Depression - fight it naturally

Depression is becoming a big problem in today's culture. With bad eating habits, poor spiritual health, and family problems, depression is ranking next to diabetes.

My mother has had trouble with clinical depression since the Whooping Cough wreaked havoc in our family 9 years ago (yeah, vaccinations did nothing to save us from that nightmare).

Recently my grandmother told me that she thought I was suffering from depression.

Insomnia attacking me again suddenly, edgy attitude with family, spending large amounts of time alone, and my ADD getting really bad the past few weeks are just a few of the indicators of depression that she pointed out to me.

At first I was like "NO WAY! Not me! Nu-uh... nope. That's what happens to old, grumpy people." But as I got to thinking about it, I realized that I had not been my generally happy self and that I've lost interest in people and in life. I don't want to do anything because I don't have the energy and I have this hopeless, negative outlook on things, which anyone will tell you is NOT ME.

That's when I got to wondering "Hey... maybe there is something not quite right with me. Maybe something needs to get fixed. Perhaps depression attacks young, grumpy people too."

For the most part, I think I'm just suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which should pass eventually and is easily fixed.

I don't take medication, nor do I want to take any medication for this. I want to go as all-natural as possible. Herbal. Organic. Ya know... natural.

So here is what I came up with in my research, mainly from this website HERE:

• St. John's Wort has been used for a long time for anxiety and the blues. DON'T take it if you are taking medication. The two of them do not interact well together.
• Oats have been used for a long time to restore strength and energy, and to decrease fatigue. When cooked, they become a very good source of B vitamins which are, of course, energy boosters and nerve calming aids. I can say first hand that good old fashion oatmeal is what I eat every morning and it does give me a stable boost to get me rolling and ready for the rest of the day.
• Green Tea helps to produce calm while maintaining energy, and it personally helps me to focus and stay on track.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids are NEEDED for normal brain function. All depression problems are a result of something in the brain not working right, and Omega-3s are a big help in beating depression just because they help your brain. They also do not interfere with medication. They actually help it work better. Omega-3 Fatty Acids are found mainly in fish (sorry vegetarian people), but you can buy it almost anywhere in capsules.
• Folic Acid is a vitamin B that can be found in leafy GREEN vegetables (yes, that disgusting green stuff that is not called Iceberg lettuce), and a few other veggies and fruits (happy vegetarians).

So, as you have probably noticed, diet has a lot to do with depression.

Some major things to do when you are fighting depression is:

Cut back on the sweets

Avoid caffeine (and alcohol, with is just concentrated sugar),

and

Increase exposure to morning sunlight.

Sweets might make you feel good and happy for a little bit, but that is just because of the blood sugar spike that they cause. Sweets can actually make your depression worse later when your blood sugar drops back down.

Caffeine and Alcohol make anxiety, mood swings, depression, and insomnia worse.

Exposure to morning sunlight increases your production of serotonin (happy mood chemical that your brain makes), and morning sunlight also helps your body's sleep/wake cycle work correctly. So yeah... MORNING TIME. Get up in the morning. Go on a walk. Soak up that morning sunlight! Just don't become a pagan sun worshiper...

Also keep in mind that, in order to make serotonin, your body needs magnesium which can be found in nuts, whole grains, and green veggies.

Depression can be a bugger, but it can be beat. It takes changes to beat it: a change of diet, a change of attitude, change of exercise, change of schedule, change of heart... it takes a lot of change, but if you really want to beat depression, then you will gladly accept the challenge knowing that the results will be great.

Disclaimer: I disclaim you thinking that I am someone who is trying to tell you how to run your life. I am not posting this to get money out of it. You should ALWAYS consult a person with an M.D. in their name and education before you take any of my advice since I generally have a big L painted on my forehead.

I also disclaim the idea you may get that I am trying to pretend to be Dr. Oz.

Dr. Oz is not my favorite person in the world. I do not adore or aspire to be him. I am not Dr. Oz, or any Doctor for that matter. I am just a 'student of nature' who is sharing my opinions, ideas, and experiences with you. If you don't like that, then go away and watch Dr. Oz.