Treating depression involves a ton of guesswork when it comes to medication. Most psychiatrists will prescribe a particular antidepressant for you to try, hoping it will work in about six weeks. If you’re lucky, the medicine will do the trick and you can live happily ever after.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen this way for everyone–you try one medication, find it doesn’t work or has nasty side effects, try a different one for six to eight weeks, then a third and fourth, then combinations of drugs.
You quickly waste a year or more of your life hoping to obtain treatment for depression that works for YOU. What if there was another way? A more natural way?
We’re going to explore a few options to treat depression naturally, without the use of medication (and the nasty side effects that follow.) Keep reading for more information!
Live Better by Eating Well
There are numerous connections between what you consume and how your brain reacts. Similarly to medication, finding the right diet can be a bit tricky but there are a couple of ways around this.
First, you can ask your physician for an allergy test. Depending on the results of this test, you can make decisions about what food lifestyle is best for you. Many people are going gluten-free because gluten is considered a natural inflammatory. Gluten has also been linked to symptoms of depression.
You may also seek the help of a registered dietician to find the right food lifestyle for you. An RD will likely place you on an ‘elimination’ diet, removing refined sugars, simple carbohydrates (the ‘bad’ carbs,) lactose, gluten, shellfish, and most types of meat.
Over a series of weeks, you will slowly remove each one of the above from your diet, eventually eliminating all of the possible offenders and gradually reintroducing them. This allows the dietician to see which foods your body reacts well and poorly to, allowing her to help you plan your food choices.
You may also find that depression symptoms ebb simply by making healthier food choices. Opting to avoid fast food, choosing lean high-protein foods, and consuming carbohydrates in moderation can help you feel (and look) great!
Turning to Supplements
Depending on your food choices and how your body processes them, you may not be obtaining the correct number or kind of micronutrients. Micronutrients is the term used for essential vitamins and minerals that are only needed in small, trace amounts.
Supplements can become expensive, so before buying everything in sight, consider a blood test to determine which ones you need. Like food, there are certain micronutrients that can impact your mental health and depression symptoms.
B Vitamins, Folic acid, Vitamins, C, D, and E, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, and Omega-3 fatty acids are all examples of micronutrients that may be missing from your diet. Many can be obtained by eating specific foods and Vitamin D can be absorbed by sitting in the sun for a few minutes!
If you don’t love the idea of spending more money on bloodwork, consider taking a daily multivitamin that is formulated for your age and gender.
CBD Oil for Mental Health
Over the past few years, CBD oil has emerged as a popular treatment for many mental illnesses, including many forms of depression, General Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and bipolar disorder. If you’re wondering, no, CBD oil doesn’t get you high–it contains no THC.
However, CBD oil does help the brain produce serotonin, which is considered a ‘feel good’ chemical. This natural oil is also known to help promote relaxation, making it easier to get a full night’s rest and potentially enabling you to have a productive day!
CBD oil as a treatment for depression is not a depression management option that is endorsed by every doctor. However, the evidence is clear: CBD oil helps combat symptoms of depression and other mental health problems.
Get Physical!
Another serotonin-producing option is physical exertion. When you are battling depression, a simple walk around the block may seem impossible. It’s not impossible, but it can be difficult to get past the mental hurdle of leaving your comfortable house.
Moderate exercise multiple times per week can help reduce stress (which makes you feel better) and will increase serotonin production. Additionally, you may see weight loss benefits which can help boost self-confidence further aiding in your battle against depression.
Bonus points if you get physical with your partner as being intimate can count as exercise, improve sleep, and lowers stress all at once. You will also have the added benefit of post-coitus cuddles (again increasing serotonin) and the strengthening of emotional bonds with the person you love.
Give Therapy a Chance
Psychiatrists are doctors; they are not psychologists, therapists, or counselors. Generally speaking, they want to know about your symptoms in order to prescribe the correct type of medicine.
Other professionals like psychologists, therapists, and counselors cannot prescribe medication but want to know how you feel, why you feel that way, and if there are related underlying issues. These professionals will help you get to the bottom of and work through anything that may be affecting your daily life.
Additionally, they are trained to help spot behavioral patterns and give insight on how to fix them. Examples of these patterns may include feeling ashamed after overeating, manipulation of others, or telling white lies to get ahead.
No Such Thing as ‘One Size Fits All’
As mentioned, treating depression with medication can be tricky. Choosing to treat it naturally, without the use of antidepressants and other drugs can be equally tough.
The biggest benefit of treating depression without the use of medications is the lack of unwanted side effects and long-term dependence on drugs. The natural way does not mean the easy way–it means a commitment to your cause and the willingness to try several methods.
Remember that some people respond better to medical treatment, others respond to natural therapies, and many people respond to a combination of the two. There is no such thing as a ‘one size fits all’ approach to treating depression.
1 comment