Is there a natural way to fight chronic depression?

Question

Or you just have to rely on therapy and drugs?

Answer 1

Get outside and walk for 20 minutes every day even if you have to drag yourself out of the house. I know it's tough and everything in you screams no. Get out anyway. You'll feel better in minutes. Try watching comedy movies and television. Laughter really does heal. Getting moderate exercise daily is also good. Use vitamin D supplements, especially in the winter.Also multivitamins with minerals. Vitamin deficiency can cause depression.Try to deliberately block negative thoughts and frightening scenarios. change the subject in your head. This is tough but if you persist for 2 weeks it gets easier.When you are felling a little better, try some volunteer work, it will leave you upbeat, feeling good, and you get to see people in far worse shae than us. That helps us reintegrate into social networks, and feeling better yet again. St. John's Wort really works for mild depression. But it has serious interactions with some other medication. (especially anri-rejection drugs like cyclosprin A etc.)
It's a tough road but doable. If all that does not work get off to a professional; you don't lose points.
Good luck,
Doc. Dan..

Answer 2

St. John's Wort is an herb you can find in most stores and has, in some studies, had the same effect as anti-depressant medication. Will affect birth control, if you are a girl, though.
Don't forget if you have Seasonal Affective Disorder (your depression seems to be worse when it gets to be darker sooner) you can buy one of those special lights and sit in front of it for 15-30 minutes a day and it really helps a lot of people.

Answer 3

Chronic depression can increase your chances of getting major depression, especially if the chronic depression goes untreated. Chronic depression doesn't go away on its own.

I would certainly work with a doctor for a treatment that is best for the person with chronic depression. Perhaps that person needs an initial "fight" with therapy and drugs and later move to "natural remedies." This sight lists things such as "creature comforts", good amount of sleep (we all need that), color surrounding our environment, journaling, light, exercise, etc. Again, its best to work with a medical professional who can work with the person to determine what is best.

Answer 4

I believe drugs should only be used on a temporary basis and this is why...

It is proven that depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Drugs can balance this issue. In time the brain will eventually be able to start balancing the chemicals on its own.

I believe that depression is brought on by stress. The stress could be from any source but it is the stress that creates the imbalance.

I also believe that we invite most of the stress into our lives through the choices we make in life. Through therapy we can learn to make better choices.

If we discontinue the use of meds before we make some changes in how we make choices and how we live our lives then we are inviting the same old stressors right back into our lives.

As far as natural remedies... I believe meds are essential in the beginning but good health is essential to keep the balance going. Vitamins, eating healthy, and plenty of exercise will help not only your body and brain function better but it will help you feel better about yourself.

Answer 5

Im an optomistic person and very positive. However, when there is no sun, I seem to deviate from my usual behavior. Make sure to get out and enjoy the sun. Do the little things that make you smile. The best things in life are indeed free. The ocean, the sun, friends, and love. If you have secrets that are keeping you in this persistant state, tell a friend. Friendships and pets greatly increase one's life expectancy and happiness (unless the dog pees on the carpet. That is aggrivating however). : )

Answer 6

over the final 5 years I had began to have an increasing style of withdraw right into a downward spiral of melancholy.. yet now with the approach i can totally concentration my potential and thoughts right into a decisive line on a thank you to make my existence greater advantageous consistently. And it rather works like magic! i'm commencing off to entice human beings to me as quickly as back and issues have purely been finding up on the grounds that then. helping you get rid of melancholy?

Answer 7

my friends went to depression, once he was over it he said what help was I always beening there for him and making him do fun things. In this case was fishing all the time, very relaxing. Also like someone said exercise. Exercise free the mind of anything in order to have a good workout. but if it gets too serious like thinking of killing yourself, you MUST talk to a doctor!!

Answer 8

i just saw a story on the news that spoke to a woman who was depressed for YEARS and nothing (meds, therepy) worked. she finally went to a nutritionist and had her diet changed. now shes fine. the biggest change was she stopped eating meat, which made her sluggish. as a result, she also lost weight which helped with her body image. go figure. haha i punned. excercise always cheers me up...after the fact. (its always hard gettin there in the morning haha)
...hope this helps...oh and dont forget to smile, its proven to make you feel better and those around you.

Answer 9

I'm sure Tom Cruise would tell you to join the Scientology club and make a few vitamins.

Answer 10

Well they say that regular exercise helps...but I don't think it entirely does. You'll still need the help of drugs like Prosac or Zolft......