Natural remedies / Was: I really need some inspiration
Julie WH
<< What natural remedies are you familiar with?? >>
Hi Rachel,
I'm also currently struggling with stress-related (and perhaps seasonal) depression. We've just completed a huge move and all our stuff that's been in storage in different locations has converged on us. While it's great to FINALLY be settled somewhere, the house is still a crazy feng shui nightmare, even after working on it for three weeks now!
So I can really commiserate with your situation and feelings. My two-year-old's need to nurse is very high and his sleep schedule is all over the place (his response to all the stress). The last couple of days I've struggled to not resent his need to nurse so much, and the erratic sleep schedule is taking it's toll on me. So I've been thinking of all the natural things I've learned (over many years of dealing with depression) that I need to do to feel good, and figured I'd share and maybe you'll find something helpful.
The most ridiculously simple things are also THE most important for me. And although they're so simple, one of my therapists had to drill them into my head. Here's what she told me:
"EVERY day, you need to do these five things:
- Eat nutritious food
- Drink plenty of healthy fluids
- Get plenty of sleep, ideally on your body's preferred schedule
- Get some fresh air and exercise
- Enjoy some pleasant, supportive social interaction (preferably face-to-face)"
Now I know all this might sound SOOO obvious to most people -- like, "DUH!!". But when I get moderately depressed, it's VERY easy for me to "forget" or simply avoid eating, drinking, sleeping, exercising, and especially socializing. And then things spiral down and down. So when I first start feeling the effects of depression setting in, I have to VERY consciously focus on doing those five things and am able to keep from getting worse and begin feeling better.
For me, feeling better also means identifying the stressors and triggers (right now it's the stress and fatigue of the move, messy house, and poor sleep) and figuring out how to manage, minimize, and/or better deal with them.
As far as supplements, I take primrose oil and/or flaxseed oil. Those make a huge difference for me, especially if wacky hormones are contributing to my moodiness. I also have to be super vigilant to avoid the foods I'm allergic to (wheat, dairy, eggs, high fructose corn syrup, MSG). When I'm feeling generally good, I can eat a bit of those things now and then with little or no affect. But when I'm feeling depressed, they make me highly irritable and even angry (especially wheat!).
Last year I also had a doctor determine that my adrenal gland wasn't functioning well and that my cortisol levels were severely low all day. He put me on a VERY low dosage of hydrocortisone (he called it a bio-replacement dosage, nearly replacing what my adrenal gland's not producing). That not only dramatically helped my mood problems, but also stopped the weight loss, joint problems, and hypoglycemia that had been troubling me.
The greatest thing about that doctor was that he talked to me for 45 minutes during the first visit, and kept asking "So, if we fixed all that, would you be totally healthy?" And then I'd think of something else that was bothering me. :) He's the first doctor who spent so much time trying to understand my TOTAL health picture.
So maybe you can find a holistic-minded MD or other practitioner who will help you find any underlying physical problems that may be contributing to your depression.
There are also many, many, MANY great posts in this list's archives about how to identify and work through any thoughts or feelings that are dragging you down. This is something I also find essential in maintaining or regaining my mental health.
However, for many years I ONLY worked on my mental and emotional processes, without paying attention to the physical and biochemical aspects of my depression. And while I learned lots of valuable tools to direct my thoughts and feelings in healthier ways, I remained mildly to severely depressed for many years.
It wasn't until I began learning about how to take care of myself physically (both on the practical level and at the deeper biochemical level) that I've been able to maintain relative mental health (going on almost four years now!).
Anyhoo, that's my story. :) Sending you a {{{HUGE HUG}}}!!!!
Julie WH
Hi Rachel,
I'm also currently struggling with stress-related (and perhaps seasonal) depression. We've just completed a huge move and all our stuff that's been in storage in different locations has converged on us. While it's great to FINALLY be settled somewhere, the house is still a crazy feng shui nightmare, even after working on it for three weeks now!
So I can really commiserate with your situation and feelings. My two-year-old's need to nurse is very high and his sleep schedule is all over the place (his response to all the stress). The last couple of days I've struggled to not resent his need to nurse so much, and the erratic sleep schedule is taking it's toll on me. So I've been thinking of all the natural things I've learned (over many years of dealing with depression) that I need to do to feel good, and figured I'd share and maybe you'll find something helpful.
The most ridiculously simple things are also THE most important for me. And although they're so simple, one of my therapists had to drill them into my head. Here's what she told me:
"EVERY day, you need to do these five things:
- Eat nutritious food
- Drink plenty of healthy fluids
- Get plenty of sleep, ideally on your body's preferred schedule
- Get some fresh air and exercise
- Enjoy some pleasant, supportive social interaction (preferably face-to-face)"
Now I know all this might sound SOOO obvious to most people -- like, "DUH!!". But when I get moderately depressed, it's VERY easy for me to "forget" or simply avoid eating, drinking, sleeping, exercising, and especially socializing. And then things spiral down and down. So when I first start feeling the effects of depression setting in, I have to VERY consciously focus on doing those five things and am able to keep from getting worse and begin feeling better.
For me, feeling better also means identifying the stressors and triggers (right now it's the stress and fatigue of the move, messy house, and poor sleep) and figuring out how to manage, minimize, and/or better deal with them.
As far as supplements, I take primrose oil and/or flaxseed oil. Those make a huge difference for me, especially if wacky hormones are contributing to my moodiness. I also have to be super vigilant to avoid the foods I'm allergic to (wheat, dairy, eggs, high fructose corn syrup, MSG). When I'm feeling generally good, I can eat a bit of those things now and then with little or no affect. But when I'm feeling depressed, they make me highly irritable and even angry (especially wheat!).
Last year I also had a doctor determine that my adrenal gland wasn't functioning well and that my cortisol levels were severely low all day. He put me on a VERY low dosage of hydrocortisone (he called it a bio-replacement dosage, nearly replacing what my adrenal gland's not producing). That not only dramatically helped my mood problems, but also stopped the weight loss, joint problems, and hypoglycemia that had been troubling me.
The greatest thing about that doctor was that he talked to me for 45 minutes during the first visit, and kept asking "So, if we fixed all that, would you be totally healthy?" And then I'd think of something else that was bothering me. :) He's the first doctor who spent so much time trying to understand my TOTAL health picture.
So maybe you can find a holistic-minded MD or other practitioner who will help you find any underlying physical problems that may be contributing to your depression.
There are also many, many, MANY great posts in this list's archives about how to identify and work through any thoughts or feelings that are dragging you down. This is something I also find essential in maintaining or regaining my mental health.
However, for many years I ONLY worked on my mental and emotional processes, without paying attention to the physical and biochemical aspects of my depression. And while I learned lots of valuable tools to direct my thoughts and feelings in healthier ways, I remained mildly to severely depressed for many years.
It wasn't until I began learning about how to take care of myself physically (both on the practical level and at the deeper biochemical level) that I've been able to maintain relative mental health (going on almost four years now!).
Anyhoo, that's my story. :) Sending you a {{{HUGE HUG}}}!!!!
Julie WH