what is the best way to fight depression?

Answer 1

There are two basic kinds of depression: Situational or clinical/chronic depression. Situational depression is "about something" that happened, and depression in that case is quite normal. Clinical depression is when you are depressed for "no good reason"...nothing has really changed, you are just depressed. If that's the case, you need to take some steps, even though it's difficult to do at that time. You may not feel like doing anything!

1. Drink lots of water, enought to "pee clear" at least once per day.
2. Get some exercise...drinking a lot of water will help, at least you will have to go to the bathroom more. But the best is some large muscle exercise, such as a good walk. We have 45 pints of lymph fluid in our bodies, and the only thing that moves it around is muscle contraction.
3. Get some sunlight and fresh air (see #2 above!)
4. Eat right. It's quite easy to be malnurished because we often pick our food based on taste and convieniance. We need about 50 essential nutrients to function right, and if we are not getting them, we can feel depressed. The brain is a delicate organ, and depression is often the early signs of malnurishment, long before we get physical symptoms. Avoid trans-fats and fast food. Avoid simple sugars. Don't eat artificially sweetened anything. Avoid "high fructose corn syrup"...it's in everything, it seems.
A good basic diet for almost anyone is a "paleolithic" diet...which is essentially what mankind ate for the first 300,000 years of our existance, and it's only got strange in the last 100 years. Be sure to get enough Omega-3s. The best sources are marine based, like cold water fish, but flax oil and whole grains have a form of Omega-3 that can convert to the type your brain is made out of! Our brains are 60% fat, and it's a very special kind of fat. Not greasy burger-french fry fat.
We were not designed to be sick, we were designed to be healthy and happy...but we have to give ourselves the right "fuel" to do it. A car won't run right on kool-aid, and neither will a human being. Give yourself what you were designed to run on, and your body will heal and do the rest. It takes time, but it will work.
5. Avoid ruminating! A sick brain has only so many ways to say "ouch", and one is with depression. When it's depressed, it will come up with all sorts of "reasons" for the depression...it's my job, it's my partner, it's the money, it's my parents...whatever it can "find" out there to blame. When one negative thought comes to mind, see it for what it is and let it go: Don't chase it with another and another. Mentally say "stop!" and refuse to entertain any more negativity. This takes practice, but it can be done, and you will avoid the spiraling down into the pity-pot.
6. Do something productive, even if it's just a little bit. It really helps you if you can help someone else.

I've had over 40 years of depression, with countless therapy sessions, drugs, you name it...but didn't really get real relief until I did all of the above 6 years ago.

Answer 2

Hey' Every body gets depressed at times over different things. It shouldn't last over a few days. If you have chronic depression it can be a symptom of a chemical imbalance in the brain. The only way to know is see your doctor and be completely honest with him/her. Good luck' hope this helps.

Answer 3

Depression is normal for us at some point in our lives. 75% of us have it over the course of our life span.

Has it stuck around for a long time or is it a new thing?

Are any of your parents or grandparents people that have had anxiety or depression (or alcoholism)?

Is it fluctuating in severity or staying the same?

Is it effecting your life negatively (work, school, relationships, health, etc)?

It is kind of like diabetes in that some people just need to work on their diet, others need to do that AND need to take insulin. Depends on the individual. Generally, if it is of severity enough that it is effecting your life negatively, has been around for longer than 6 months to a year, runs in your family, and you haven't had lenghty peiods of time without it (ie it sticks around instead of coming and going) THEN a medication trial is recommended. The best one out there is Lexapro. 5mg for a week or two, then to 10 mg per day from there out. Can go up to 20 but most people do pretty well on 10 or so.

Studies show that this is about as helpful as meds for lots of people:
Sleep - enough, same times (schedule)
Diet - minimize alcohol and caffeine, don't have too much sugar. No drugs. Eat enough and same times...3x per day.
Exercise - moderate 3x per week for 20+ minutes. No big deal, just moderate. Could be walking for some.
Social support - connect with someone 1x per week at least that you understand and understands you well, tell them what is up with you.
Planned pleasant activities - once per week at least plan to do something that you have liked in the past, wether you feel like doing it at first or not.

Best is combo of these and connecting with a good therapist. That is what they do for a living, afterall!
Good luck.

Answer 4

Try to get out in the sun light for at least 10 minutes a day. Take one multivitamin a day. B's are for energy and so on. Do something special for yourself one a day at your given time. Try to walk with a friend once or twice a week. If it continues you may have to tell your doctor about this~

Answer 5

Try some attitude adjustment. Analyze what is going on with you while you are depressed. What does it take to pull yourself out of the depressing moods. Practice pulling yourself out of these mood swings. Give yourself a little Love!

Answer 6

Pray is the best way to fight depression!!
you will definately feel more calm..
tell God ur depression..n he will always listen to you..

Answer 7

I used to get depression. you should write all of what you are thinking, what make you sad and what you want to do with it. Then, you burn it. You also should meet your friends, share with them about your trouble while taking a walk and get their advices.
Everything will be alright, I hope. There're many helpful things we need to do instead of feeling sad. Try to be a useful person than a useless person.

Answer 8

THE BEST WAY TO TREAT DEPRESSION IS TO GO TO YOUR DOCTOR AND HAVE HIM PRESCRIBE YOU SOMETHING.
THERE IS NO NEED TO BE EMBARRASSED ABOUT IT EITHER.
WE ALL GO THROUGH THIS AT SOME POINT AND TI'ME.
ALSO GET LOTS OF REST, EAT PROPERLY, AND EXERCISE.
THIS ALL WORKS.
IM SORRY YOUR DEPRESSED ,BUT I KNOW YOU WILL BE FINE. GO TO YOUR DOCTOR AND TELL HIM WHATS BOTHERING YOU.
YOU COULD ALSO TRY TALKING ABOUT IT TO A CLOSE FRIEND.

Answer 9

are you on any medication the best thing for you is try evening primrose oil and go to nativeremedies.com get some mind soothers you don't need a prescription

Answer 10

i went to my doctor and they have given me medication and they have sent me on to a hospital to help me deal with my problems. i also attend counciling sessions every week so those three things seem to help me :)

See the Doctor :)

Danielle x