Treating stress and depression naturally

Is it actually possible to treat depression naturally and without toxic medications? My answer is a resounding yes! We have been inundated by the mass marketing of multiple medications that will assist us in creating the life we want or to make us happy or to stop making us feel so blue. The fact is that these type of psychiatric medications can cause serious adverse reactions, such as cardiac events, suicidal thoughts, headaches, sexual dysfunction and sudden death. 

Last year, over 700,000 people suffered adverse reactions from these type of medications and there were approximately 42,000 deaths!

My question is why would you put yourself at risk for these possible complications when there are alternative, natural options.

Please don't get me wrong, I personally know over a dozen people(some of who are family members) who are affected by depression and I have numerous patients who are affected by it. I feel a deep compassion for people who have this disorder and that is why I am writing about it....in hopes to persuade some to at least attempt some of these natural solutions.  

I am also not directing or authorizing anyone to go off of their medications unless you talk it over with your medical provider. 

But maybe, just maybe, you can begin the process of controlling this disorder naturally and not relying on these powerful and addicting drugs. It's important to realize that these drugs are not normalizing agents. They are abnormalizing agents and once you can grasp that concept, you might be able to understand why they would provoke a manic episode or be continually linked with sexual dysfunction, suicidal tendencies and death.

I also want to touch on the serotonin link to depression. There have been many studies done on this specific subject with some results indicating that there is a link and others indicating that there is no connection whatsoever. Therefore, this is nothing more than a theory due to repetitive inconclusive studies. Many people hold on to this as a "crutch" maybe because their family physician told them that this is the way they are programmed or the way they were born. This gets many people into a vicious cycle of reliance on medications because of what their doctor told them.

So what can you do to break the pattern and get yourself on a holistic path to mental wellness? 

1. Regular exercise: Studies do confirm that physical activity at least 30 minutes per day are just as effective as anti-depressant drugs. Why? Because it releases endorphins in our bodies, which are the "feel good" hormones in your brain. Find an exercise that you truly enjoy and do it regularly.

2. Volunteer: Helping others when we are in a rut, feeling blue or in a state of despair can dramatically effect our outlook on life. The satisfaction of helping another person or animal, or contributing to a project or topic that you strongly believe in and not expecting anything in return, can boost our mental capacity in a huge way.

3. Get more sleep: We need at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Nearly half of us get less than that. Some tips--cut out TV and electronic use at least 2 hours before you go to bed. In fact, try to decrease electronic use as much as possible. There is no reason (unless it's part of your job or school) to check emails more than once a day, or to continually check and see what people are up to on Facebook. 

Read something positive or spiritual before bedtime. Keep the room cool and dark, get a white noise machine and cut down on alcohol and caffeine use.

4. Enjoy nature and get outside: Vitamin D exposure is essential. In fact, recent studies show that people with the lowest levels of Vitamin D are 11 times more prone to depression than those with normal levels. Despite warnings that the sun is harmful to our skin, getting outside and enjoying everything that nature has to offer is a therapy in itself.

5. Diet: There is now overwhelming research that the foods we take in on a daily basis have a direct impact on our state of mind. Avoiding sugars, lots of grains, pasteurized dairy, processed foods, fast foods, soy products, high intakes of fatty foods, alcohol, caffeine and smoking are the baselines in stabilizing our moods.

Raw foods along with nutrient rich foods are just the beginning in revamping your diet. 

I am always available to do nutritional consultations and determining what foods in your diet need to be decreased and eliminated or increased and added.