What are the Natural Cures for Depression?

Depression is a word that has been used loosely in our world. It has been used during moments of grief, sadness, and unhappiness. At least once throughout your lifetime, you might experience down moments that may make you think you are depressed. In the real sense, you are only going through a phase of sadness and not depression. Depression is more profound than we may think. It is a mental health challenge that has gained more popularity in recent times than ever before. It could become a severe health condition that may affect a person’s work, relationships, family, and life.

Factors Supporting Depression

Just like several other illnesses related to mental health, depression is caused by a combination of factors. The World Health Organization mentioned that biological, psychological, and social factors are critical in developing depression. One or more of these factors could interact with an individual and result in depression. A fine interaction of all these factors can cause several levels of depression.

For example, a person who has gone through some hard moments in life, such as unemployment or the death of a loved one, may experience loneliness (a social factor), which could translate into severe depression. Also, psychological trauma due to the loss of a job, fraud, failure in school examinations, divorce, sexual violence, and other adverse life events can cause depression.

In some other cases, biological factors such as defective mood regulation by the brain, hormonal imbalance, certain debilitating health conditions, and disabilities have been found to support depression. Studies show that when the neurotransmitters in the brain go out of their natural and delicate balance, depression can occur.

Depression And The Various Types

The types of depression include Situational depression, Biological depression, Psychological depression, and Existential depression. It could also be classified as Major Depressive disorder, Persistent Depressive disorder, Seasonal Affective disorder, Bipolar disorder (manic depression), Psychotic depression, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Perinatal depression (including antepartum and postpartum depression) and Atypical depression.

• Major depressive disorder is the most prevalent type. It is described as a depressed mood, loss of interest in favourite activities, significant weight changes, sleep troubles, reduced appetite, reduced energy, thoughts of worthlessness and suicide, indecisiveness, restlessness or reduced movement, etc. It is not an occasional depression that goes away. It occurs almost every day.
• Persistent Depressive disorder is also known as dysthymia. It is described as a chronic form of depression. It is characterized by continuous feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy, which may cause a loss of interest in day-to-day activities, causing reduced productivity in life matters.
• Seasonal Affective disorder is the type of depression associated with seasonal changes. For many people, it commences and ends around the same time year in, year out. It is more common during the fall and winter months but rarely in the spring or summer.
• Manic depression (bipolar disorder) makes that individual experience extreme moods. At a point in time, he/she is so happy and all over the place. The next minute could be so low because of depression. It is a mix of mania and depression.
• In Psychotic depression, such a person experiences depression in addition to psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.
• Women with PMDD present with depression symptoms, excessive irritability, and/or anxiety before the period begins. This could occur about two weeks before the period and resolve some days after the period must have started. In the same vein, perinatal depression occurs in women. It refers to the depression in a woman before the birth of the baby or after delivery.
• Atypical depression implies that this depression type may not necessarily follow the principles of depression.

Symptoms Of Depression

Being sad about life’s situations may not necessarily mean you are depressed. Some people have all they need- love, family, materials, money, and all but still, get depressed. Depression: Major depressive disorder is a complicated form of depression. It is not just a mere change of mood. It is a medical condition presenting with several symptoms that affect emotion, physical appearance, behaviour, and cognitive functioning.

Emotional symptoms of depression include consistent and intense sadness for no obvious reason, feeling of worthlessness, loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities, suicidal thoughts, and lots of other dark thoughts. Physically, a person with depression may begin to experience low energy, slow speech, thinking, sleeplessness, too much sleep, weight changes, etc. Depression may make one experience reduced concentrating or focusing ability and indecisiveness. Going through depression could make one easily agitated, restless, eat more or less, and so much more.

Treatment For Depression

The treatment for depression includes every modality that can be employed to make an individual get better. The methods could be pharmacological, involving the use of medications or non-pharmacological, including therapy, lifestyle modification, or medical procedures. The primary modality used to treat depression is usually by the use of drugs. Here, we will consider the natural ways to go about managing depression.

Natural Cure For Depression

Natural methods are effective in managing depression. This is not to say that counselling sessions or drugs are not good enough. We are looking at ways to boost our mood and improve our overall health state. There are a couple of them, and we will consider each one.

• First off, relaxation is a way to manage depression. Relaxation helps you unwind, and that will improve your mood altogether. Relaxation would help you to sleep well.
• Exercise regularly. Talking walks, yoga, or other forms of movements or workouts raise the dopamine level in the brain, which subsequently lifts one’s mood. Avoid strenuous exercises like running that could wear you out quickly.
• Do something you love to do. You can avoid being alone or lose interest in previously pleasurable activities. Instead, you can work at it to make it feel like fun again. Go to the beach, read a book, go for dinner, do some baking, etc. With time, you will love your favourite activities again.
• Accept responsibilities. Depression may want you to go into isolation and move away from responsibilities at work and at home. However, doing your office work or house chores may provide you little time to brood over worrying thoughts.
• Draw up a routine. For some reason, depression could take away your well-structured daily plans. Setting a daily routine of the things you will like to do each day and sticking to it can help manage depression.
• Talk to someone. Seeking help is never a sign of weakness, and this is usually underestimated. Talking to someone can go a long way in recovering from depressive moments. At BetterHelp, professionals are well seasoned to help with such trying moments.
• Have a support group. Meeting people and sharing your experience may help in your way to recovery. Having a trusted person to share your difficult time with is a good way to heal quickly.

Consequences Of Depression

When depression is left unattended, it could get worse. It is a serious mental health problem and should be managed as such. There is a higher chance that an individual with depression may get addicted to drugs. Such persons can also become less effective at work or school, ruin their relationships, have sleep disorders, and so much more.

The worst of it all is that depression can lead to suicide. Depression is a leading cause of suicide worldwide. However, depression is treatable.

Conclusion

Depression is fast becoming a common mental health disorder across all age groups. It can get better with adequate care and attention. If it is not, the effects of depression on the affected person are far-reaching. Therefore, depression should be treated carefully, managed promptly, and properly.