5 Natural Ways To Fight Depression

Depression is a multi-factorial illness. This means that on its appearance and the impact it has on the life of the person who suffers from it, many factors influence. To fight against, the best is to fight on different fronts at the same time …

Lately, much attention has been paid to the chemical changes that take place in the brain that are linked to depression. We’re talking about the hormones of happiness, stress, everything. We also talk about neurotransmitters and their effect on morale. If this approach is also scientific and valid, it is important to provide some clarification.

“Depression is a prison in which you are both the prisoner and the cruel jailer.”

-Dorthy Rowy-

The chemistry of depression

Depression produces chemical changes in the brain and vice versa. However, the chemistry of the brain is changeable. The quality of the thoughts and substances that we ingest are among the agents capable of altering the chemistry of the brain. In the case of depression, they increase or decrease the amount of serotonin available.

The production of serotonin begins in the intestine. In this organ, a precursor of this hormone, called “tryptophan” is produced. This is why some people call the intestine “the second brain”. Hence the fact that the food we eat and the lifestyle we have are very important. So, to produce more serotonin, which helps in fighting depression, there are methods which are completely natural. Here are 5 of them.

Foods to Reduce Depression

First, let’s say that there are foods that inhibit the production of serotonin and therefore increase the risk of depression. These are the carbohydrates and the dishes that contain high levels of sugar. This type of food acts as an energy discharge in the body. They are assimilated quickly and generate great greed. A sort of abstinence syndrome.

Conversely, other foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables help to bring more tryptophan into the blood. This results in a higher production of serotonin and therefore acts as a protective agent against depression. Recent medical research gives a particular power to turmeric, which would produce this effect.

The best physical exercises

Any physical activity increases the level of serotonin in the brain. However, the effect is much more significant when the exercise is combined with specific situations. Ideally, it takes place in a setting that calms the mind. An environment that lowers the level of anxiety.

Physical exercise is much more productive if it is done in a natural environment. The trees and the green of nature stimulate the positive effects of the exercises. A simple walk, with quick steps and in a forest, can have extraordinary effects. The sea is also one of the scenery that heals.

Positive thinking and meditation

Thought has enormous power over morale. It has been shown, for example, that the placebo effect is very high in people with depression. There are some telling experiences: when people are told that they have been administered a latest generation drug that is very effective for depression, their condition improves. This is the effect of positive thinking.

Relaxation and medication practices are also highly recommended for people who feel depressed. Sometimes it’s enough to take a moment to breathe and clear your mind. It has also been shown that in believing people, repeating prayers increases the feeling of happiness.

Literature and writing

Literature allows us to come into contact with the experiences of other people, who are the characters or the narrator of the story. It purifies our emotions. Inspirational stories produce a sense of well-being and help change brain chemistry in a positive way. They are equivalent to positive thoughts.

Writing, on the other hand, has a strong carthasis effect. Joel Robertson, an expert in this subject, advises writing 20 minutes for 4 days in a row. Painful experiences should be the subject of writing and it is good to do it almost without thinking, automatically. This researcher claims that this experience brings deep peace.

Listening to classical music

Certain melodies have been shown to have the ability to increase the production of serotonin. They harmonize the brain and promote the feeling of well-being and enthusiasm. Bach’s music is one of the most recommended. This artist made compositions following a mathematical order which seems to coincide with certain frequencies of our brain.

Likewise, composers such as Brahms, Chopin, Handel, Haydn and operas like Madame Butterfly are recommended. This type of music inspires and induces a kind of openness to feelings. They allow you to connect with your own pain and that has a healthy effect.

For a depressed person, it is not easy to do things for their well-being because their body asks them to surrender. Maybe she needs some extra motivation. Maybe she needs some support to get started. But, know that the most complicated is precisely that, the beginning. These methods of overcoming depression in a natural way are often effective in the short term. Whether or not you suffer from depression, will you dare to try them to improve your morale?

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Images by Art Studio Klyne, Mary Patters