Natural Anti-Depressants???

Answer 1

I live with long term depression and can not take the anti-depressants doctors prescribe, yes, I have tried the new ones with the same results, they make me more depressed, not less!

Over many years I have developed a lifestyle that alleviates the depression in a natural way. Here is what I do, I hope it is of help to you and others as well.

Counselling: I find having a person I can rely on to talk to is very helpful when the depression is bad, many counsellors now agree that depression in many cases should be treated in a more natural way.

Food: Eat lots of raw fruit and vegetables and if you have to cook them only just cook them! Natural foods are bright in colour and so are pleasing to the eye to eat. Also ensure you eat fish once a week every week.

Drink: Limit coffee, alcohol, soft drinks and tea, instead try lots of water, fruit based cordials, herbal teas and fruit juice

Exercise: Walk outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air for 20 minutes a day. During the walk really look at your surroundings and take note of the big strong trees, cool soft grass, blue sky, and if you are lucky enough to live near water notice the water and how it responds to its environment. We tend to breathe more shallowly when we are depressed so some exercise helps us breathe deeper and increases the oxygen intake making us feel better all over. You dont need to run a marathon, just exercise regularly and only do what is possible.

Vitamins: Take multi vitamins one day and Multi B the next. You dont need to overload your system with vitamins otherwise you simply end up with expensive urine! If the Multi B and the multivitamin both have Vit C in them then that is even better.

Sunshine is the best and easiest way for human beings to absorb Vit D. So being outside in the sunshine is a good thing. Being sunburnt is not, so take care to wear a shirt, hat and sunscreen. And sunshine just makes you feel good! It actually releases some chemical in the human brain that makes you feel good.

If you eat lots of white flour based foods, fried foods, and processed foods you will find that this tends to make your digestion system sluggish and seems to add to depression so avoid them.

New Things: Learning a new thing alleviates depression because it gives us a sense of satisfaction and achievement and you cant feel satisfied and depressed at once! Take on new challenges whether it is getting around to learning a musical instrument, painting, riding a bicycle, or learning Tai chi you will find that a sense of accomplishment feels very good.

Grow something: Carig for something else turns your attention to positive things like what you can do right and what is possible. If you think that you are the worlds worst gardener try this: Ask someone for cuttings of geraniums stick the cuttings in some dirt and water daily for a week. Geraniums are the most amazing flowers to grow because they grow from cuttings so there is no cost involved and if you plant half a dozen cuttings you will get two or three plants from that. Their bright colours and often scented leaves are a delight. An old fashioned plant but a cheerful one. Daisies also grow from cuttings and are bright cheerful plants. Both daisies and geraniums grow really well in pots and so do many vegetables! There are lessons we can only learn by osmosis, we have to absorb the lesson and growing something gives us some of those lessons.

Get Involved in Your Community: Join an interest group, a local health centre committee, or a church or other organisation. Being with others with a common goal can be very upliftng. Being with, caring about and learning about other people leaves no room for you to be wound up in your depression.

Music: Get a good collection of music of all kinds, try some classical, some heavy rock, some lilting little melodies, african drumming music, aboiriginal music, the more variety the better. listen to all kinds of music.

Get a pet: You dont have to buy a dog or cat, you could try a small aquarium of fish, gold fish are hardy little creatures and a delight to watch. You could try hermit crabs, a pair of finches (happy little chappies that are always up to something!) Caring for another creature takes the focus away from your feelings and places it on something more positive and the sense of achievement you receive by attending to the needs of another creature makes you feel good.

Spend time with people you care about: Whether it is relatives and friends or whether you would like to volunteer at a nursing home, school for children with a disability or whether you would like to volunteer to teach a course what ever kind of people you like to spend time with get out and mix.

Laughter: Buy some comedy cds or dvds, go to comedy shows, Buy joke books, hang around people who are funny, silly, and just plain fun. Laughter is really the best medicine.

Writing: You dont have to be the next blockbusting author just write. Every day just write for 20 minutes. Write anything. When you feel you are blocked from writing write that. "I feel blocked. I feel blocked. How do I get unblocked. I want to write freely" Pretty soon you will sit down and be able to write. Write about your day, or keep a grateful journal noting every little thing that you are thankful for.simple things like only one red light on the way to work, it is a sunny day, I heard the birds singing this morning.

All of this will feel very overwhelming to someone who is depressed, dont pressure yourself about any of this, simply add one of the things from this list to your day and keep doing it and when you feel you need more add another, trying to fit everything in at once will feel overwhelming but adding the things that work for you and just doing them. Remember you dont need to be an expert to enjoy things just enjoy them.

Answer 2

Oprah just did a show with Dr Oz and he said to use Omega 3...I have heard St Johns Wort works really well...When I am depressed I like to get in the sun even just to walk to get the mail and I always feel better after I exercise

Answer 3

I swear by St Johns Wort. When taken once daily the effects are noticeable after about 2 weeks. It keeps the head clear and rationable. They are not expensive and help lift your mood. I also agree with the first answer that plenty of fresh air and exercise is the best but at least with St Johns Wort it will help to motivate.

