Do you experience extreme mood swings?
Or do you cry frequently and without any apparent cause?
How often do you feel as if you want to end your life?
Do you find it hard to concentrate? Are you consumed with negative thoughts all the time?
The above symptoms may indicate depression if you have had them for over two weeks.
There are around 150 million people suffering from this condition around the world. A doctor can help you if you have this condition, but social stigma prevents most of us from seeking help. Fortunately, there are some natural remedies available to you in such cases. Some people prefer to treat their depression with remedies that are derived naturally, instead of with drugs prescribed by a doctor.
1. Eat a healthy diet:
By making the appropriate changes in what you eat, you could get into a better mood. Your energy level might be low, you might feel groggy, or just not yourself. Many times, these feelings can be remedied by shifting your diet and learning new methods to help improve it.
Try to include:
-Flax seeds, salmon, tuna are all omega-3 fatty foods
-Take a vitamin B supplement
-Supplements with probiotics
-If you are starting any supplements, speak with your doctor first.
Avoid:
– Chocolate, tea, coffee, colas, and other drinks that contain caffeine
– Sugar and carbohydrate products
2. Get going:
A sense of unworthiness sets in with depression. Take it one step at a time So, keep going! Do activities that involve physical movement.
Regular walk: Make sure to exercise regularly, such as going for a walk every day. You’ll experience a feeling of well being thanks to the feel-good chemicals known as endorphins.
Intense workout: Having a physical workout such as kickboxing helps you by preventing you from focusing on negative thoughts and punching hard at your frustration.
Social Interaction: What do you like doing? Try and find one positive thing that you enjoy doing. Engage in some fun activity groups and meet new people. At a minimum get to know some new people.. The more you are away from your bubble of negativity, the greater the chances of induction of positivity.
3. Meditation:
Meditation is a powerful depression remedy. The benefits of mindfulness-based meditation are numerous, especially for anxiety and depression.
Mindfulness meditation teaches you how to identify negative thoughts as they arise and neutralize them, preventing the cycle of worry that leads to depression. Depression always has some effect on the mind. We need to know what thoughts are causing us to feel bad.
4. Light therapy
It is well-known during the winter season as ‘seasonal affective disorder‘ (SAD), which heightens symptoms related to depression by wreaking havoc on an already depressed state. Fortunately, light therapy and phototherapy can make a positive impact on mood, especially during the winter. Make the most of the sunshine and go outside.
5. Yoga
Yoga is a powerful way to bring some presence into your life while at the same time connecting with your body. If you are new to yoga, start slowly. There are numerous instructional videos on Youtube as well as courses. Start with simple movements and practices that are not too strenuous.
Yoga with Adrienne is a good place to start. This video is yoga designed with depression in mind.
6. Adaptogen Herbs:
Stress – whether physical or mental – can be lessened with adaptogens, which are natural healing substances.
One classic example of an adaptogen herb is Ashwagandha, which has been used in the ayurvedic tradition for thousands of years. There are many others like it, but it’s important to get your doctor’s opinion before using one or taking mixtures of herbs!
7. Pursue your hobby
Each of us has a particular interest we all want to do, but due to social responsibilities and commitments, we’re unable to take the time out unless certain conditions are met such as a day off from work.
Even if you don’t have any important events scheduled, it’s still crucial to take some time away from your usual routine because this helps put things in perspective and allows you to reset so that you avoid burnout in the long run.
Doing something you love is good for your psyche because it fulfills your need for excitement and engagement.
8. Get yourself organized
The more clutter you have around you, the more negativity you will experience. Keep your surroundings clean and stay organized. Do a small area each day instead of doing everything at once.
9. Plant medicine retreats and therapy
In recent years science has been shown that different psychedelic plants have been helpful in alleviating depression. Psilocybin, ayahuasca, iboga are 3 of the most well known plants that come directly from nature that have been helping people move past depression.
Compass Pathways recently had the largest ever psilocybin trials for treatment resistant depression. The results were inspiring. In total 29.1% of of participants showed a remission in their depression compared to 7.6% who were given a placebo.
Word is spreading fast on the use of psychedelic plants and substances for its power to help people move through depression.
Ayahuasca is another known powerful depression interrupter. From the Jungles of South America are a vine banisteriopsis caapi, and a leaf psychotria viridis that when combined take users on a deep mystical experience. According to field reports many come back feeling refreshed and with lessened symptoms of depression.
Another powerful medicine from the Jungles of West Africa is iboga. Iboga is a root from the tabernanthe iboga shrub. It’s roots have been eaten for centuries as part of spiritual rites of passage. Iboga is becoming well known for its ability to help users shed painful past experiences and depression.
Iboga is currently being studied by many of the emerging psychedelic startups. Time also recently published an article on one of the alkaloids being studied from the iboga plant called ibogaine.
Look into what plant resonates and its properties resonate with you. There are many similarities and differences, iboga vs ayahuasca for example… between the different psychedelic plant medicines. These medicines are also presented in very different contexts from clinical settings as compared to a retreat setting.
Conclusion, there are many tools at our disposal to help us move forward in life with a clear positive mind. Much of it starts with appreciating that you have been given the opportunity to live life.
Moving past depression is typically no one thing. It is a set of small things we do on a daily basis to make the right decisions in our life. Start with small changes, don’t overwhelm yourself with doing it all at once.
