Clinical depression is categorized as a mental or emotional health disorder where someone is persistently depressed, loses interest in daily life activities, and suffers serious impairment. Potential cases can be social, psychological, and physiological, or a combination thereof. Symptoms range from low self-esteem to energy, appetite, and sleep changes. Treatment usually focuses on talk therapy and medication, however these natural remedies can help:
1. Exercise
Exercise can help someone who is depressed in many cases. Anxiety is often a part of the process, and a fitness routine can burn off this energy. Exercise-produced endorphins can also be a natural mood lifter.
2. Writing
Expressing your negative feelings can put emotions into words, making them feel more manageable. Journaling is one option, but you might also opt for fiction, poetry, or just blogging. This is a creative outlet that might help younger people cope with life.
3. Meditation
Being depressed or suffering anxiety can involve racing thoughts in a fast-paced mind, and meditation of nearly any form will help slow all that down. There are different meditative traditions you can try. Most will help you with anxiety or mood disorders, and you can practice them in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
4. Herbal teas
Can easing your depressive feelings be as easy as drinking something? Certain herbal teas seem to impact the brain in ways that lower anxiety, and just going through the motions of making tea might be soothing. Some research suggests that chamomile can lower the stress hormone cortisol.
5. Aromatherapy
If drinking something soothing helps, then smelling something soothing might also help. Some research indicates that aromatherapy can make it easier to get sleep and lower short-term heart rates. You’ll need to experiment with various scents to find the ones that work for you, but lavender seems to be a popular option.
6. Fatty fish
Many types of fatty fish—like salmon and mackerel—are great sources of omega-3 acids. These acids easily travel the membrane protecting the brain. There, their anti-inflammatory properties can ease symptoms of being depressed.
7. Ginkgo biloba
Gingko is both an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory, which can help anyone who is depressed and anxious. In particular, ginkgo helps the physical body cope better with high stress hormones.
8. 5-Hydroxytryptophan
5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is something the human body can turn into serotonin. That chemical impacts sexual behavior, temperature, appetite, sleep, and pain sensation, all of which can factor into being depressed. Having healthy levels of this can elevate mood out of being depressed while also potentially helping with anxiety and insomnia.
9. B vitamins
B vitamins produce certain brain chemicals known to regulate neurological function and mood, so deficiencies in these vitamins can be associated with a depressive state. Physical inability to absorb such vitamins is a potential problem, and a poor diet can mean not getting enough. Blood tests and daily supplements can help correct the issue and restore good feelings.
10. Zinc
You might know that zinc is crucial to immune system functions, but it also impacts brain processes that depressive states might alter. Research shows that zinc impacts neurotransmitters and hormones that regulate happiness. These include dopamine and serotonin.
