It may not sound any different to your ears if I tell you that almost half of the people suffering with depression do not seek any medical treatment. However, a lot among them do rely on natural remedies to treat their depression. Decreased energy, difficulty in concentrating, feeling of sadness can all be symptoms of depression and if you feel that you or anyone near you is suffering from the same, we have got you some help. Listed below are 11 natural remedies that can help treat depression:

11 Natural Remedies for Depression

Exercise

I am not asking you to spend 3-4 hours of intensive exercising daily but normal jogging or early morning walks can easily serve you with the benefits. Exercising on a regular basis proves to be beneficial for people suffering with depression. It encourages our brain to a sense of positivity and not only this, but it also helps in generating chemicals called as endorphins which are basically “the feel good chemicals”.

Take responsibilities

It is quite normal for people suffering with depression to restrict themselves from indulging into any sort of work, even at home. Whereas, this is something that you should absolutely not to do. In spite of pulling yourself backwards from everything, you should step forward, get involved and taking charge of responsibilities whether small or big. This will consequently give you a sense of accomplishment and help you get over depression.

Do something different

There can be so many things that you wouldn’t have done in your life yet. I know I may sound weird when I say that it’s the time that you should try out all those things but trust me, this is the best time for all those things you have had been planning all your life but haven’t got a chance to do them. When you try to challenge yourself and do something different, it will give you a sense of pleasure and enjoyment.

Have fun

Nothing may seem to interest you anymore, whether it is movies, hanging out with friends, shopping or actually anything you used to enjoy earlier. Well, this is just another symptom of depression. But all you have got to do is, try. Think about all those activities you used to enjoy earlier and try to do them all step by step.

Use supplements

Although there is more research needed on this aspect but there have been certain supplements like fish oil, folic acid, St. John’s Wort, Omega-3 fatty acids, Saffron and SAM-e that have proven to be beneficial for depression. However, it is important for you to consult your doctor before you start to use any supplements in order to make sure that it does not interact with any of your medications.

Sleep

Not many of us may realize this, but people suffering from depression get a very few hours of sleep on a regular basis and depression can get even worse with this. So, it is better to set a routine on what time you have to go to your bed and try to wake up at the same time every day. Also, say no to those short naps. Although, this may take some time, but see if that proves to be of help to you.

A healthy diet

Eating healthy can solve almost any medical issues, including depression. While some of you may not feel hungry at all, there are others who may feel like eating throughout the day. In such a case, you have to control and keep a check on what you eat.

Set goals

It is completely normal if you feel like you are not capable enough of achieving anything in life. We all go through ups and downs in our lives and that is completely alright but you don’t have to give up in any case. In order to sort this issue, try to set daily goals for yourself. You do not have to set unrealistic goals for yourself but just those little things like cleaning the dishes, rearranging your wardrobe will also work.

Set a routine

You may feel like the structure of your life has been permanently disturbed due to depression but it is not so. You have still got the control over your life and you can change it anytime you want. The best thing is to set a routine that can help your life get back on the track.

Say NO to negative thoughts

Negative thoughts may tend to take control over your mind while you are depressed. You may jump straight away onto the worst conclusions and in order to fight against that, you have to find if there is any logic behind your thoughts. For instance, at times you may feel like you will never be truly loved by someone, but are there no people left on the planet earth or is everyone taken and you are sadly the only single left? It will take time and a lot of patience, but I know you will make it!

Light therapy

If you go through seasonal mood changes, especially in the winter months, you must expose yourself to sunlight in the morning. This will help your body to function with the sleep/wake cycle properly.  This is because there is less sunlight in the winter months that can lead to a drop in the levels of serotonin that can make us feel even more tired and prone to seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Conclusion

There is nothing wrong in seeking medical treatment if you are suffering from depression or any other mental illness. Although, making changes in our lifestyle can help us treat depression but that may not always be the case. And in such situations, it is always recommended that you consult a doctor.

References

https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/natural-treatments#1

https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/herbs-supplements#saffron