What Can I Do To Overcome My Depression Without Taking Medicine?

Overcoming depression without taking medicine can be a big challenge if what you are having is more than just the blues as they call it. Depression occurs in different levels you see. There is a mild form of depression that requires no medical treatment. But moderate and severe forms of depression have to be properly addressed so the problem can be controlled. The extreme feeling of sadness can after all turn into a serious mood disorder without hallucinations and suicidal tendencies. In such cases, a combination of psychotherapy and mood stabilizers is prescribed.

The issue with medicines is that they often come with adverse reactions. It's not surprising then that people will want to seek alternative treatments. If you'd rather go the alternative route, here are some options:

• Include B-Vitamins in your diet. It has been found that not having enough Vitamin B1, B3, B5, B6, B9, and B12 in your body can cause depression. It only makes sense, therefore, to include these essential vitamins in your diet. More specifically:


• Vitamin B1 or Thiamine helps with depression by enabling the conversion of glucose (blood sugar) into energy. People who lack this essential vitamin are not only depressed, they are said to experience fatigue as well.


• Vitamin B3 or Niacin detoxifies the body and contributes to a healthy metabolism. When your body is deficient of Niacin, depression may set in and may even progress to a more serious mood disorder.


• Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic Acid is responsible in hormone production and hormones play a very important role in regulating depression. You can help fight fatigue and stress when you have enough vitamin B5 in your body.


• Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine is needed in the production of serotonin, a brain chemical that apparently affects mood, as well as in enzyme-regulation. Enzymes, as you know, play a very important role not just in mental health but in general well-being. You need this particular Vitamin when your immunity level is running low.


• Vitamin B9 or Folic Acid is highly recommended for pregnant women. It's believed that this essential vitamin helps prevent neural defects. It is also used in the treatment of depression.


• Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin helps to address anemia as it is involved in the production of red blood cells. Anemia can cause depression, confusion, hallucination, mood swings, and paranoia. At the same time, it can also be a consequence of lack of sleep and loss of appetite due to depression.


• Get more Vitamin C in your body. Vitamin C not only boosts your body's immunity, it is also involved in the production of serotonin, a chemical in the brain.


• Get enough sunshine. Expose yourself to early morning sunlight to activate as much Vitamin D in your body as possible.


• Cut back on sugar. This makes you high only temporarily, but when the feeling subsides, it can also make you feel very low. While cutting back on sugar, do not be fooled by food items labeled as sugar-free. Most of these use chemically-formulated sugar alternatives which if truth be told are not at all any better than table or refined sugar.


• De-clutter. Too much stuff crowds your mind. Too much clutter in your home contributes to your depression. Commit to changing your bad habits. Organize your time so that you get to have time for everything, including yourself. Make time for yourself and get rid of ghosts in your life. Get rid of stuff in your cabinet, too. If there are things in your wardrobe you have not used in such a long time, it only means you don't need them anymore. So find some people who do. Donate them to charity.