How to Manage Depression Without Drugs

You’ve been diagnosed with clinical depression. Or you’re depressed and not sure what to do. You may know a friend or loved one who suffers from this debilitating condition and has decided to manage depression without drugs.

You’re familiar with the symptoms. They leave you feeling awful.

Feelings of hopelessness or sadness. You get angry easily. Trouble sleeping. Low energy levels. You may even have thoughts about death. Just to name a few.

It’s adversely affecting your work, social activities and relationships.

The cause could range from genetic to hormonal to biological changes.

You’re taking a prescription drug, or maybe you’re considering taking one, but you don’t like the side-effects.

The side effects are many. This is just a short list:

• Aggression
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Weight Gain
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Heart Attack
• Liver Problems

You may want to consider alternatives.

This is not to say you shouldn’t seek professional help. But your medical doctor may not tell you about all your options.

A holistic or alternative approach should be synergistic, not choosing from a list.  It’s possible to manage depression without drugs.

A Remedy as Effective as Prescription Medication

The first step on your journey if you decide to manage depression without drugs is to find a viable option.

Research is showing promising results for curcumin. It’s the active ingredient in the Indian spice turmeric.

When compared to prescription drugs, it demonstrates similar effectiveness in battling depression.

A study published in Psychopharmacology put curcumin up against Prozac. The study participants responded just as well to the natural substance as with Prozac.

There was no statistically significant difference between the two treatments.

Additional research shows that it raises your levels of serotonin and dopamine, the neurotransmitters that make you “feel good.” But without the side effects typically seen with prescription drugs.

Make sure you take the patented form of curcumin.  It’s the gold standard for absorption.

If you’re planning to try an alternative treatment to drugs, let your doctor know.

Get Moving Toward Feeling Better: Manage Depression Without Drugs

The next step is to literally get moving.

Ever notice how you feel better after you exercise?

It can play a significant role in your holistic approach to managing depression without drugs.

Ryan Olsen, Ph.D., from the University of North Texas, found that people with depression reduced their symptoms by 58% with endurance exercise. Greater improvement in cognitive function was seen as people increased their time exercising.

In most cases, you may only need two to four weeks of 30 minutes a day to see the benefits.

Success is Mind Over Matter

Finally, round out your natural approach to beating depression with mindfulness.

Meditation can be an important part of your alternative treatment plan for depression.

Dr. Henry Emmons, a psychiatrist from Minnesota, regularly recommends meditation as part of his natural approach for treating depression.

It’s a great way to lower your stress levels. Focus on your breathing and try clearing your mind of any thoughts for 30 minutes a day. Become present in the moment.

If you’ve just started meditating, be patient. It takes a little time to get good at it.

But once you get the hang of it, the results will complement the rest of your alternative treatment plan.

Start Lifting Your Mood Without Side Effects

This alternative approach to treating depression has been demonstrated to work.

Every individual is different.

Depending on your severity of symptoms, you may need to make some modifications, such as the frequency and amount of meditation and exercise.

That’s okay. With a little good-old perseverance you can beat this debilitating condition.

Rest assured there is hope.

Don’t go it alone. Friends and family can make a great support system, as well as support groups.

Help is on the way. You don’t have to suffer. Lots of people are already managing depression without drugs.

You just have to take the next step. It’s easier than you think.