6 Alternatives To Antidepressants That You Must Try
With the world going up in flames, people are more depressed than ever. Whether it’s our current lifestyle, the pandemic, or the fact that the world is changing at a rapid pace, people are suffering from depression and are looking for alternatives to popular medication.
If you’ve ever taken medication for depression, you know that they come with a leaflet describing a wide range of side effects. One might question why I should take medication when it’s only going to cause more problems. Granted, the fact that some psychological problems are bound to need modern medicine, curing depression may have other alternatives.
If you want to find some alternatives that you can go for, keep reading ahead, and find out.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy:
Another way to cure depression is to go for cognitive therapy. The therapy acts to work on negative patterns and helps us not only identify them but also work towards better decision making abilities.
It combines both behavioral and cognitive principles to treat those suffering from depression. Rather than working on the disease, it focuses on symptoms that lead to that situation. So rather than working on depression individually, CBT works on the reason you feel the way you do.
While many people want a quick fix, know that depression is often deep-rooted and needs time to heal. It usually takes a few sessions before you start to experience any difference. However, once you’re through with it, it will be gone for good.
Exercise:
Exercise is also a great way to let the negativity out. Know that I don’t mean that you have to hit the gym every day, but you should start with regular physical exercise. You can start walking more, jogging around the block whenever you get a chance, or even doing yoga.
If you are suffering from a medical condition that hinders your physical activity, know that you can go for alternative options. For example, you can go for exercises that can be done in the pool. The buoyancy of the water helps those who have joint problems.
Apart from physical exercise, it would be best if you also focused on mental exercises. It would help if you tried to think positively and let go of negativity.
Meditation is another way that you can strengthen your mind to battle with the challenges of depression. Granted that meditation is hard to get used to in the beginning, it has proven to have beneficial effects on mental health.
If you find your mind wandering away from time to time, know that it’s normal. Don’t be too harsh on yourself. Meditation can only be perfected with practice.
Natural herbs:
People looking for natural alternatives know that there are a wide variety of herbs that can help you fight against depression. Saffron, cannabis, and St. John’s wort are a few examples of herbs that can make a difference.
Amongst the ones that I’ve used, I’ve found cannabis to be most effective as it can reduce anxiety and help with severe depression. The best thing about it is that you have many options to choose from if you want a mild high or want to be productive, it’s your call. If you’re looking for a cannabis option that is better suited for you try visiting bestkratomcanada.ca
A healthy diet:
A healthy diet is also an essential part of fighting depression. Many people who suffer from depression also have to battle food disorders. Know that you need to have a healthy diet to have the strength that your mind and body needs.
It would help if you stayed away from alcohol and food that contain caffeine as they can lead to heightened anxiety. Anxiety can exacerbate your depression, and you wouldn’t want that to happen now, would you?
Try to eat fresh foods that have a high nutritional value. If you don’t feel like eating much, start by eating small portions that are healthier, and if you eat when you’re stressed, and that’s a cause of your depression, you can start going for more modest and healthier portions.
Support groups:
Another thing that might help you if you’re suffering from depression is talking to people who are going through the same thing that you are. While it might seem hard, and we often think that we will be judged, more than half of the world suffers from various degrees of depression.
Joining a therapy group session might be exactly what you need. While suffering from depression, people often end up thinking that they are alone and have no one to talk to. Seeing people recover from depression, and others fighting will boost your morale and help you improve.
A Proper sleeping cycle:
Last but not least, make sure that you have a proper sleep cycle. While you might be cynical of the fact that this has something to do with depression, a good night’s sleep can make a significant change.
Most of us spend half of the night glued to our phones and have absolutely no sense of time. And that has proven to be detrimental to most of our mental health. So, if you’re suffering from depression, try to sleep by a reasonable time and try to keep your phone away, so you’re not tempted to scroll down Facebook.
A proper night’s sleep will make you feel more energetic and productive in the morning and decrease your depression.
Final thoughts:
If you’ve gone through the above mentioned alternative, you know that you have other options that you can go for. However, always keep in mind that you should consult your doctor before you go on an alternative therapy. While these alternatives may not have any side effects on their own, paired with a hidden medical condition may be problematic.
Know that popular multinational pharmaceutical companies are making billions of dollars because you are deciding to take medication rather than go for alternative means. So, try to strip yourself of this cooperative conditioning and try a few alternative routes.
Author’s bio:
David Martin is currently a final year student of Neuroscience at California University. He is passionate about writing and takes a keen interest in all things that alter our mental makeup. He regularly writes blogs at https://bestkratomcanada.ca/.