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Cures for Mental Depression

Depression is a mental illness characterized by feelings of hopelessness, sadness and fatigue. According to Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota, depression is one of the leading health conditions in the world. Environment, chemical imbalances and hereditary are all contributing factors for depression. Find out how you can cure your mental depression and get back to the life you once enjoyed.

  1. Cognitive Therapy

    • Cognitive-behavioral therapy consists of talking to a mental-health practitioner like a counselor, social worker, psychologist or therapist about your current and past problems. The underlining theory behind cognitive therapy is that our thought patterns control our feelings, which in turn influence actions. Based on the information from the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists, the average number of therapy sessions is in the 16 range. This type of therapy can help a person counsel himself, create goals, change thinking patterns and stop unsuccessful behaviors.

    Medication

    • Physicians or psychiatrists generally start patients experiencing depression with medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants. These types of medication have fewer side effects than tricyclic antidepressants. They are used to treat and manage a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes serotonin to be out of balance. Medications can include Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro and Paxil. Tricyclic antidepressants are in a group of psychoactive drugs. Harmful possible side effects like irregular heart rhythms, hypotension and vomiting make these drugs less prescribed for first-time depression sufferers. Brands of these drugs include Pamelor, Surmontil, Norpramin and Vivactil. It takes roughly 8-to-12 weeks before the body will build up the chemicals in antidepressants. You should see improvement after three months.

    Diet

    • Some symptoms of depression are caused or exacerbated by sugar consumption. When an individual eats sugary foods, their endorphin levels rise and promote feelings of happiness. If you continually fill your diet with sugary foods, you cause your brain's endorphin sites to reduce production. This reduction can promote depression. Try to fill your diet with complex carbohydrates and foods containing tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that aids serotonin production in the brain. Complex carbohydrates also boost levels of this neurotransmitter. A lack of the amino-acid tyrosine, which helps produce norepinephrine and dopamine, can result in depression. Eat mustard greens, spinach and green beans to get this essential amino acid.

    Hotline

    • If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, call The National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE. This free phone service can offer support and get you the help you need. It is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

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