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Depression can sometimes feel like a dark and dreary cloud that’s never going to go away. Sharing your feelings and thoughts with somebody who truly listens and cares can bring huge relief. For milder forms of depression, writing about your feelings can also be highly beneficial ‑ as can sharing, exercise, wholesome food, yoga or meditation. If you feel that whatever you do, nothing is going to help, you should see a professional who can possibly help you with medication, if necessary.

Views on depression in the past

A depressed person was often labelled as a melancholic personality until the middle of the 20^th century. It was believed that most of the great works of art, literature and inventions were created by those with melancholic personalities.

Exercise and diet

Mild and moderate depression can be overcome through exercise in many instances. The effects can be more helpful than using anti-depressants. Some studies have shown that exercise can also benefit those with anxiety and clinical depression, giving the same mood-boosting effect as medications.

As with medication, the effects of exercise can’t be felt immediately. A sustained programme of half an hour of exercise three to four times a week will do wonders as the brain releases the same feel good chemicals that anti-depressants target.

As with exercise, a proper diet can change your brain chemistry and increase serotonin levels with the added bonus of no side effects, weight loss and better health overall. An unbalanced diet can cause anxiety, depression and various other mental disorders.

Some studies have shown that a many depressed people have a deficiency of folic acid, omega 3 fats and vitamins like B12 and B6. Folic acid can be found in seeds, legumes (including lentils and bean) and green leafy vegetables. Visit The Worlds Healthiest Foods website and Nutritional Factors: Natural Treatment for Depression.

See a professional

If you have lost interest in your daily life and activities and/or you have continuous feelings of depression, consider seeing a professional. A professional will look for further signs of depression before considering the possibility of prescribing medication for severe cases of depression.

Tags: Depression, eating healthily, exercise, health