Depression is coming. Depression is coming. And it may even already be here.
Myth #1."Depression and Suicides are higher during the winter." You may have heard of SADD, seasonal affected depression disorder, a type of depression that is supposed to be higher during the winter months. You may have even heard that the suicide rate is highest around the winter holidays. That is a myth. That’s right. It’s a lie. The facts are suicides are highest in the spring and fall not during the holidays.
Myth #2."There is nothing you can do about feeling depressed and need anti-depressant drugs." “Big Pharma” wants you to believe this myth but it is not true. There are several things you can do about depression:
1) Twenty to thirty minutes of moderate exercise helps depression. A brisk 15 to 20 minute walk can do wonders for your mood.
2) Another thing you can do is the Funny Face exercise. Studies have shown that looking in a mirror while smiling and making funny faces for several minutes each day is very effective against depression and can be more effective than medication in many cases.
Still want to take a pill?
3) Take concentrated fish oil capsules . The omega-3 in fish oil does great things for your brain chemistry including help with depression. But you have to take enough. The one or two capsules recommended on the label are not enough. Depending on the quality of the fish oil and the concentration level you will need to take anywhere from 4 capsules (when in concentrated form), to as many as 20 or more fish oil capsules a day (cheap drugstore brands). Don’t worry you can’t really over dose on fish oil (high doses can give you a loose bowel though). Fish oil has many health benefits besides helping with depression and includes improving heart health, helping diabetes, lowering cholesterol, reducing inflammation and improving libido just to name a few.
Another depression beating tool you can use is 4) breathing and meditation. You don’t have to go to the top of a mountain to contemplate your navel, just find a quiet place, get comfortable and listen to your breathing. Concentrate on breathing in through your nose, holding it for as long as you comfortably can and then exhale slowly out your nose and mouth. Do this for 10 to 20 times then add visualizations and breathe normally for several minutes. Think of a time when you felt totally relaxed and happy. It could be a childhood memory of a day at the beach or park or a vacation you remember. Try and recall all of the sights, sounds and sensations you can and relive them. Vividly imagine everything in as much detail as you can. This simple mental exercise is very powerful and relaxing.
5) Have more sex. Even if you don’t feel like it “Do It” anyway. High doses of fish oil can help increase sexual desire too. When you have sex your body and brain release a multitude of feel good chemicals. This happens not just as a result of orgasm but also includes kissing, caressing and cuddling. Another thing studies show about having more sex is it makes you feel like you are making more money, as much as $50,000 a year more.
So whether you are emotionally depressed or feeling the effects of financial depression use these 5 tools to take action, fight back and beat depression.
