Call and speak with an addiction expert today.
