How to Deal With Depression Naturally

Life is over when you're depressed. Yes, that's how it feels even though it's not true. And you can, indeed, get over it without drugs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Willingness (this may be the toughest part).

1. 

   Breathe.
   Through your nose not mouth.
   While you're reading the next steps take deep breaths. The oxygen will get to your brain stronger by going through your nose. This is not a cure, but it will mock slight euphoria while you get the strength to move off the couch or out of the bed.

2. 

   Sun.
   Get some.
   We come out of the womb crying because we were shut-ins for 9 months straight. It was dark and we were soaking up a big wrinkle. Where there is air and light you are renewing your body. Vitamin D comes from the sun. And you have no worry of UV rays because you probably have been ignoring the big ball of fire. Being constantly stuck in the same room will cause feelings of being stagnant . . . bringing depression.

3. 

   Fun Foods.
   Eat some.
   Like the sun, you don't want to over do it with partaking in caloric pleasures. But there is life involved with nips here and there. When you watch a romantic comedy and you see the woman in love eating chocolate because of her break up, there are ingredients that replace the high you got off of love and ingredients that numb you to forget. Chocolate slows you down when you have a whole container of Häagen-Dazs but not before the caffeine in chocolate has first given you a quick rush. And this can make you temporarily think you can forget that jerk who just abandoned you.

4. 

   Exercise.
   Do some.
   Get your blood pumping through your veins and to your brain. This stimulation gives you a better feeling of well-being. It's chemistry, not magic.

5. 

   Romantic Comedy
   Don't see it.
   There's a chance that some of your depression is relational. You may have heard about people conquering cancer by submerging themself in humor. Humor can lift a spirit. Well, do this but pick an inane movie, not one about love. Pick a movie that is not going to have a Hollywood finish of the heroine or hero ending up with the spouse, job, and picket-fenced house. This would lead you further down the depression hole.

6. 

   Your neighbor's dog.
   Borrow one.
   Once you get outside and get sun and do exercises, you can have that energy drink while watching a youthful dog, or two, running around. Face it, a cat would just run away, and a goldfish would flop for a few seconds. It's probable that you don't have an animal that can cheer you up if you are, at this point, sad beyond mobility. So, if you can play "Red Rover, Red Rover" and get rover right over, they *will* love you where others have failed. Plus, shelters have thousands if you determine that you want one for keeps.

7. 

   Be happy.
   Decide to.
   Don't think your words are meaningless. What you think about yourself can crush your spirit. You don't have to chant that you are great. But if you want the chance to feel greater, you can remind yourself of how miserable others are. Let's face it, if you're not reading this in prison, eating your last meal, or living in a third-world country . . . you've got it better than 50% of the other 6 billion.

8. 

   Alcohol.
   Nope.
   You'll just erase all the other steps and be back at the lobby of blah.

9. 

   Depressed people.
   Avoid.
   The problem may be that you don't have any friends to avoid in the first place. There are, of course, internet sites that make friends . . . or lovers. But, if you're always going to places with people that are angry about their screwed up life, their ugly aura will get on you . . . and it's hard to wash off.

10. 

    Good deed.
    without expectation.
    Shifting the burden from thoughts of yourself to someone, anyone else, will lift spirits. Plus, you most likely will have to get out of your house to do anything of this nature. It's not like you have to help an old lady across the road (specially if you *are* one), but observing a street area where there is multiple commerce in action will open up plenty of small tasks you could do (pick up a piece of paper, put money in a meter, open a door for anyone ) - (and if there's an ice cream shop nearby, you can can reward yourself afterwards.)

11. 

    Clappy church.
    Find a pew.
    You don't have to agree with their belief system. But energy begets energy. And lots of charismatic/independent congregations have down-to-earth folks that will be happy to see a new face and welcome it to the fold. And for you to have someone look at you as if you have value, that in itself will shave off a few depressive bits of stubble.

12. 

    God.
    Something's bigger.
    The first thing alcoholics learn at AA is to realize that a higher power has created them. Somebody who knows the inner working of your mind, heart, and soul, can intercede. Remember "shout, shout, let it all out."? Tell God what's eatin' you. Hey, how could the watchmaker not discover whats wrong with the watch?

13. 

    Diet.
    Understand it.
    Certain foods will react wrong to your system. Does your depression suddenly hit? Or do you all of a sudden feel like crying? Remember Sarah Jessica Parker's character in L.A. Story? She just cleared it all out with a colonic cleansing and she came out of it jumping with ecstasy. Maybe a simpler way would be to chart your food intake and see what you've eaten in recent days when you get your next bout. And, of course, over doing it . . . clogging your system with too much food can bring you down.

Tips & Warnings

• Those were tips, weren't they?
• Doing nothing will actually do something . . . it will make you worse.

Resources

• Vitamin D
• Chocolate
• Exercise

[hkimbrell]

on 11/13/2009 I like this article! Very well written, straight forward to the facts, and full of information that is actually useable in the real world. 5 *!

[dkrunner]

on 11/13/2009 This is really a cute and helpful article. Nice job.

[ajmaddox]

on 11/13/2009 Good article! Keep writing.

[treasuresyw]

on 9/28/2009 How to Deal With Depression Naturally.... Thank you. The truth of the matter is that this article touched a serious spot with me today. I enjoyed it and I will be getting out today. Peace.

[kang001]

on 7/22/2009 I m sorry to say, but if you a living in a 3rd world country you have lesser chances of being depressed. Depression is smore prevalent in US. Being in a medical profession i know that people here may have resources and money but they are lonely and depresed and addicted to antidepressants, sleep aids benzodiazipines and pain medictaions. if u had lived a third world country u dont have to tell someone to be in the sun or excercise etc people d thoase things as a part of their life....