*Preface to this blog post – I am not a medical professional, all information contained in this blog post is suggestion based only. I strongly urge any reader before pursuing any dietary or lifestyle changes to seek professional medical advice and work within their guidelines.*
There has been great advances made in the research of Mental illness in the last fifteen years, new diagnostics and syndromes have been discovered along with different approaches to the treatment of mental illness such as Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Bi-Polar disorder etc.
If you have just received a diagnosis from your doctor and have discussed your options he or she may have told you about pharmaceutical remedies for your condition. If like some of us you are wary of taking chemical medications and would like to try the natural approach prior to medication I would suggest you discuss these with your doctor first. Below I will discuss just a few natural approaches to fighting depression specifically. Please also note that these natural approaches can be used simultaneously with your chemical balancing medications.
Herbal supplements such as Chamomile, St Johns Wart and Lavender have been clinically tested on sufferers of depression in recent years with very successful results. Both provide a soothing effect to the nervous system thus creating a sense of calm, with minimal side effects.
Citrus Essential Oils used in massage or as an steam inhalation help pep up our energy levels ( I personally can speak to the amazing healing qualities of these oils especially applied within a massage oil)
Trouble sleeping Melatonin supplements have been successful in helping people revise their circadian rhythms and sleep deeply for longer. Melatonin is a hormone secreted at night by the pineal gland. It’s production is closely linked with exposure to sunlight and Vitamin D. Melatonin can be purchased over the counter at the pharmacy or at Health Food stores. (please talk to a professional regarding dosages as they do vary).
A HEALTHY DIET
A well balanced diet filled with green vegetables and organic fruits and organic meats create a calm gut and soothe an irritated digestive system allowing for better digestion. Which in turn leads to better absorption of minerals and vitamins that support brain health and function. Talk to a nutritionist to find the right foods for you and discover any allergies or irritants that you may have so you can avoid those foods.
Stay Hydrated – 8 glasses of water a day in combination with your coffee (one or two cups a day) or tea (green or herbal), keeps your body and blood at peak condition. Men may need slightly more water than women, test out your limits. (these are guidelines and again please confirm with your health professional what is right for you)
ACTIVITIES
There are activities that help our bodies produce the feel good hormone seratonin – exercise of any description is brilliant for alleviating those down feelings and building our strength both mentally and physically.
My favourite stress relieving activities include Yoga, walking and hiking. These physical activities combined with a regular meditation practice all help to alleviate and some days eradicate my anxiety and depression episodes. I highly recommend these activities alongside any medical prescription.
Yoga comes in many forms and you don’t necessarily have to go to a class with other people there are many excellent free videos on Youtube that cover many alternative styles of Yoga. It is a fun journey to discover the practice that fits with your personality.
If you are an outdoorsy type person hiking could be your thing, getting out into nature is naturally healing and helps to ground us back into the here and now. Get down to the beach or any piece of nature and take your shoes off and stand on the earth and become one with the Earth. This is extremely relaxing and helps get your mind back on track and promotes better cognitive thinking and more stable emotions.
Massage once a week usually deep tissue or relaxation for a minimum of one hour with or without essential oils added is therapeutic as well as relaxing of the nervous system. A deep tissue massage cleanses the lymphatic system of chemicals, so it is recommended that you are well hydrated before and after and have no alcohol or fatty foods within 4 hours either side to allow your body to recalibrate.
Writing in a Journal and Gratitude recognition are cathartic and stress relieving. Learn to be present in the moment and reduce worrying about things that may not happen or things that have happen. You only have this minute, Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. Every morning and night find just three things you can be grateful for from the day. Don’t over think it three simple things are grateful for my breath, my sight, my family/children/partner etc.
Keeping a journal which is for your eyes only helps get feelings out of our head and onto paper means we don’t keep pent up emotions in our minds to stress about through the night. Alongside journaling I recommend a Counsellor or Life Coach to have someone you can trust to help you dissect your feelings and eek out the truth behind them so you can find healing.
Seek calming music/TV/entertainment, if you are anxious don’t watch a Thriller type movie it will only boost your anxiety. Meditation music is nice to listen too while soaking in a warm bath with bubbles, just lay there and allow yourself to listen to the music and close your eyes and allow yourself to relax.
These are all natural remedies that I have tried and still use everyday. I have found moderate to great relief from my anxiety levels and depression. I wish you well with your health challenge and again I urge you to get to know your illness and find out everything you can research is your friend. Have more than one medical opinion and seek natural therapies that assist your chemical medicine.
Namaste
Restoring my soul. 