Natural Remedy For Mild Depression

[Ann]

Any suggestions for a natural remedy/buy over the counter to make me feel a bit brighter - had a bad year and everything getting me down at the moment. Thanks.

[jourdain2]

St. John's Wort. My doctor prescribed it for me. It works, but slowly. Good luck.

[ubasses]

Best to see your Dr, but if you won't St Johns Wort is meant to be good.

[anneasquith]

be good to yourself, accept you are slightly depressed. inform family and friends. good diet. fresh air, moderate exercise , if you are having a bad day, don't fight it, if you don't feel able to cope with any situations ,, say no. try to be as stress free as possible, if you feel worse see gp, good luck,

[Ann]

Thanks but I don't think I can take that with BP tablets Amlodipine and Ramipril?

[jourdain2]

Check with your doc.. Otherwise I have always found that walking the dog and gardening help.

[Ann]

Thanks I've never been like this before, but had a stressful year and losing my Mum just one of the pressures. I don't want to go to the Doctor (not bad enough) and certainly don't want prescription medicine/tablets for it - just something to cheer me up I suppose.

[nailit]

Natural remedies undoubtebly have their place but after suffering from suicidal depression Mirtazapine did it for me. I had been on different anti depressants previously and nothing did the 'trick' until I was hospitalized and placed on the above.
Hope the coming new year brings happier times Ann. x

[woofgang]

Ann this is going to sound silly but one of the best things you can do for mild reactive depression (depression where there is a reason to be depressed, not when its purely due to chemical imbalance) is to do small things that you enjoy. You may not feel like it and may feel that its not helping, but there is research to show that it can be very helpful. Make a list of everyday things that you usually enjoy and make a point of doing at least one every day.

[Ann]

Thanks nailit, appreciate your good wishes. I'm nowhere near as bad as you, just a bit down in the dumps I suppose you would call it and can't seem to drag myself back to my usual sunny self!

[AlwaysConfused]

avoid alcohol as it is a depressant in itself. Feeling depressed can affect both your appetite and your daily routine. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and do not fall into the trap of comfort eating, as this will only make you feel guilty. If you can't find your get-up-an-go, make a list of what you plan to do in the day, even simple tasks such as washing up and hoovering, and tick each task off as you complete it. Listen and dance along to upbeat music whilst doing the housework.

If you are out and about, go to Holland and Barratt - they have an array of remedies for just about everything.

[nailit]

Sorry Ann, you had posted while I was typing my reply. Didnt realise you had lost your mum. Cant imagine what it is like to loose your mum.

[jourdain2]

Losing your mum is bad, especially if you were close; are you still wanting to pick up the phone and tell her what has happened in your life? It is so hard. It certainly tipped me into a difficult cycle of depression - I'm still not completely out of it (18 years) but can cope with onsets of it now.

My very wise GP told me that losing a mother is like a 'wrong-way round' pregnancy - and it was certainly about 9 months later that it really hit.
It is a case of 'getting through' a really rough time.. I had divorce and all sorts of horrible things to cope with afterwards. As I said, please check with your G.P. about mixing St. John's Wort with your medication. Go to see him/her anyway, please. 'Not bad enough' can very easily slide into a really depressive state - then you can't think straight. Love x

[Ann]

Thanks woofgang! Gardening is very therapeutic for me - just pottering but it's not the right season ..........

[Ann]

Thanks jourdain x

[Ann]

//avoid alcohol as it is a depressant in itself//
No problem there Alwayscon, I don't drink alcohol but am reaching for the chocolate right now ... haha!

[woofgang]

Ann, visit garden centres and plan? I agree,its not the weather for a potter, my garden is like a bog at the mo.

[Ann]

My garden is too! Roll on Summer eh?

[scorpiojo]

Do you think that talking to a counsellor would help, Ann?

[Mamyalynne]

Ann,when you've had such a dreadful time it is little wonder you feel low. Some great advice given above,but you've done the first thing and acknowledged how you feel - a good GP won't press medication on you and talking may be a start.


As already said,let those you love know and look after yourself and feel brighter soon.x