Everyone has times in their lives when they feel dejected or sullen. Under normal circumstances, these feelings come and then go without any major disruption. But for people that experience depression for long periods of time, it can be more serious. If left untreated, depression can lead to thoughts of suicide. To treat this condition, you can take an approach that is all natural and does not involve the use of prescription medications.
Step 1
Talk to a therapist. Cognitive behavior therapy is a type of psychotherapy where you can talk to a counselor about your situation. Together, you can create coping strategies and replace thoughts and actions that are negative with ones that are positive.
Step 2
Start exercising. Exercise is known for multiple benefits to the body such as better joint function, weight reduction, strength gain, improved circulation and better brain function. When it comes to depression, exercise can help release mood-enhancing endorphins, and it can also cause a distraction from the things that might be causing your depression. Do something you enjoy for 30 minutes on most days of the week. Examples are running, weight training, cycling, swimming, playing racquetball and walking.
Step 3
Eliminate bad habits. When you are depressed and you use substances like alcohol, caffeine and illicit drugs, you can cause your condition to be worse. Avoid use of all of these vices to help cure your depression.
Step 4
Attend hatha yoga classes. Yoga is a type of mind/body exercise that involves holding various "postures" for a certain period of time. This takes a lot of concentration and breath control, which forces you to be present. According to psychotherapist Stephen Cope, hatha yoga's postures can improve your mood by moving energy through places in your body where feelings of grief or anger are stored. You can either attend hatha yoga classes or get a DVD for home use.
Step 5
Destress with relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques can be utilized to put your mind and body at ease. Examples of things you can do include meditative breathing, muscle relaxation, guided imagery and Qi-gong.
Step 6
Get acupuncture. Acupuncture is a type of Chinese medicine that is characterized by the insertion of tiny needles into various meridian points on the body to reduce symptoms of conditions. Talk to an acupuncturist about getting this treatment done to help your depression.
Tips and Warnings
- Hatha yoga is a general term used to describe all the physical involvements that take place with yoga.
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