Saturday, August 22, 2009

Options For Depression Treatment Without Drugs

Many people regularly experience the symptoms of low level or mild depression, and if you think that you do, depression treatment without drugs might be a good option for you. There are many things that can cause depression and if you feel that you've been dealing with this condition, you need to think about what you can do about it.

Depression may be caused partly by physical illnesses that may involve viral, bacterial or fungal/yeast infections. Over-the-counter and presrcription medication side effects may also play a part. The cause of the actual emotions of depression may be a mixture of physical and psychological issues. For mild depression, self-evaluation may be enough. More serious, life disrupting symptoms (clinical depression) needs to be treated with the help of a professional.

When it comes to mild depression, there are a far too many people who think that it is just a phase and that it will pass with time. The issue is that too many people live with it for years without knowing that they can do something about it! If you feel that this is an issue that affects you, take action now.

When you're considering depression treatment without drugs, you will find that you can often enhance your results by also making some diet changes. If hypoglycemia is an issue that you need to deal with, you may find that getting more protein of good quality into your diet can help.

If you are thinking about making changes to your diet, look at your dietary needs and your metabolism. A high carbohydrate, low fat diet has long be suggested as a good way to promote mental health, and you should consider how it might work for you. The Zone diet, the South Beach diet and the Atkins diet are all options that might serve this purpose very well for you.

When you are looking for natural ways to treat depression, you will find that dietary supplements and herbal remedies can be the way to go. St John's wort is perhaps the most commonly prescribed herbal supplement for depression, with SAM-e being a close second. There is a lot of research saying that they really work, and significant side effects are not a concern.

The amino acids 5 HTP and D-Phenylalanine are also recommended for depression, as are Omega 3 fatty acid supplements. In fact, Omega 3 oils are often recommended for bipolar disorder as well as depression, and they can easily be found in flax, borage and fish oil supplements. They are important and necessary to your health as well.

Also consider taking valerian or passionflower. They are very good when insomnia is something that is bothering you and when anxiety might be an issue that you need to deal with. There are few adverse effects that go with taking these herbs, but it is worth noting that these are herbal supplements that can cause drowsiness.

Always remember that you can combine any of the supplements listed here with an increase in your physical activity. Exercise can release endorphins into your body that leave you feeling much more positive. Also remember that professional help is an option.

When considering depression treatment without drugs, make sure that you find the one that works the best for you. Remember that everyone's situation is different and what works well for one person may not for another. Put together a treatment plan that really suits you!

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