4 NATURAL WAYS TO MANAGE DEPRESSION

Depression is a serious matter, which is why if you will notice today, awareness about this debilitating mental condition is starting to become widespread.

What was dismissed before as just being “down in the dumps,” is actually now being recognized as an actual disease, akin to physical illnesses.

Unfortunately, access to depression treatments remain relatively hard, as many people suffering from it remains undiagnosed, or not getting the treatment they need.

However, according to an article by Science Alert, research studies have shown that there are natural ways that can help manage depression among people.

Although the effectiveness of antidepressants is already known, it is not being freely given, which is why a handful of natural alternative methods have been found to work just as much.

It is important to distinguish that these natural therapies are different from pseudoscience treatments such as homeopathy, acupuncture and even chiropracty.

These therapies underwent legitimate peer-reviewed researches, that support its claims.

1. Working Out

Duke University Medical Study did a study back in 2007 about the effectiveness of exercise in treating depression.

What the researchers did is they randomly assigned patients to 30 minutes of walking or jogging, in an average of three times a week, while others received placebo antidepressants.

The result was astounding, as they found out that working out regularly was way more effective than the pills. Additionally, a 2016 study reviewed the available studies of using exercise as a treatment for depression, and it confirmed that it is indeed an effective therapy.

2. Bright Light Theraphy

There is a reason that people who lives on places with gloomy weather experiences frequent negative moods. Apparently, lights do affect our behavior.

According to a study, being exposed to natural bright light makes people more cheerful and happy. On the research, patients were asked to sit in a light box for 30 to 60 minutes, and it showed that it produced results comparable to the effects of antidepressants.

Now you know why people from Los Angeles are more cheerful than New Yorkers!

3. Mediterranean Diet

An Australian study showed that depressed patients can benefit from changing what they put in their mouths.

Diets which are rich in unprocessed food showed that 32 percent of the participants experienced a remission from depression, compared to just 8 percent on those who received just social support.

4. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT

Research suggest that CBT has an effective way of treating a myriad of mental disorders including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Eating Disorders, PTSD and Depression.

Different from the usual psychoanalytic therapy, CBT is a “problem-focused” approach that aims to challenge and change unhealthy thoughts, behaviors and beliefs.

These four natural methods effectivity may be legitimate, but we just want to be clear that these are recommended to be taken without consulting to an expert. Every person deals with depression differently, which is why it is important that before trying new ways, you know all of the benefits and drawbacks.