Well. There is no single cause of depression. You can develop it for different reasons and it has many different triggers. For some, an upsetting or stressful life event – such as bereavement, divorce, illness, redundancy and job or money worries – can be the cause.
An Overview of the current state of things
A study found that more than 5 percent of the population suffers from depression in the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean.
The most depressed country is Afghanistan, where more than 20 percent suffer from the disorder, while the least depressed is Japan, with less than 2.5 percent.
It affects approximately 14.8 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. Persistent depressive disorder, or PDD, (formerly called dysthymia) is a form of depression that usually continues for at least two years.
Does this cartoon sum it all……
Image Source: Nick Seluk
Let the Remedies Begin
Being depressed can make you feel helpless. You’re not. Along with therapy and sometimes medication, there’s a lot you can do to fight back. Even better you can do it on your own. Take a look at these 5 Natural Depression Remedies to End your Isolation :
1. Get in a routine
If you’re depressed, you need a routine, says Ian Cook, MD. He’s a psychiatrist and director of the Depression Research and Clinic Program at UCLA. Depression can strip away the structure from your life. One day melts into the next. Setting a gentle daily schedule can help you get back on track. Also set daily goals for yourself.
2. Practice Catharsis
The actual very definition of Catharsis is the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. It’s worth sharing this is a scientific, psychological understood principle, not just pseudo-spiritual science.
Catharsis can happen naturally or can be provoked. Anytime you are crying, screaming, shaking or even lots of laughing, you are releasing. The idea is to become more comfortable at releasing. One way to do that is to provoke catharsis and emotional release.
3. Exercise
Exercise can greatly relieve depression, possibly by altering the mood-regulating brain chemicals norepinephrine and serotonin. It may also release the endorphins responsible for the “runner’s high” that some experience. It temporarily boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It may also have long-term benefits. Regular exercise seems to encourage the brain to rewire itself in positive ways.
Bright light early in the morning seems to be the most effective on mood so an early morning jog may be beneficial in different ways.
4. Aromatherapy
For nearly 6,000 years essential oils have been used for therapeutic purposes. The very idea of it can bring good feelings.
The “smell” receptors in your nose communicate with parts of your brain (the amygdala and hippocampus) that serve as storehouses for emotions and memories. When you breathe in essential oil molecules, some researchers believe they stimulate these parts of your brain and influence physical, emotional, and mental health. For example, scientists believe lavender stimulates the activity of brain cells in the amygdala similar to the way some sedative medications work.
5. Eat the goodies
Ingesting good fats such as omega-3’s can have a positive affect on brain neurotransmitters and is critical for the functioning of the nervous system, says Caracoglia. Find omega-3 essential fatty acids in sources such as salmon and walnuts. Punch up your diet with a dose of daily vitamins. Experts recommend vitamin B-12, folic acid, vitamin D3 and tyrosine. Find them in foods like fish, oysters, beans, nuts, whole grains, leafy vegetables and fortified dairy products.
What advice does Stephen Hawking have for you ?
He gave the speech in front of a crowd of over 400 people on Thursday evening, January 7, as part of the Reith lecture at the Royal Institute in London. He said:
“Things can get out of a black hole both on the outside and possibly to another universe. So if you feel you are in a black hole, don’t give up – there’s a way out.”
So have a big heart and strive to change bit by bit. You are not alone.