Answer 4

excercise and sun are the best natural anti depressants

Answer 5

Best is L-tyrosine 500 mg. twice daily. Also try the African herb Sclerotium tortuosum - natural mood uplifter. rhodiola rosea is good to take with them as well.

Avoid Mds and their Rx chemicals like you avoid Satan the devil.

Answer 6

fish is good. a lot of the anti depressant pills out there have fish oils in them.

Answer 7

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Do you find when you get stressed even the simple things in life tend to overwhelm you? Your heartbeat speeds up; your blood pressure increases; your breathing quickens. Stress has been shown to have negative effects on the body such as adverse affects on reproduction, sexual behavior, weight gain/loss, mood swings, and weakening the immune system, making you more vulnerable to colds, flu, fatigue and infections. Recent research demonstrates that 90% of illness is stress-related.



Bliss - Anti-Stress Formula is for those who need to decrease anxiety, increase mental clarity, and helps the body deal with the effects of stress naturally. Bliss promotes relaxation without drowsiness, helps stabilize your mood, and is ideal for any adult individual encountering consistent stressful days or an upcoming stressful event. So take control of your life today and give your mind and body the gift of Bliss.


Ingredient Insight:
L-Theanine -
Theanine is the major amino acid found in green tea. Green tea contains 1% to 3% theanine. Theanine has historically been used for its relaxing and anti-anxiety effects. It's thought that theanine might work for anxiety by increasing levels of GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid) and serotonin. In the central nervous system, GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. It is synthesized in the brain by the decarboxylation of glutamate. GABA exerts anticonvulsant, sedative, and anxiolytic effects at the cellular level.

Rhodiola -
The applicable part of roseroot is the root. Roseroot contains a phenylpropanoid glycoside called salidroside. This constituent is also sometimes referred to as rhodioloside or rhodosine. This constituent is thought to be responsible for roseroot's stimulant, anti-stress, and adaptogenic actions (increasing resistance to the harmful effects of stressors).
Other constituents isolated from roseroot include rhodioniside, rhodiolin, rosin, rosavin, rosarin, rosiridin, rosiridol, and lotaustralin. It is thought that these constituents might also be involved in roseroot's adaptogenic effects. Animal studies are reported to show protection from stressors such as cold and radiation, increased work capacity, decreased fatigue and improved learning and memory. Roseroot extracts might also prevent stress-induced cardiac damage by preventing rises in cardiac catecholamines and cyclic-AMP. Roseroot extracts also demonstrate potential for improving learning and memory.

Ashwagandha -
Some researchers think ashwagandha has a so-called "anti-stressor" effect. Preliminary evidence suggests ashwagandha might suppress stress-induced increases of dopamine receptors in the corpus striatum of the brain. It also appears to reduce stress-induced increases of plasma corticosterone, blood urea nitrogen, and blood lactic acid.
Theoretically, concomitant use with herbs that have sedative properties might enhance therapeutic and adverse effects. Some of these include 5-HTP, calamus, California poppy, catnip, hops, Jamaican dogwood, kava, St. John's wort, scullcap, valerian, yerba mansa, and others.

Eleuthero, Siberian Ginseng -
Eleuthero is an "adaptogen" (an agent that helps the body adapt to stress). It is thought to help support adrenal gland function when the body is challenged by stress. Eleuthero has been shown to enhance mental acuity and physical endurance without the letdown that comes with caffeinated products.


Passion Flower -
Passionflower has sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, and antispasmodic effects. Some evidence suggests the passionflower constituent apigenin binds to central benzodiazepine receptors, possibly causing anxiolytic effects without impairing memory or motor skills. Although animal data suggest the constituents maltol and ethylmaltol can reduce spontaneous motor activity, prolong barbiturate-induced sleep time, and show anticonvulsant activity, not enough maltol is found in passionflower preparations to cause these effects. Some evidence suggests the harman alkaloids have central nervous system (CNS) stimulant activity via a monoamine oxidase mechanism; however, the sedative effects of maltol and ethylmaltol can mask these effects. Some studies have pointed to the flavonoids in passion flower as the primary constituents responsible for its relaxing and anti-anxiety effects. European herbal pharmacopoeias typically recommend passion flower products containing no less than 0.8% total flavonoids.

Bacopa -
Pharmacological activity of brahmi is attributed to the saponin bacoside and bacopasaponin constituents. Some evidence suggests purified bacosides A and B may facilitate learning ability and cognitive performance. Possible mechanisms for cognitive improvement include modulation of acetylcholine release, choline acetylase activity, and muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding.


Directions:

Take two per day.



Warning:



If you are currently taking warfarin (Coumadin), other anti-platelet/anti-coagulant medications, antihypertensive medications, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications or have an ongoing medical condition, you should consult your physician before using this product. Women who are pregnant or lactating should not use this product. This product may decrease the effects of stimulants and caffeine.

Answer 8

chocolate ice cream!!!