He suffered from the classic version of depression. I started having seizures 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 have prescribed Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, and Wellbutrin.
I had some relief, but the pills made me so tired that all I could do was lie down and then gain weight, which made me more depressed. So I decided to try a natural approach.
Here are the steps to recover from depression – these are the same steps I have used:
1) I can’t stress this enough. Drink WATER, WATER, WATER and more WATER! Drink about 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, stop drinking that THING! If you are a soda drinker, start using them as a special treat. When I was growing up in the mountains of West Virginia. We only went to the grocery store a few times a month, but when we did, we were allowed to buy a bottle of coke. What a delight, and so it should be. It has no nutritional value and only makes you fat.
No, and I repeat, do not drink diet soda! I did research on the artificial sweeteners they use and found information that artificial sweeteners can cause brain tumors. Soda is hard for me, because I love Cocoa Cola, so if I have a soda, I drink it regularly. If you’re a coffee drinker, drink your one cup in the morning to get going and no more the rest of the day.
2) Use a natural antidepressant. I have used prescription antidepressants and as I said before I got some relief from my symptoms, but I gained thirty pounds on the prescription drugs which made me more depressed due to the weight gain. I gained more weight than when I was pregnant. There are many side effects to consider when taking prescription medications. I don’t want to have to worry about side effects on top of my illness.
Make sure the ingredients are herbs for depression. I have tried a lot and some work, some don’t. Unfortunately, I have discovered that there is no magic pill. It’s more or less trial and error, as everyone’s body chemistry is different. I still take them and my husband says that it is much more pleasant to be around me and that I have much more energy. My outbursts of anger and mood swings have almost faded. Something my husband is very happy to see go! He even reminds me to take them, unless I forget !!
3) Use good multivitamin supplements. Don’t buy them in department stores, buy them at a store that specializes in natural vitamin supplements or online from a reputable company. I buy mine from the company at the link above, but there are plenty of good companies online. Just make sure they are natural and have been tested.
4) Other vitamins and supplements you need are a good fish oil supplement that has its Omega Oils. You can also purchase an omega-containing flax seed oil.
5) Eat a good healthy diet. I will tell you here to start using as many natural and organic products as possible. All the chemicals they put in our food make us sick. Try to buy meat that is organic or has not been injected with hormones and chemicals. We women already have to deal with our own unbalanced hormones. We don’t need the ones given to cows and other animals in our system that make things worse.
Try to get vegetables and fruits that are organic. If you can’t buy organic, buy a fruit and vegetable wash that removes wax and chemicals from produce. Try to eat deep colored fruits and vegetables that have more of the good nutrients in them.
6) Exercise. This one is hard. When you’re depressed, the last thing you have is energy to exercise, but you need to exercise to get your energy back. A catch 22. Start slowly, even if it’s just a ten-minute walk or ten minutes on your treadmill. Something is better than nothing.
7) If you are a woman and you are close to menopause, use a Natural Progesterone Cream. I am 44 years old and use one. There are many gods out there, but make sure they are natural and not synthetic. I have noticed that my mood swings have subsided and no more hot flashes, but it takes about three months of using the cream to see results.
When you suffer from depression, it’s a tremendous battle, but it’s worth fighting. My family had to put up with so much during my severe episodes. Depression damages 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 on depression. I hope my information helps you. It may take some time, but you will get it under control and if you treat it with natural products, a healthy diet, pure water and exercise, you will be able to get it under control.
Remember, if depression hurts you, depression hurts everyone around you!
Therefore, seek treatment and help for depression.