Natural Remedies for Depression

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When to Use Natural Remedies

There are nearly 20 million people who suffer from depression every year and many don't even get diagnosed. The thing about depression is that even though you may think you have it, you really must get a diagnoses from a qualified health practitioner. This is one case where seeing both a conventional doctor/psychiatrist and a holistic health practitioner would be a good idea.
There are many natural remedies for depression, some are used in combination with each other, and there may be times where the short term use of a pharmaceutical can help as well. You can see that this can get complicated however.
True depression (versus just feeling a bit down) can be a complicated problem to diagnose and can be caused by many different kinds of imbalances in the body that were brought on by any number of different triggers.
If your conventional doctor/psychiatrist just writes you a prescription for some common anti-depressant, find another doctor. You don't want to be on long term pharmaceutical medication for any reason - the side effects are too deadly in the long run, and this medication only treats the symptoms, it doesn't cure the imbalance that's causing the symptoms.
Use natural remedies for depression:

When you know that you have issues with pharmaceuticals
When you've already tried different pharmaceuticals and they didn't work
When your health practitioner is confident that natural remedies for depression will work for you
When you really want to cure your depression instead of just treating the symptoms.

It's worth repeating that you need to work with a professional when it comes to depression, please don't try to treat this on your own.

List of Natural Remedies that Treat this Condition

(Clicking on the underlined name of the remedy below will take you the page that tells you specifically how to use it for this condition. It will open a new window.)

5-HTP - If you aren't currently taking anti-depressants, you might want to consider a 5-HTP supplement. This compound is made naturally in the body and is the precursor to Serotonin which is one of the hormones that makes us happy.
Flax Seed
Omega 3's
SAM-e - (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) is a compound that is naturally found in the body that increases the hormones Serotonin and Dopamine. You can buy it as a supplement - just make sure it's enterically coated so it makes it through the stomach intact.
St. John's Wort - For mild or moderate depression, studies have shown that St. John's Wort is effective. This natural remedy is one that takes 4 to 6 weeks before you start seeing a difference in your mood, so you have to stick with it. In some people, it can also cause a few side effects like dry mouth, fatigue, indigestion and dizziness, so you may only really want to try this one when other natural remedies for depression are ineffective.
Vitamin B (Folic Acid and B6) - Studies have found that people who are often depressed are very low in Folic Acid. Vitamin B6 is used in the body to make Serotonin and Dopamine, the mood enhancing hormones.
Vitamin D

Symptoms

We all get sad or depressed once in a while, it's all part of being human. It's when being depressed becomes your 'status quo' that it becomes a problem. Depression becomes a serious issue if you feel overwhelmed by it, it lasts for a long time (more than a few weeks), or when it starts to interfere with your regular activities.
Some of the symptoms of depression include:

Fatigue and lack of energy
Feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and/or worthlessness
Feeling helpless
Changes in sleep patterns such as insomnia or sleeping too much
Loss of interest in things you used to like - hobbies, outings, being with friends and loved ones
Decreased sexual drive
Overeating or lack of appetite
Feeling empty and/or anxious
Restlessness and irritability
Physical aches and pains, digestive problems, muscle cramps
Suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide

Again, keep in mind that some of these symptoms are felt by most people occasionally. It's only when you're feeling these things all the time for more than a few weeks and nothing anyone tries is helping.

The scariest part of depression is the potential for suicide. Here is a list of common "red flags" that might indicate someone is wanting to commit suicide:

A sudden switch from being very sad to being very calm or appearing to be happy
Always talking or thinking about death
Clinical depression (deep sadness, loss of interest, trouble sleeping and eating) that gets worse
Having a "death wish," tempting fate by taking risks that could lead to death, such as driving through red lights
Losing interest in things one used to care about
Making comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless
Putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, changing a will
Saying things like "It would be better if I wasn't here" or "I want out"
Talking about suicide (killing one's self)
Visiting or calling people one cares about

(List from WebMD)

If you notice these kinds of things in yourself or someone you know, please call the Suicide Hotline at:
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
If you can't remember the number, call 911 and they'll guide you in the right direction.

Causes

If you were to do a search for the causes of depression, or even if you were to ask your doctor, you would likely find that the answers you get are things like:

Traumatic events (past or present)
Genetics
Chronic health conditions
Excessive stress
Medication and substance abuse
Parasites, Candida, mold

While I agree that any of those things can be a trigger for depression, you really can't say that they are the cause of depression, because if you did, you'd also have to say that everyone who goes through those things on the list would be depressed.
Everyone reacts differently to the events in their lives, good and bad. Those events are triggers for joy, depression, and everything in between. But what actually causes the emotional states that we experience?
From a physiological perspective - hormones.

When someone is chronically depressed, there is a serious imbalance in the hormones running around in their bodies. That's the cause.

Natural remedies for depression are effective because they all help the body re-establish the correct balance of hormones in your system.

Nutritional and Dietary Support

The natural remedies for depression that you choose will be enhanced even further by paying attention to the following in your diet:

Magnesium is compound that our bodies need to make Serotonin and Dopamine, so check your diet to make sure you're getting enough - somewhere between 300 and 400 mg per day. If you choose to take magnesium supplements, don't take more than 350 mg per day because there are adverse effects when you do.
Avoid excessive sugars and starches. Although eating those things bring a rush of happiness at first, there is also a large crash that follows. Your body cannot balance itself out if it's constantly going through a roller coaster of hormone fluctuations from too much sugar.
Make sure you're getting enough of the whole range of B vitamins in your diet. Vitamin B complex is needed for the body to produce Serotonin and Dopamine.

Additional Actions You Can Take

Exercise increases Serotonin and Dopamine in the body and helps your body detox from the stress hormones that have built up. Since it's important to be consistent, pick something you will like and that isn't too difficult for you. If you're a beginner, walking is a great start - just 30 minutes a day. If you can't walk, try to find ways to move your body while seated or lying down, anything that gets the fluid in your body flowing is a good thing!
Light Therapy is becoming popular for those who are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder or by those who are Vitamin D deficient.
Reduce stress in your life as much as possible. You can try meditation, therapy or counseling, soothing music or anything else that lowers your stress and anxiety.
Ask for help. Remember that you are not alone. Sometimes an objective point of view is one of the best natural remedies for depression.

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