Frederick Jace
Depression is one of the most common mental health problems all around the world. Tons of people around us suffer from depression on a daily basis and use different antidepressants to deal with it. The problem with antidepressants is that they come with an unending list of side effects.
Plus, they can also result in substance use disorder which means that the person can’t function without taking antidepressants. However, there are tons of natural alternatives to antidepressants that work perfectly well to counter the effects of depression.
Mentioned below are a few natural alternatives to antidepressants and benzodiazepines:
Fix Your Diet
Fixing your diet will help you feel much better because people tend to overeat when they have depression. This can make them feel lazy and lethargic. Plus, it can make them conscious about their body image which will just aggravate the already bad situation that they are in.
Although there isn’t too much evidence to support this, some doctors believe that foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid can help alleviate the symptoms of depression. So, try to add foods like salmon, tuna, spinach, and avocado to your meals.
Start Exercising
No matter how bad your depression is, exercise can always help change your mood in the short term and fix your depression in the long run. Exercise releases endorphins in your body which help lift your mood. Moreover, if you make exercise a regular part of your life, it can even rewire your brain in a positive way in the long run which will help you with your depression.
Get More Sleep
One of the toughest things about dealing with depression is that you can never get enough sleep. It becomes much harder to fall asleep and even when you do fall asleep the quality is not good. This can cause your depression to become even worse.
The best way to get more sleep is to stay away from any screens at least half an hour before going to bed and make your bedroom as dark as possible. If you still have a hard time falling asleep use earplugs. However, make sure you don’t rely on sleeping pills because they will aggravate your depression even more.
Try Herbal Remedies
There are tons of natural remedies that have proven to be very effective for depression patients. Some of the most commonly used ones include saffron, Rhodiola, creatine, and lizard king mushrooms. You can also use foods that are rich in vitamin B and D to help alleviate the symptoms of your depression.
Set a Routine for Yourself
When you are depressed you lose all structure and order from your life. You lose track of time, sometimes even days go by without you noticing. If your condition is so severe that you are experiencing these symptoms, you need to restore some sort of order in your life. Set a routine for yourself that you follow every day. It will help you get things back on track and bring back some order in your life.
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol and drugs are your enemies if you are a depression patient. They do seem like a good option to give you some relief in the short term; however, in the long run, they just make things worse. Plus, they lead to tons of other problems like alcohol dependency or substance abuse which ruin your psychological and physical health. So, make sure that you stay away from alcohol and drugs as much as possible.
Talk to a Mental Health Specialist
Sometimes the best course of action is to go to a mental health specialist and just talk to them about your depression. Hopefully, they can help you get to the bottom of your problem and talk you through how you can make certain lifestyle and behavioral changes to fix your depression. However, it needs to be your last resort. If nothing else works, you can turn to a mental health expert and seek professional help.
The Final thoughts:
Antidepressants are never a good option, they might change your mood in the short term, but they don’t address the root cause of your depression. On the other hand, if you rely on natural ways, you can get to the root of the problem and eliminate it from there which will help you get rid of your depression, once and for all. I hope you get well soon, my friends. Have a wonderful day ahead, everyone!
