8 Awesome Secrets How To Treat Depression
It is natural for anyone to feel a bit down now and then. If life were perfect all the time, we would never learn how to appreciate and distinguish the good from the bad. An occasional down day does not mean you are suffering from depression. If, however, the bad days are outnumbering the good by a large margin, then it may be time to seek some form of depression treatment.
Living in a state of depression often feels like you are in a bottomless black hole. It may seem as though the walls are closing on, or that nobody understands what you are going through. There may be an obvious cause for the depression – such as the death of a loved one or loss of a cherished job. At other times, there is nothing that you can pinpoint to say that is why you are feeling depressed. The root of the problem may well hold the key to the proper depression treatment for your situation.
There are steps you can take to find out what is causing your depressed feelings and how best to turn your emotional state back around to one that is positive and happy. First up, you should look at finding a doctor that can help you get to the root of the problem without putting you on medications that will mask the symptoms.
Discovering Why You Are Feeling Depressed
Where is your depression coming from at this moment in time? Here are some questions that might help you narrow down the answer or pinpoint the exact cause:
- Have you recently experienced a loss of some type, such as a death of someone close, unemployment, marital change, or serious illness or injury?Each one of these life-changing issues can lead to depression. If there has been a death, separation, or divorce (this is the death of a relationship) then talking with a trained professional such as a psychologist is often the best option. In cases of unemployment, a job search counselor or coach can usually help you get back on the right track. Injuries and illnesses carry their own issues.The first step is to speak with your treating physician about your feelings. He or she may then find it helpful to refer you to a psychiatrist (if antidepressant medication is necessary) or a psychologist for counseling.
- Are you in the middle of your change of life – menopause for women or andropause for men?If this is the case, your hormone levels are fluctuating greatly at this time. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and growth hormone could all be factors in your depression. A doctor specializing in hormone replacement therapy is the best option for treatment. After performing comprehensive blood testing, an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan can rapidly reverse any depressed feelings.
- Have you recently given birth?Postpartum depression is more common than many people know, and it is most often a result of hormonal imbalance. This is highly treatable, and, again, turning to a hormone specialist is the ideal move at this time. Progesterone therapy often reverses the symptoms of postpartum depression in a short while.
- Have you gained weight, noticed other physical changes in your body that are getting you down, or are you worried about forgetfulness, dementia, or other age-related health concerns?In many instances, these are signs of hormonal decline – usually growth hormone or testosterone. Once again, contacting a hormone replacement specialist will often yield answers that can lead to the right treatment for your needs. The same blood tests will also be able to tell if an over or underactive thyroid is a concern.
Natural Treatment Options for Depression
Unfortunately, some doctors today are too quick to hand over a prescription for a bottle of pills to cover up symptoms of depression. While antidepressants do have their place, they are not for everyone, especially those whose symptoms are treatable with other, more natural measures.
Here are some lifestyle changes that you can make right now that may help alleviate your feelings of depression:
- Sleep – If you are not currently getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night you are doing your body an injustice. Less than 7 hours does not give your body enough of a chance to secrete essential hormones that help maintain proper functions and feelings of well-being. Too much sleep is also not beneficial and can leave you feeling overly tired.
- Exercise – Just like your body needs a certain amount of sleep at night, it needs physical movement during the day to aid in hormone secretion. You do not need an hour at the gym to get these benefits. The latest research shows that short, high-intensity bursts of 20 seconds followed by a two-minute period of walking done three times can provide the same benefits as a longer workout.
- Stress – We cannot stress enough how stress can increase feelings of depression. You must discover what is causing stress in your life and find ways to overcome these issues.
- Nutrition – Some foods are naturally calming while others can add to feelings of depression. Sugar-filled foods may provide a quick pick-me-up feeling, but they will leave you crashing down before long. Many people dealing with depression find that small meals with protein, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates are the better option for positive mood changes.
- Socialize – Depression often leads to isolation, which only makes matters worse. Instead, find ways to incorporate socialization into your daily life. Take a class, join a group, start a new hobby with others, find time for family and friends, or even go and take a walk where people tend to congregate – you may be able to strike up conversations with others. Another option is finding ways to volunteer your time. Giving back to others helps you feel good knowing that you are doing something important.
- Goal-Setting – Setting goals (small ones at first) can help you feel as though you are accomplishing something.
- Supplementation – In some cases, vitamin deficiency may be the problem. Bloodwork will be able to check crucial vitamin levels, and if a shortage is detected, supplementation can help balance out moods. This is especially vital for individuals living up north in the winter when vitamin D deficiency is possible.
- Alternative Treatments – Yoga, acupuncture, deep breathing, meditation, relaxation techniques, hypnotherapy, massage, tai chi, and other alternative treatment options may help decrease feelings of depression.
Seeking Help for Depression
Before you seek help for depression, attempt to isolate the cause as discussed in the second section above. If you are in your late forties to early sixties, your hormones are a likely cause of these feelings. That does not mean that people in their thirties or older than seventy are not suffering from hormonal imbalance. It just means that menopause and andropause are often reasons for feelings of depression. When your hormone levels are put back in balance through the use of targeted and customized hormone replacement therapy, often with human growth hormone injections or testosterone treatment, symptomatic reversal usually arrives in a short time.
If an emotional loss is behind your mood and outlook changes, then talking with a psychologist may help you get a handle on your situation. Some people thrive in group settings where they can take comfort from the experiences of others. This is especially good when grieving a death or loss of a relationship. Knowing that you are not alone can help with the healing process.
Treatment with antidepressant medications is best left to an experienced psychiatrist. Your health care provider can often give you a referral to a doctor. Other options may help, such as biofeedback, hypnosis, and more that can be of assistance.
Whatever you do, never let depression get the better of you. Help is available from a number of sources. You merely have to reach out and ask for it.
National HRT Staff
Please note that the information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
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