Depression & Anxiety

[Guest guest]

I'm wondering if anyone might have advice on alternative methods for

depression and anxiety. I have suffered on and off for some time now,

and do not like prescrition medication.

 

 

Dear Cathtoday,

 

Depression can be caused from many different things, and usually a

combination of them built up over time. It's important to consider the

transitions

you've had within the year of the onset of depression. It's also important to

pay

close attention to body aches, as they are a sign of the types of stressors

which you need to handle first. Be especially careful of shoulder pain with

depression as it can spiral quickly into sever physical issues.

 

Some simple changes of diet can make tremendous strides in improving your

mood. Eating small meals more often throughout the day. Eating oatmeal for

breakfast, eliminating alcohol, refined flour (substitute whole grain flours),

sugar

(just substitute brown sugar for white) & salt (use non-processed sea salt),

increasing your intake of green vegetables, legumes, whole grains & chilies.

Refined Carbohydrates deplete thiamin. Amino acids are prescribed by both

Psychologist and Nutritionist for depression and anxiety. " The way up from

down, "

by Priscilla Slagle.

 

In Eastern tradition, the liver is the origin of depression, so any liver

support or detox, like milk thistle, should also help. You can do a search on

" Herbal Liver Support " for other supplements. Eastern tradition also suggests

meditation and finding meaning to your life.

 

Having experienced depression brought on by post traumatic stress, twice in

my life (The first time I used psychotherapy), I found that Epsom salts baths

was the easiest thing to do first. Diet was next, along with doing bodywork. I

found stretching, yoga and trigger point therapy were bodywork that I was able

to do for myself. I volunteered with a local wild life preservation

organization to teach preschoolers, which forced me to get outside and be with

small

children, and really helped to improve my mood tremendously.

 

Go to the library and see what books you can get on self bodywork. The books

I've found most helpful are " Taoist Yoga and Sexual Energy, " by Eric Yudelove

and " Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your self-treatment guide for pain

relief, " by Clair Davies. Also if you can find a massage therapist who does

Proprio

Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF stretches) it's a delightful way of getting

your stretching done. If you are in the SF bay area, there is a strechologist,

Patrik Rousselot, who gives a stretching " boot camp " which teaches you how to

do PNF on yourself (although it feels much nicer with massage).

 

I can't say enough about finding a way to make a difference in the world. I

know during the worst grips of depression it's hard to even get out of bed, but

while you are in bed, you can pray for those who don't have anyone to pray

for them. Once you are able to get out of bed and get outside, remember that a

smile can change a person's day. Take little steps first, do not try to do

everything all at once. Promise yourself you will do one thing each day.... even

if it is the same thing every day... and keep your promise to yourself. As you

gain your strength, do for yourself first, whatever feeds your soul, not what

others tell you should. It took a lot of personal emotional work, for me to

let go of outside expectations and find my own true compass.

 

I made a list of all the wonderful things in life which made me happy,

tastes, smells, textures, sounds, activities and brought more of them into my

life.

You'll see it doesn't cost much to make yourself happy. By triggering more

neurotransmitters with pleasant experiences, you'll get the natural antidote to

depression. It won't happen overnight, as it is both progressive and

cumulative, which takes time.

 

Rachel

 

PS I hope I responded correctly, as this is my first time with this group and

I am on the digest. Hopefully, you all didn't get the entire digest!

 

 

 

 

 

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

hi group, (i'm new here, 2nd day)

But I wanted to emphasize a few of the points some other members touched

on briefly in their replies to helping aleviate depression.

 

It is of utmost importance to condition your mind to allow your mood to

improve. Just like an athelete who trains his body to be a champion, you

must train your mind to improve your emotional state.

 

In addition to all the great nutritional advice previous members

recommended, begin a daily regimen of meditation and or self-hypnosis

with positive affirmations, imagery, and humor to induce feelings of

well being and calm.

 

This type of mental work must be practiced every day just like an elite

athelete does to stay in shape.

 

It's easy to let your mind slip into a morbid state, so you must be

vigilant in this meditative or self-hypnosis practice. (when i talk

about self-hypnosis, i simply mean just learning on your own how to

induce a deep state of relaxation by yourself, and that will allow the

mind-body connection to improve your well being- i hope)

 

I have been trying this approach myself to deal with my depressing

moments lately by creating and producing meditative/hypnotic and

humorous slideshows to keep my mind off the slippery slopes of gloom.

 

I posted a few of the slideshows I produced on my personal webpages for

free to share any possible benefits they may bring to others. It's all

free, no catches, just send me some feedback if they help at all.

 

Here is the link to my page: Lori's meditative-hypnotic homepage

<http://self-hypnosis.bravehost.com>

 

Sincerely,

Lori

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

, " loripanties "

<loripanties wrote:

>

>

> hi group, (i'm new here, 2nd day)

> But I wanted to emphasize a few of the points some other members

touched

> on briefly in their replies to helping aleviate depression.

>

> It is of utmost importance to condition your mind to allow your

mood to

> improve. Just like an athelete who trains his body to be a

champion, you

> must train your mind to improve your emotional state.

>

> In addition to all the great nutritional advice previous members

> recommended, begin a daily regimen of meditation and or self-

hypnosis

> with positive affirmations, imagery, and humor to induce

feelings of

> well being and calm.

>

> This type of mental work must be practiced every day just like an

elite

> athelete does to stay in shape.

>

> It's easy to let your mind slip into a morbid state, so you must be

> vigilant in this meditative or self-hypnosis practice. (when i talk

> about self-hypnosis, i simply mean just learning on your own how to

> induce a deep state of relaxation by yourself, and that will allow

the

> mind-body connection to improve your well being- i hope)

>

> I have been trying this approach myself to deal with my depressing

> moments lately by creating and producing meditative/hypnotic and

> humorous slideshows to keep my mind off the slippery slopes of

gloom.

>

> I posted a few of the slideshows I produced on my personal

webpages for

> free to share any possible benefits they may bring to others. It's

all

> free, no catches, just send me some feedback if they help at all.

>

> Here is the link to my page: Lori's meditative-hypnotic homepage

> <http://self-hypnosis.bravehost.com>

>

> Sincerely,

> Lori

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bravo Lori! You're SO right on with this!

 

Thank you for sharing your wise perspective and your awesome web site.

 

All the best,

Michelle

http://www.HolisticMenopause.com

 

It is of utmost importance to condition your mind to allow your mood to

improve. Just like an athelete who trains his body to be a champion,

you must train your mind to improve your emotional state.