How to Take Vitamins for Depression

Treatments for depression can range from medicine and lifestyle changes to talk therapy and vitamins. If you want to get better quickly and lack the time or resources for professional intervention, you may see some modest gains simply by supplementing your diet with recommended vitamins.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Go Shopping

1. Create a shopping list of recommended vitamins to take for depression. This may include B6, B12, folic acid, magnesium and C. Each of these compounds helps regulate a precursor to major neurotransmitters, so you may see some benefit simply by balancing out the quantities in your diet.

2. Visit the store and speak with an employee there about the best brands to take for your desired effect. Cofactors and non-active ingredients can all play a part in how vitamins are absorbed, so be sure and ask about all the ingredients on the label.

Build up Slowly

3. Add vitamins to your diet slowly, taking care to record how much of each you are ingesting. Some people present with allergic reactions to different compounds, so you always want to err on the side of "less is more" at the beginning.

4. Take vitamins for depression after you have eaten. Nearly every one of the major vitamins is better absorbed if you have food in your stomach beforehand.

5. Record your mood in a daily journal and look for signs of progress over time. If you can find little effect after a few weeks of vitamins, it may be time to speak with a professional about more clinically sound therapy.

Tips & Warnings

• Vitamins tend to act less dramatically than their prescription medicine counterparts. Do not expect instant results when engaging in gentle therapy such as this.
• Do some research into the different brands of vitamins. Recent studies have shown that this largely unregulated industry is home to a number of manufacturers whose purities may not match their claims.
• More is not always better when it comes to vitamins! Just because you see some benefit after trying a certain compound doesn't mean you will see greater benefit by upping the dosage. Serious damage can arise if you exceed proscribed amounts.
• Vitamins are no substitute for scientifically sound therapy. Whenever possible, work with an expert in mental health for a more well-rounded approach.
• Make sure to check with your doctor before starting a new vitamin regimen. Depending on your current state of health or any other medications you are taking, you may benefit from professional guidance.

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