Natural Ways to Fight Depression

By Jo Ann LeQuang

Depression affects millions and it can impact more than just your mood. Depression can cause you to miss work, lose out on opportunities to be with friends, cause excessive sleep, weaken your immune system, and make you feel rotten. Depressed people do not do the same things happy people do: depressed people may smoke and drink more, eat junk food rather than healthful foods, and isolate themselves. They sleep a lot and their thinking can start to get distorted. The trouble with being depressed is that it seems like there is no way out except medications. There may be some natural things you can do to beat back depression. If you have a friend or spouse to support you, enlist their aid right now to keep you on track. I call that person your “assistant.” Here are 10 ways to fight depression without having to see the doctor and fill a prescription.

Fast

For a week or two go on a fast from TV, radio, and newspaper news. Stay away from TV shows that focus on the sensationally disturbing (you may have to turn off TLC altogether). I know some very hyper-productive business people who do this as a matter of course. The news is designed to alarm you, and that is not what you need. There is a wide spectrum of depression and sometimes depression is a serious, potentially life-threatening medical condition. If you have disturbing thoughts or want to die, see a physician. This is a disease. On the other hand, many people go through bleak periods that can be treated naturally. These tools may help you if you’re there now or if you are a frequent visitor and want to prevent the doldrums. And if you use these tips, make sure you thank your “assistant” every day!