Depression Hurts! I Know Because I've Been There

I suffer from the classic version of depression . I started with bouts of it when I was seventeen, but it wasn’t until my late thirties or early forties that it got so bad that I had to seek help. Over the years doctors prescribed Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, and Wellbutrin. It was so bad that I tried everything that I could get hold of.

I got a little relief, but the pills made me so tired all I could do was lay around and then I put on weight, which made me more depressed. The results that I had got was not satisfactory so I decided to try a natural approach.

Here are the steps to recover from depression - these are the same steps that I have used:

1) I can’t stress this one enough. Drink WATER, WATER, WATER, and more WATER! Drink approximately half your weight in water in ounces each day. (ex: If you weigh 150 pounds you need to drink 75 ounces of water a day). Your water should be bottled or filtered water.

If you are a soda drinker, cut back, better yet, quit drinking that STUFF! If you are a soda drinker, start using soda as a special treat. When I was growing up in the mountains of West Virginia. We only made it to the grocery store a couple times a month, but when we did go we were allowed to get a bottle of coke. What a treat, and that’s the way it should be. It has no nutritional value and only makes you fat. Bottled or filtered water is the better way to go.

Do not and I repeat do not drink diet soda. I have done research on the artificial sweeteners that they use and have found information that artificial sweeteners can cause brain tumors. Soda is a tough one for me, because I love Cocoa Cola, so if I do drink a soda I drink regular. If you are a coffee drinker, drink your one cup in the morning to get you going then no more for the rest of the day. You have to disciple your consumption of soda, Cola, coffee, tea or whatever is not natural. In the Oriental countries like China and Japan, they drink "green tea" and claimed to have good effects on their body and health. They are usually very healthy and seldom face depression.

2) Use a natural anti-depressant. I have used prescription anti-depressants and as I said before, I did get a little relief from my symptoms but I gained thirty pounds on the prescription drugs, which made me more depressed because of the weight gain. I gained more weight than when I was pregnant. There are a lot of side effects to consider when you take prescription drugs. I do not want to have to worry about the side effects on top of my illness.

Make sure the ingredients are herbs for depression. I've tried a lot and some work, some don't. Unfortunately I have found there is no magic pill. It's pretty much trial and error, as everyone's body chemistry differs. I take them still and my husband says I'm a whole lot nicer to be around and I have a lot more energy. My spurts of anger and mood swings have all but vanished. Something that my husband is very happy to see gone! He'll even remind me to take them, less I forget!!

3) Use good Multi Vitamin Supplements. Don’t buy these at department stores but instead buy them from a store that specializes in natural vitamin supplements or online from a reputable company.There are a lot of good online companies. Just make sure they're natural and have been tested. Ignoring your daily nutritional needs compromise your ability to live life to the fullest.

4) Other vitamins and supplements that you need are a good fish oil supplement that has your Omega Oils and food such as ginger and green tea that has Glucosamine. You can also buy a Flax seed oil that has the omega’s in it. Glucosamine is a natural sugar that helps create the main building blocks of joint cartilage. When you are relieved from bone pain or joint pain, you are less prone to feel depressed or face depression.

5) Eat a good healthy diet. I will tell you here to start using as many natural and organic products as possible. All of the chemicals that they put in our food are making us sick. Try to buy meat that is organic or has not been injected with hormones and chemicals. We women are already having to deal with our own unbalanced hormones. We do not need the ones that they give to the cows and other animals in our system making things worse.

Try to get vegetables and fruits that are organic. If you can’t afford organic, buy a fruit and vegetable wash that removes the wax and chemicals from the produce. Try to eat the deep colored fruits and vegetables they have more of the good nutrients in them. Try to have a good mix of the colored fruits, excessive taking of the same colored fruits is not recommended.

6) Exercise. This is a hard one. When you are depressed, the last thing you have is energy to exercise, but you need to exercise to get your energy back. A catch 22. Start out slowly, even if it is only a ten minute walk or ten minutes on your treadmill. Something is better than nothing. Go for a nature walk or leisure swim could help to energize your body and mind.

7) If you are a woman and are near menopause, use a Natural Progesterone Cream. I am 44 and use one. There are a lot of good ones out there but make sure it's natural and not synthetic. I have noticed that my mood swings have subsided and no more hot flashes, but it does take about three months of using the cream to get results. Patience is essential in the depression treatment process.

When you suffer from depression, it is a tremendous battle, but it is one worth fighting. My family had to put up with so much during my severe bouts of it. Depression hurts your relationships. I would get mean and say hurtful things, then cry all the time. I would spend weeks in bed at a time. On my good days I work, read, and do research about depression. I hope that my information will help you. It may take some time, but you will get a handle on it and if you treat it with natural products, a healthy diet, pure water, and exercise, you will be able to keep a handle on it.

Remember, if depression hurts you, depression also hurts everyone around you!

So please seek depression treatment and help as soon as possible. Get to know as much as possible on facts of  depression and what treatments are available for your use. Some people prefer self-help depression treatments while others prefer to consult medical experts.

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