So common today, that depression steals life away from those who suffer from it. With the varying degrees of depression, people can be unaware that they have it. “Depression is a medical illness that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.” Depression can cause physical symptoms too. Symptoms of depression range from isolating one’s self from peers to suicide. The norm is to consult with a Doctor, usually a prescription is given and life goes on.
Not unlike any other disease, depression is a medical illness. Some symptoms of depression can mimic other ailments. While fatigue, back pain, headache, restlessness, and sadness are signs of depression they should be investigated further by consulting with a Physician to eliminate the possibility of another health problem. “Every year more than 19 million Americans suffer from some type of depressive illness.” Depression affects the mind, body, and spirit. Feelings of hopelessness can lead people to withdraw from activities that they once enjoyed.
There are different types of depression. Some people have feelings of sadness seasonally, appropriately named, seasonal affective disorder (SAD). “Perhaps the most common type is a chronic low-grade depression called dysthymia. This condition involves long-term and/or recurring depressive symptoms that are not necessarily disabling but keep a person from functioning normally and interfere with social interactions and enjoyment of life.” It is this type of depression that so powerfully and negatively impacts the lives of many because it may exist unseen.
Common treatments include medications, exercise and simply creating a schedule that keeps one active. Popular antidepressant medications are Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox, Paxil, and Celexa. Many thousands have great success with medications such as these but not without side effects, which are common with most medications. It is this writer’s feeling that some people can be helped with naturopathic remedies, often without drugs. “Vigorous exercise can be an effective antidote to bouts of depression.” The hardest part of course in the use of exercise for battling depression is simply beginning a regimen.
Other contributors to living in this “black hole” are smoking, drug usage, excessive sugar consumption, eating wheat products, foods high in saturated fat, alcohol, caffeine, and processed foods. Changing the diet to raw and primarily whole foods, especially fruits, vegetables, grains, and soy products offers great results. As blood sugar rises and drops sharply from consumption of processed foods, soda, etc., fatigue and depression set in. Therefore, making a simple change from junk food to complex carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, or pasta can stabilize blood sugar levels and keep one’s mood steady.
Exposure to sunlight controls the body’s melatonin-making process. This hormone, melatonin, helps in the prevention of the blues. Going outdoors and getting some sunshine for thirty minutes is all needed to benefit the body towards proper melatonin production. Being around positive influences and maintaining healthy and respectful relationships at work and home can go a long way for someone dealing with depression too. Putting away negative thoughts, simple living, and decreasing stress in any way possible help in this battle as well. The suggestions above for beating depression all seem to go hand-in-hand. So smile, eat healthy, take a walk or jog outdoors, breathe fresh air, forgive your enemies, and then the only blues that you will sing, shall be a rhythmical tune!
