Coping With Depression, How To Win
Up to seven percent of Americans – that’s equal to almost seventeen million adults – go through a depressive episode each year. Some people only have one depressive episode throughout their life, but most people that go through a depressive episode will go through more.
Symptoms of depression include the following:
- Getting too much sleep or not enough
- Lack of interest in hobbies
- Irritability and angry outbursts
- Feelings of sadness and hopelessness
- Fatigue
- Changes in appetite
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Anxiety
- Trouble holding concentration
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Suicidal ideation
Depression is not just an emotional problem; it can induce uncomfortable physical symptoms as well. For example, adults with depression are possibly sixty percent more likely to develop heart disease, and some people may turn to alcohol or drug use to try to find relief from their symptoms, but these will only make the symptoms worsen with time.
Treatment for Depression?
Serotonin-Boosting Foods
Serotonin is an important chemical messenger that transmits messages between nerve cells throughout the body. Serotonin plays an essential role in mood, sleep, and memory function. Research indicates that eating foods like the following high in tryptophan can boost serotonin levels:
- Eggs
- Cheese/Milk
- Nuts/Seeds
- Salmon
Get Some Sun
Sunlight is also a vital source of serotonin. Even a modest amount of direct sunlight each day boosts levels of Vitamin D and serotonin.
Meditate
Habitual meditation allows a person to analyze the ways they react to and combat stress and sadness.
Cut Out Caffeine
A study published last year may indicate that caffeine intake (from tea, coffee, and soft drinks) may disrupt dopamine and other important neurotransmitters, which can lower motivation. Heavy caffeine intake can also result in depression-inducing side effects like anxiety or headaches.
Social Support
There are support groups out there filled with people who likely have symptoms much like yours. You can also turn to close friends and family – sometimes the simple act of talking to someone face to face about your depression can play a big role in relieving some of the stress.
Engage in Hobbies
It may not be possible to force yourself into having fun, but you can push yourself out of your comfort zone. You may find yourself surprised at how much better your feel if you take part in your hobbies even just a little bit.
Support Your Physical Health
Try to get eight hours of sleep a night. Too much or too little sleep can only contribute to your symptoms.
Find ways to work through your stress. There is no surefire way to cut out stress, but you can learn to manage it in a healthy way.
Stay physically active. Some research indicates that staying physically fit can be just as effective as antidepressants when it comes to treating symptoms.
Ketamine Treatment for Depression
IV Ketamine infusions are an innovative new treatment option that some doctors are calling the biggest breakthrough in depression treatment in decades. An FDA-approved anesthetic, Ketamine can provide rapid relief from the symptoms of depression when infused into the bloodstream at a low dose.
Research indicates that Ketamine can stimulate the growth and regrowth of important neurotransmitters within the brain, effectively rewriting the parts of the brain causing distress. Studies show that up to 75% of patients find relief from their symptoms after a series of Ketamine infusions.
Luckily, innovative new treatments like IV Ketamine infusion are opening the door for a new kind of depression treatment that may help those previously treatment-resistant.
