Posted on Wednesday, August 12 2009 by
Paola ::
Comments (1)
::
Photo by ymcapdx
I was reading the body & soul section in the Sunday Telegraph and read an article on beating depression naturally. This inspired me to write our own 10 Tips on beating the blues.
It is easy to feel down and lethargic during times when things are not going to our plan. Life has a way of throwing unexpected turns and no matter how much we want control we just need to let go. Simple things can become huge in our minds and we become self-absorbed and stuck.
Here are some tips on beating this state of mind.
1. Stress Management: Studies have linked stress to multiple conditions and if you are feeling down, then minimize your stress levels. Hormones we excrete during periods of stress interfere with our brain chemistry and lead to sleep disturbance. So address this area(s) in your life to improve your state of mind. Work smarter not harder, this will help you reduce your stress and achieve more balance in your life.
2. Exercise: When we exercise we burn off stress energy and our bodies feel better as a consequence. Raising your health is a great way to feel better and beat those down times. Studies show that those people that exercise regularly are healthier and get sick less often. So get out there and get active.
3. Alternative therapies: Hot Stone Massage, Network care, Indian head massages: Trying out a different modality will open you up in different ways; you may uncover some deep unconscious blockages that you haven’t lifted before with other modalities. Our bodies store issues that we have not resolved, and so over time these manifest in your body. So you may not know why you have the blues, you just feel it.
4. Stick to your Routine: Having a sense of familiarity will give you guidance and structure. When down you need to keep going and thus the routine benefits you. This way you just do and think less about feeling down. Walking the dog, maintaining your schedule will give you a sense of accomplishment in the day.
5. Relaxation and meditation: Studies have shown that people who mediate are healthier and less likely to experience mental illness. So find out which style suits you the best. Even your yoga will have relaxation and meditative effects. Just focusing on your breathing will calm and focus you. This makes you feel more grounded and centered.
6. Clean up your Diet: Having a look at what you eat can also assist you in combating the blues as a low carbohydrate diet can be detrimental to your health. As the Vitamin B group help you manage stress, B6 is needed to make serotonin and B3 is nature’s antidepressant so eat those complex carbohydrates and low GI foods. Also minimize your refined sugars and keep up the good essential fatty acids in seafood and fish.
7. Give up those negative habits: Most people know smoking is not good for your health, so perhaps this is the time to give up. Caffeine, alcohol and tobacco all interfere with the happy hormone serotonin. Plus your levels of tryptophan the amino acid required for the serotonin to be produced. If beating the blues is your goal then here is a strong reason to avoid or reduce these stimulants completely.
8. Start something new: Getting out of your comfort zone is one way to get over the blues; you have novelty and learning something different. You are opening yourself to new opportunities and your body and mind are stimulated. You are distracted from your down state and changed your physiology into a more open and allowing state.
9. Connect with others: When you do things for other people you are in fact thinking less about yourself and your own internal drama. So give to others if you are feeling down and soon you will start to feel more connected, appreciated, wanted and loved. Lifts your energy and your mood. So go out there and volunteer your time.
10. Join a club: Doing something you like also gets you out of feeling down and into the action space. Playing a sport, joining dance classes or even joining a book club. You are with others who share a similar interest and you will learn and grow.