Everyone faces stress and tension in their daily lives. It can sometime cause an overwhelming feeling and make you feel extremely depressed and distraught. It could be caused by various factors such as work problems, family issues, hormonal changes, drug side effects etc. This is very common and experts say that it is healthy to feel down from time to time. However, if this feeling continues to bother you for a longer period of time, then it is something that definitely needs attention and help. There are several medicinal and prescription drugs that are available to fight depression. Despite the wide array of these drugs available, you can alternatively employ some simple home remedies that will enable you to restore your balance and stability in mental health.
Exercise
This is perhaps one of the most commonly prescribed remedy to alleviate the symptoms of stress and depression. There are researches that have proven that a routine exercise of 30-60 minutes enables the mind and body to reduce stress, brighten up the spirits and boost self-esteem. It is a very simple and practical solution that everyone can follow and make it a part of their daily routine. The chemicals, endorphins and norepinephrine, released when we exercise, make us feel good and help to improve our mood. It is a natural tranquilizer that keeps us fit, both physically and mentally. Any form of exercise can help to alleviate and prevent stress or depression. A good objective to achieve will be to try and exercise for about 45 minutes, 3 times of the week. You could also choose to do group activities such as aerobics or yoga. Whatever you decide to follow, it is important to keep in mind to view it as a fun activity, instead of a chore!
Diet
People often misinterpret the term “diet” and relate it only as a weight loss program. Studies have shown that a balanced and healthy diet can help both the mind and body to fight all its problems better and stronger. Foods such as hot tea; berries; green leafy vegetables; foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids such as fish,legumes and whole grains; Vitamin C rich foods such as citrus fruits, melons, bell peppers and tomatoes; and magnesium rich food such as nuts, seeds and spinach can be included in the daily diet, as all of these foods are found to alleviate any deficiency problem in the body, which could be the cause of stress and depression. Deficiency of vital minerals and vitamins can cause the brain to stop responding or sending signals, which could lead to stress and depression. Thus, making a small change in your diet can easily enable you to ease your mind.
Herbal Remedies
There are also several herbal remedies that are available these days to help overcome problems of stress and anxiety. St. John’s Wort is perhaps the most widely known herbal remedy for depression. This is an extract, which is available in various forms such as tea and tablets. It is considered to have lesser side effects as compared to anti-depressants. It functions by inhibiting the brain from retaking certain chemicals, which results in a lightened mood. Another common herbal remedy is the Ginkgo Biloba, which is said to contain certain anti-oxidants that can help to fight problems such as dementia, PMS and also helps in anti-aging. It helps to increase the serotonin levels in the brain, which enables to overcome problems of depression in older people, whose brain might have failed to send certain receptors due to aging. The anti-aging properties of the herb will help to fight this problem and thus, ease minor depression problems in elderly people.
Yoga and Meditation
There are several types of Yoga practices that one can adopt to help fight depression and stress. A study conducted by National Institute of Mental Health has proven that 73% of people who practiced a form of Yoga called the Sudharshan Kriya had great relief from their depression issues. This form of yoga emphasizes on naturally breathing rhythms through the nose with the mouth closed. A regular practice of 20 minutes of yoga, three times a week can provide rich benefits. Alternatively, you can also resort to meditation as a form of depression alleviant. All you need is a quiet place, a calm posture, slow breathing and your favorite phrase or word to focus on. This can be done anywhere and at any time. This simple solution will go a long way in helping to overcome any stress or depression issues that you might face in your daily life.
Apart from the above-mentioned practices, there are also several other depression fighting methods that one can follow such as acupuncture or taking up a favorite hobby. Whatever be the method you adopt, it is important to consider it as a fun and enjoyable activity, rather than as a medication or a chore!
jeny says
Good content
BlissPlan says
Thank you, Jeny.
Dennis Lancaster says
Perfect instruction to get rid of stress and depression naturally and I think these all the ways can impact a lot on day to day. So if someone can do regular exercise and maintaining other related issue then definitely stress and depression will remove naturally and will help to keep well for sure. Thanks a lot for providing some valuable things for good life:D