Coping with Depression

Everyone gets depressed at some point in their life; even the most happy go lucky individuals can experience moments of sadness and despondency that seem insurmountable and hard to define. Whether it's a gray gloomy day that matches your mood, a relationship that seems to be going nowhere or aches and pains that bring you down, the sources of depression may be complex and threaten your well-being and sense of purpose. With the right coping strategies and keeping your goals and health concerns in mind, conquering depression is well within your reach and can be achieved with a concentrated plan of attack. 

Reach out to others and get that sense of community that gives us all a feeling of belonging and inner peace. Know that we're all put here on this planet for a purpose and, although you may not have grasped its meaning, your presence here has one. Depression is an intensely lonely experience, and all those interior monologues re-played over and over in your mind will become self-fulfilling prophecies unless you shut them off. Talk to a close friend, a religious advisor or your family doctor to get some insight into what's bugging you. Reaching outside yourself is key to gaining the inner strength to change your negative outlook; you just may discover that what you thought was an isolated problem is common, and there are resources out there and steps to take to get your life back on track.

Find something to do in your spare time that is constructive, fulfilling and outwardly directed. If your depression has resulted in weight gain, look for a boot camp class in your area or join a gym that offers classes for a sense of community and purpose. Volunteering is a way to contribute and achieve a sense of belonging; go to your local United Way agency and find out where your skills could be best utilized. Depression is the worst kind of pity party imaginable, and depressed people are typically self-absorbed. Getting outside yourself and making others' lives easier will uplift your own. 

Since the introduction of Prozac in the late 1980s, antidepressant medications have been touted by psychiatrists as a way to alter the brain's chemistry. Serotonin is the chemical responsible for regulating mood, and you can promote its production naturally by taking 5-HTP, or 5-hydroxy L-tryptophan, an amino acid. Metabolic Response Modifier offers their 5-HTP Capsules in a vegetarian formula derived from griffonia seeds, a plant native to Africa. Another vegan-friendly supplement is from Protocol For Life Balance and their 5-HTP Capsules, which can be taken up to three times a day for acute symptoms. 

Another way to treat depression naturally is with SAM-e, or S-adenosylmethionine, a synthetically-derived compound that increases the production of serotonin and dopamine to enhance and regulate mood. PhysioLogics offers their SAM-e Tablets, which also contain vitamins B-2 and C to improve mood as well as restore healthy joint function. Jarrow Formulas has a pharmaceutical-grade formula with their SAM-e Tablets that do double duty as a mood regulator as well as a liver detoxifier, all with vegan-friendly ingredients.

St John's wort has been used as far back as the ancient Greeks as a painkiller and mood enhancer, and it is frequently prescribed by German apothecaries as a treatment for depression. In fact, in a 2005 report published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, the herb was shown to be more effective than Prozac in the treatment of depression. Enzymatic Therapy offers their St. John's Wort Extract Tablets made under the rigorous standards of the German Commission E, the recognized global authority on herbal medications. The herb is also available in liquid form in Herb Pharm's St. John's Wort Extract derived from the freshly-cut tops of the flowering buds. Consider this all-natural alternative to enhance your mood, gain mental clarity and achieve that sense of well-being that can be within your reach once again.