Battling Depression without Medication

If you or a loved one is battling depression, you must be aware of how difficult it is. Depression, a serious mental condition, if not treated on time, can turn devastating for the sufferer. However, serious depression cannot be treated merely by administration of drugs or medication; dealing with depression needs much more than that.

In fact, you can treat it without taking any medication if you make concentrated efforts to come out of the condition; it is in your own hands to treat yourself. Here are some natural ways to manage and treat the condition of depression. This treatment has more to do with your present lifestyle.

i.The very first step is to analyze your present diet and eating pattern. Avoid refined sugars and cut them out of your diet as much as possible if you are dealing with depression. They increase the level of serotonin in the brain that boosts the effects of depression. When feeling depressed, people crave sugary foods. It is better to avoid sugar completely.

ii. Eating a well balanced diet is more important than medicines for depression. Include a variety of foods in your diet which have multi vitamins. It will increase the metabolism of your body and help it function properly. There is a popular saying that a healthy mind lives in a healthy body..

iii. Besides taking care of your diet, regular exercise is an important way to battle depression. Exercise can lift your moods for hours if performed even for minutes. It gives you an adrenaline rush and a natural high.
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iv. Go out in the fresh air and get some sunlight. An exposure of sunlight even for 10-15 minutes can lift your mood drastically. A morning walk routine can do wonders to improve your condition. If for any reason, you cannot get sunlight, arrange for a light box. Looking at the light from the light box can help fight depression.
v. Get good sleep everyday to keep your body functioning well and to fight depression. A lack of sleep results in poor body functioning, depression, irritation and other such conditions. It is important to have 7-9 hours of sleep daily at night. If needed, you can have a short nap during the day.

vi. Meditation and praying are very good ways if you are battling depression. They keep your mind and soul at peace and will keep your mood in control. Most people who follow a prayer routine daily are never depressed. Depression is a symptom of worthlessness and failure in one's life. Prayers help maintain a positive attitude in life, that is very important to fight depression.

vii. If you are battling depression, do not hide yourself from the world; in fact, seek friends, call them, be social and share your feelings. It gives your feelings a vent and keeps depression in control.

viii. If you are dealing with depression on your own, it is better to journal your moods and thoughts, triggers to your depression, the pattern, and other things. It will help you avoid those things that trigger depression.

ix. If nothing works, you can seek professional help - that does not always means taking medicines. These professionals know how to treat depression in natural way using talk therapy and other modalities. You can also get help online with reliable depression support website.

Teenage Depression - Learn About the Symptoms and Reasons

Teenage depression and anxiety are not just about bad moods and occasional melancholy. They are serious problems which have become common nowadays. There could be several factors at home or at school that lead to teenage depression. Academic difficulties, peer pressure, abusive relationships with parents and family etc. are some common teenage problems. In severe cases, the situation might get worse leading to drug abuse or even an irreversible tragedy such as homicidal violence or suicide. Parents of teenagers should be aware to look out for emotional behaviors that could be related to a mental health issue.

Being a concerned parent, teacher or friend, there are many things you can do to help the depressed child. You can simply start by learning the symptoms of depression and anxiety so that you are in a position to gauge your child's behavior. If you are close enough to your child you should try to talk to your teenager about his/her problem and offer support so that the child does not feel lonely and helpless. In order to detect signs and symptoms of this mental illness in your adolescent, it is important to keep tabs on the general behavior of your child and the symptoms related to the disease. You can do some research and try to find out about all the major symptoms a teenager may have to face when going through a phase of adolescent depression.

The following is the list of some of the symptoms depressed teenagers experience when suffering from depression:

• Restlessness; Loss of interest in enjoyable activities
• Feelings of guilt; feelings of worthlessness
• Sadness, hopelessness; frequent crying
• Irritability; Anger
• Hostility; Agitation
• Withdrawal from friends and family; efforts to run away from home
• Sudden changes in eating habits and sleep
• The fatigue, lack of energy; difficulty concentrating, persistent boredom
• Thoughts of death; thoughts of suicide
• Self injury; self-destructive behavior; frequent fear
• Poor communication; difficulty in maintaining relationships; criticizing others
• Low self-esteem; extremely self-critical; Extreme sensitivity to failure
• Frequent absence from school; Poor performance at school
• Alcohol or Drugs

Although the problem is intense, it can be healed with lots of love and the right treatment. Medical researchers have stated that early diagnosis and treatment helps in curing this mental disorder more effectively. For community support you can inspire your child to participate in a depression online community that helps people to connect. Besides providing the much required Depression help, Depression Support Groups also offers a unique platform where like-minded people can come together to discuss their issues.