6 Natural Alternatives To Antidepressants

Depression is a severe psychological disorder that ruins the lives of many people. Moreover, it is widely misunderstood because of a severe lack of awareness.

Depression isn’t just a bad mood; it can be much more severe; a person with depression develops negative thinking patterns, which cause them a lot of emotional pain. Sometimes, depression patients can’t even get out of bed because of their emotions. They lose interest in the things that they enjoyed, and some patients also develop a sense of hatred toward themselves.

In severe cases, depression can even lead to self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

However, depression is treatable, through psychotherapy. Techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy have proven to be quite useful; however, patients usually need to take antidepressants to elevate their mood enough to attend these therapy sessions.

Antidepressants can have a lot of side effects, and patients tend to develop a dependency on them as well. Therefore, here are six natural alternatives for antidepressants.

Try using cannabis:

Cannabis is much more than a recreational drug; it has many health benefits, including the ability to counter depression. Marijuana isn’t a cure for depression in any way, but it can elevate your mood and combat some of its symptoms.

The cannabinoids like THC and CBD, affect our natural endocannabinoid system and trigger the release of hormones like dopamine and serotonin, which can elevate your mood and counter the effect of cortisol which is a common stress hormone.

Try this strain if you are trying to fight depression with marijuana.

Practice mindful meditation:

Meditation is a very effective way to relax and counter depression; you should incorporate simple exercises like focusing on your breathing to clear your mind of negative thoughts. Over time, meditation can help you change the way you respond to stressful situations, which can be beneficial in fighting depression.

Work up a sweat:

There have been hundreds of studies that show the effect of exercise on depression. In fact, in a review of more than 6000 similar studies that were conducted at the University of Toronto, it was found that 20 to 30 minutes of regular exercise significantly lowers the risk of depression.

However, it is essential to keep the exercise light and energetic because intense exercise can also increase cortisol levels in our bodies.

Spend some time in the sun:

According to a study from the journal Environmental Health, exposure to sunlight can help in the regulation of serotonin and melatonin, which are both hormones that affect our mood.

Another more recent study, in which more than 80000 postmenopausal women participated, found that women who ate foods with vitamin D had a 20% lower risk of developing depressive symptoms. Sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D;. Therefore, it can be beneficial for depression patients.

Try massage therapy

Several studies have shown that massage therapy can be helpful in the treatment of depression symptoms. Massage eliminates stress, relaxes your body, and creates a balance in your body hormones, which can significantly improve your mood.

Moreover, sometimes, depression can be caused due to conditions like chronic pain, which is also effectively treatable by massage therapy.

Consider adopting a support pet:

A study from 2012 found that petting dogs and hanging out with them decrease stress and improves your mood. Researchers believe that taking a pet can be quite beneficial for depression patients because petting dogs and getting affection from them can increase oxytocin levels in our body, which is a powerful hormone that makes us happy and promotes trust and empathy.

Author’s bio:

Samantha is an expert when it comes to providing remedies for physical and mental well-being. However, she is fond of writing regardless of what she writes about. She believes that she can influence people and their lives with her opinion and knowledge. To read her write-ups, visit https://cannabismo.org/.