Beating Depression:
How to Overcome Depression Naturally

Charlie Brown's observation of the mind body connection as it relates to beating depression may appear to be poking fun at a serious problem. Actually, it contains pearls of wisdom that outpace medical science. Try it yourself and see.

“This is my depressed stance. When you're depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you'll start to feel better. If you're going to get any joy out of being depressed, you've got to stand like this.”

How to Overcome Depression

At first you may only be able to make half-hearted small steps. That's okay. Make a plan and set easily accomplished goals using the tips below. Then set bigger goals. Give yourself lots of encouragement and praise for moving forward.

Once you gain momentum, you'll notice more frequent bright moments. Focus on these. Allow a few weeks to experience significant results. Sometimes the most effective self help for beating depression and other problems is to seek help.

If you have trouble getting started or following through, give yourself the gift of working with a coach or cognitive behavioral therapist for a while. If you are experiencing severe depression or are considering suicide, consult a health professional immediately.

The first step in knowing how to overcome depression is to understand it. Read Why Am I Depressed? to better understand the causes of depression referred to in some of the following tips.

Also be sure to click on the links highlighted below. They will take you to pages of expanded information related tips for healing depression.

Accept what is and take control of your thoughts.

Bad things happen, even to good people. Life happens. You may not be able to control circumstances, but you can certainly control your response to them. It may be that the only thing you can control is your thoughts.

Thoughts like 'It's all my fault', 'there's nothing I can do about it', or 'what's the use?' are dis-empowering. They give you no way out and are most likely partly false at best.

Turning around your negative thinking patterns is necessary for building neural pathways that support positive responses. Acknowledge your initial depressive thoughts and shift it to a better feeling thought. Beating depression is easier if you are as consistent as possible. Develop the habit of responding with better feeling, more supportive, expansive thoughts quickly.

Energy Psychology and Meridian Tapping Techniques can help you release the energy of negative thoughts and emotions. Again, persistence is the key.

Do something.

According to Dr. Chopra, "Inertia is depression's best friend." Do something. Take charge of your thoughts and emotions to help reclaim your power.

Start with Charlie Brown's teaching for beating depression. Sit and stand up straight. Try a smile. Don't worry if it feels phony or forced or even worse. Retrain yourself. Remember that you have to change a brain habit. Fake it 'til you make it.

Exercise is one of the most beneficial natural remedies for depression. Moderate exercise raises feel good hormones and lowers chemicals that make you feel down. Commit to twenty minutes of exercise three or more times a week. A brisk walk, bicycling, or swimming are three good exercises. Go with someone you enjoy for healthful social interaction.

Eat healthy foods. Limit sugars and grains to normalize insulin and leptin which affects mood. Eat wild-caught salmon, sardines, herring or mackerel regularly to get plenty of Omega 3 fatty acids. If you don't like fish, take an animal-based Omega 3 product such as fish oil or krill oil. There is a strong correlation between lack of Omega 3 fatty acids and depression.

Stay hydrated with pure water. The American Psychiatric Ass'n had a huge study that resulted in the discovery that the main difference between depressed and non-depressed populations was...drinking water!

Get safe sun exposure. Sunshine brightens the mood. If you cannot get enough sunshine in the winter and you notice a drop in your mood, consider using a light box. There is a correlation between lack of Vitamin D and depression. Ask your doctor to perform a blood test to see if you are deficient. Be sure to monitor blood levels if you take Vitamin D.

Meditate. Meditation helps you be in the present moment. It transforms your brain and helps you relax.

Practice Self-Love and Care

Your ultimate love and care come from yourself. Change stressful conditions as possible. Decide if the problem is something you can fix. Do you need to put up with it or can you/do you want to walk away? Feel empowered by the fact that you are making a choice.

Focus on relationships, instead of what's going on around you. Treat yourself and others with love, associate with people who inspire you. Do work or a hobby you love.

Try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

The University of Michigan Depression Center found that over 75% of depressed patients experience significant improvement using Cognitive Behavior Therapy. CBT teaches you cognitive techniques to help identify and challenge your negative depressing thoughts. It teaches you behavioral techniques to help increase your activity levels and unleash your untapped energy you already have and improve your moods.

Try Herbs and Supplements

Certain herbs have a long history as natural remedies for depression. Unlike some depression drugs, they don't damage your liver.

St. John's Wort, Gingko Biloba and Eleuthero can all help when you feel a bit down. The herb rhodiola rosea is beneficial for anxiety and depression. It prompts the brain to make neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Taking COQ10 with it boosts that effect.

SAMe and 5-HTP are known for lifting your spirits.

Note that these remedies take time to work and aren't instant cures. Consult your doctor before taking any herbs or supplements, especially if you are on medication to avoid negative interactions.

A commitment to beating depression using holistic self care and natural remedies for depression will take you a long way on your journey to healing depression. Implementing tips that feel right to you from the suggestions for how to overcome depression can help you feel quite a bit better in a matter of weeks.

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