Depression and Dealing With It Naturally
Since it’s still Mental Health Awareness Month (May), I thought I would share another mental health related post. I really want to share as many mental health posts this month as possible and help spread awareness. I generally try to post about mental health at least once a month but in May I generally try to post at least once a week about mental health or things related to mental health.
Depression is such a difficult thing to deal with because a lot of times your symptoms are not even visible to those around you. As someone who was diagnosed with depression I definitely know how difficult it can be to overcome. I was personally able to do so naturally and thought I would share some things that have really helped me over the years.
I tried medication for my mental health problems but they did not work for me at all. I tried so many different types but some had horrible side effects, some just made me feel numb which I hated most and some really did nothing. After being frustrated with medications I decided to give some natural things a try and I am happy to report that they have really helped me. Depression is not something that goes away for a lot of people and is often your companion for life. What you really need to target are the symptoms because that’s what you want to be able to deal with or get rid of.
Another reason I like to share content on how to deal with mental health issues naturally is because not everyone can afford to get help from a professional or pay for medication for the rest of their lives. If we lived in a perfect world, there would be a lot more free resources and medications for people suffering from mental health issues but we don’t live in a perfect world. A lot of people, including myself, live in countries where it is quite expensive to get help and pay for medication regularly. A lot of people in Kenya can not even afford medical bills for physical illnesses let alone mental ones. Instead of simply ignoring mental illnesses, I think you would rather try natural remedies than nothing at all. However, if you are able to afford getting help please do speak to a professional at least once and try to speak to multiple if the first one or two don’t work for you because it takes time to find the right person. At least, get the diagnosis from a professional if possible. If this is something you simply can’t afford, please don’t give up or feel like you have no other options. Keep trying natural remedies until you get to a point where you can speak to a professional.
Disclaimer: This post is not to encourage anyone to stop taking medication for depression or anything like that. It’s simply for people who would prefer a natural route and all the things listed below can absolutely be done alongside medication as well if you are someone who is currently on medication for depression. If medication is working for you please stick with it. The following are just things I found helpful that I wanted to share as they may help some of you too.
Meditation And Yoga
I have talked about these numerous times on my blog but meditation and yoga can do wonders for your mental health. They may not work instantly but they are incredible longterm. And the best part is that you can do both from the comfort of your home for free if that is what you would prefer!
Meditation has always been popular amongst certain communities such as Asian communities. However, it has also become more and more popular in global North countries since a lot more people are now understanding the benefits of meditation. You can easily find YouTube videos that will help teach you the basics of meditation and most areas tend to have meditation classes where you can meditate with a teacher guiding you. In case, these are not available in your area, I do offer virtual meditation classes. If that’s something you would be interested in doing please click here to learn more.
Yoga is amazing for mental health too. Again, it has been popular for a long time in South Asian communities but is also popular in other societies and communities now too due to its many benefits. Not only does it improve your physical health, it can be great for your mental health too. I am not going to pretend to be a yoga expert because I still only know the basics and do it less often than meditation but it has helped me a lot both with certain physical issues and mental ones. I always feel so much more positive and uplifted when I do yoga and it’s just like a wonderful breath of fresh air.
Healthy Lifestyle
Having a healthy and regular lifestyle can really do wonders for your mental health. I have noticed that since going vegan my mental health has really improved. I feel less groggy, my concentration is better and I just have so much more energy. You don’t necessarily have to take the route I did and go vegan, but I would definitely recommend adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet.
I have also noticed that when I don’t get enough sleep or when my sleeping hours randomly change, my mental health tends to deteriorate too. Sleeping enough and having a regular sleeping schedule is really beneficial especially when you get older. when you’re in your teens and early twenties you’ll be fine but once you hit 25 everything changes pretty fast.
I would also really recommend getting some fresh air and exercise. You don’t have to work out all the time, unless you want to, you can simple just take a walk or go for a jog or just sit on a bench and take in some fresh air. It doesn’t sound like much but it can seriously help improve your mental health more than you think.
Hobbies
I recently talked about the importance of hobbies for your mental health in this post so I won’t get into too much detail but hobbies can really be a mood booster for a lot of people. It keeps you busy and happy which is a really great combination for people who are dealing with depression. I know sometimes you may not want to do anything, even things you enjoyed before. That’s a common symptom of depression but as I mentioned earlier, you need to beat the symptoms or at least not let them beat you. Keep doing things you used to love and you may find that you start to enjoy them again.
CBD Oil
CBD oil has been one of the biggest things that have helped me. I have shared my journey with CBD oil before and if you are interested in reading about it please click here.
If you haven’t tried CBD oil I would highly recommend it. It can really help to improve your mood, give you more energy, help with concentration and much more. I have found that it has significantly reduced my symptoms for both depression and anxiety. Another thing I liked about CBD oil was that over time, instead of my body getting used to it and having to use more, my health improved to a point where I could use significantly less.
CBD oil isn’t free and it can be quite pricey depending on where you choose to get it. However, it can also be cheaper than medication since a small amount goes a long way. If you live in certain countries, it may also be covered by your health insurance.
If you are interested in using CBD oil I would recommend please do research into it first and also do consult with a medical practitioner first since they can help you choose the right type for you as well as help you with the dosage etc. If you are taking any other medications make sure to mention it to them to make sure it is compatible.
Pets
This one is my favourite one so I saved it for last! Pets are great for your health and can really help improve your mental health. Studies have shown that pets especially cats and dogs can help improve your mental health, make you feel more positive, less lonely and can help reduce stress. If you have a pet spend some time with them and if not this may be a sign to get one or two! (I’m looking at you mum and dad)
Conclusion
I really hope you find these helpful and if you feel like natural methods are not working for you please do consult a professional. They can help you a lot more since they are trained to do so.
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