How to Reduce Depression
5 natural healing alternatives!
Learning how to reduce depression, which affects millions of people around the world, is a hard disease to understand because there are many reasons why it happens, and so many different views on how it should be treated.
There are a number of stressful issues that can trigger this illness:
- Serious medical problems
- Moving
- Death of someone close to you
- Certain medications
- Stress at home or work
- Abuse-verbal,physical, sexual or mental
- Family history
- Major life change - divorce, marriage, new job, lost a job, new baby, retiring, graduating children go off to college
How to Reduce Depression - 5 Natural Ways
1.Massage Therapy - Although massage is not even considered an alternative treatment,
perhaps it should be viewed as a healing therapy for those who suffer
with this disease. Sure massage makes you feel good, but can it affect your mood? Massage has been proven to decrease anxiety and stress hormones.
It is just one of many treatments that fall into the alternative remedies category. Although, there are no studies that prove that massage can actually treat this disease or decrease symptoms, many people report an overall feeling of well-being and peacefulness after massage.
Some people do report a decrease in the symptoms of mood swings and sadness. Maybe it is the feeling of doing something good for yourself. We have become so focused on taking care of everybody else that we don't take care of us, as if we are not worthy of the right to put ourselves first.
We know that massage reduces stress and provides relaxation, but studies show it can also help us to create a trusting relationship with a professional massage practitioner, thereby causing the body to release Oxytocin, the "trust" hormone.
Trust is a rare thing to experience when you first meet someone. But, if you think about it, in a massage you can fall into a deep sleep with someone you have never met before in your life. How can you trust someone that you just met to such an extent that you can sleep, and sleep deeply, in their presence?
Touch is a powerful thing. It is a gift that few people possess... and some massage therapists, definitely have the gift!
2. Exercise - Committing to your health and well-being is extremely important, and exercise helps boost a release of endorphins, the feel good hormone. If you can't do something nice for yourself, sadness just might consume you, and exercise is great for your body and mind..
3. Essential Oils for Depression - Aromatherapy has been used for centuries to help with worry and stress. Certain scents tend to lift our spirits and make us less anxious. Among these are the essential oil fragrances of Lemon, Orange, Rosemary, and Eucalyptus - all tend to evoke a brighter outlook and a calmer spirit.
According to a 2014 study from The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, the effects of essential oil and aromatherapy on mood, showed significant improvement.
My favorite is Joyful Moments which is a blend of Orange, Spruce, Frankincense, Pine, Myrrh, Peppermint, and Cinnamon Bark essential oils. Citrus oils are also wonderful and uplifting, such as lemon, orange, tangerine, and citrus fresh. My favorite diffuser combo is Joyful Moments and Orange.
4. Sleep - Rest helps us to be more productive, think more clearly, and express our emotions more effectively, so it is critical to get a good night's sleep every night. When you can be productive and think things through, it can dramatically affect mood.
5. Eat healthy food - It is amazing how what you eat affects your mood and emotions, but it really does, and the healthier food you consume, the better you will feel about yourself, and your life. Fresh vegetables make a huge difference in your outlook, and lowering carbohydrate intake, sugar intake, and soda, will make you feel less bloated and more in control of life....great tip on how to reduce depression.
Depression touches all of us.
Wouldn't it be great if studies were conducted to show how to reduce depression with massage therapy and essential oils, and then could one day actually be proven to make a significant difference for those who suffer from this disorder?
Go back to Benefits of Body Massage from How to Reduce Depression
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