Depression and anxiety affect more than 20 million adults every year. With depression symptoms ranging from mild to severe, more people are seeking help for the treatment of depression and anxiety than ever before. Treatment options for depression and anxiety include prescription medication, hormone therapy, psychotherapy, and a variety of other specialized therapies.
Since each case is unique, there is no “one-size-fits-all” cure for these sometimes debilitating mental disorders. But when natural remedies are used in conjunction with other types of treatment, treatment success rates can soar!
Regardless of whether or not you are in a professional depression or anxiety treatment program, there are a number of things that you can do to help yourself.
Natural remedies for these mental disorders don’t get a lot of attention so they’re often overlooked as successful treatment options. Fortunately the situation is changing. Natural remedies for depression and anxiety are most effective when used in conjunction with professional therapy. For many patients, that combination is enough and additional treatment methods usually aren’t required.
Here are some proven tips for getting depression and anxiety under control:
Banish Negative Thoughts
Although it’s nearly impossible to prevent negative thoughts from creeping into our minds, negativity makes depression and anxiety worse. Try to offset these thoughts by focusing on the positive things going on in your life. Positive, happy thoughts trigger the brain to release “feel good” chemicals that combat depression and anxiety naturally.
Avoid Associating with Negative People
Sharing your life with people who are negative only strengthens your own negative feelings. Likewise, sharing your life with positive, upbeat people strengthens your positive feelings. The choice is voluntarily so choose the people who can help you and avoid the ones who can’t.
Journal Your Way to Relaxation
Take a few minutes each day to write in a journal. You don’t have to create a novel, just jot down your thoughts on the positive and negative aspects of each day and note what made you depressed and what made you happy. At the end of each week take time to reread what you’ve written. Before you know it you’ll have a clear picture of the things that lift you up and which ones bring you down. As soon as possible, start avoiding the things that affect you negatively and start doing more of the things that make you happy.
Tap Into the Power of Affirmations
Affirmations are uplifting statements that you say out loud. Because affirmations are spoken as if the results you are seeking have already occurred, they work by programming your subconscious to make true that which you have already told it to be true.
Feel free to create your own affirmations or use these:
“I deserve the happiness that I feel every day.”
“I think only positive and uplifting thoughts.”
“I am in control of my moods and outside issues do not affect me negatively.”
“I love myself and I deserve the love of others.”
Summary
You are in control of your thoughts and feelings. Depression and anxiety are not unbeatable conditions that you are powerless to control. Start by following the tips presented in this article and then seek the help of an expert in the field of anxiety and depression management if you require additional assistance.
Susan Huebert
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/tips-for-combating-depression-and-anxiety-37658.html
February 17th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Fighting Depression Tips?
I have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and such however, it has been in ‘recession’ so to speak up until now. I’ve been really sick over the last 3 weeks with no sympathy from my boss or co-workers and have had my days off revoked because they believe that I am faking. I went to a Dr. Who informed them I am not, but still cannot take days off.
To ensure that I wont my co-worker has taken all this week off and I have to cover both her job and my own.
Now I am sitting at work depressed out of my mind. Any tips on how to combat this ?
I used to be on meds, but those made it worse.
The illness that I have is very sparatic, stomach flu symptoms, lack of appetitie, GI problems, back and neck pain, depression, lack of focus, migraines, etc, but it happens at random times so the Dr’s cannot diagnose it.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Are you on medication for this? I am and able to function most of the time. I still get down some times but must try to fight my way out of it. It is bad that mental problems aren’t treated like physical problems as it hurts just as bad if not worse at times.
References :
February 17th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
I think you should seek help resolving the issues that have you depressed. Medication is not the answer
References :
February 17th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
i think u should ask u GP for a Dr’s note to tell ur work place that ur suffering from severe depression and that ur on medication that is makin u kinda sick.
also if u take time off work ask ur doc to giv u a sick note to cover ur absence coz that way u manager cant give u a hard time and if he/she still does then u can make a formal complaint coz thats discrimination against people suffering from mental disorders, coz i have depression but i guess im lucky coz my manager is really understanding.
gudluck sweet and dont let this get to u, there is a way out so fight for it takecare hun X
References :
February 17th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
I just love it when people say "medication is not the answer". Those people have no idea what it’s like to be DEPRESSED. I have been so depressed that I could not get out of bed in the morning. I didn’t eat for days. I didn’t care if I lived or died. I don’t know what causes serious depression but I can tell you that it is more disabling than any physical illness or injury I have every had – BAR NONE.
Now with that said here are some things that will help:
1. Medication (the RIGHT medication – it might take a couple of tries to get one that makes you feel half way human again)
2. Mega doses of Fish Oil – like 4 of those huge capsules each day. Take with a fully tummy preferrably at bedtime.
3. Excercise. I know it’s hard to drag yourself off the couch to do ANYTHING much less the task of excercising but it WILL help.
4. No self-medicating; no pot, no alcohol, no pills, no nothing that hasn’t been prescribed to you.
5 Eat right – stay off the sugars and fats as much as possible.
This sounds like something that needs to be taken up with HR. But if you work in a small company like me then you don’t have an HR department and you just have to suck it up and show up at work. BUT there is a little thing called FMLA – The Family Medical Leave Act. You may fall under this. Google it and see what comes up.
Good Luck. I am so sorry for you. I know exactly how you feel!
I’ve been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt.
P.S. WHY don’t you have a doctors note?? Get one. And then stick your tongue out at your co-workers when they aren’t looking. It will make you feel better, I promise.
References :