Most people suffer a period of depression in their lives. This year is even worse with the compounding by the COVID lockdowns and restrictions with the normal blues during the holidays. Feeling down and depressed during forced restrictions to our freedom in an enforced unnatural way of life is a natural response. Feeling down and depressed during the holidays is a normally stressful time with the financial commitments, family stress and the to-do list.

Often when we feel depressed, we are hurting so much all we want is to just stop the pain. It is easy to run to the doctor for some quick relief. But drugs for depression should only be considered as a short-term solution. The long term side effects of these drugs can in the long run be detrimental to your overall health and wellbeing.

Overcoming depression without drugs provides long-term benefits that you can become a stronger, more balanced, capable person who has learned some new life skills along the way.

Consider these 13 helpful depression breaking ideas.

1. Routine:

Routine is important as depression takes away any structure to your life and one day merges into the next aimlessly. A (non-challenging) daily schedule gives your days a purpose.

2. Set daily goals:

Feeling you have no purpose makes your self-image and depression worse. Set yourself some daily goals. Start very small, something you can succeed at easily and then make them more challenging as you feel better.

3. Healthy eating:

When depressed you can skip meals or eat junk because it is easier. You probably don’t have much appetite anyway. But good food is essential, and some foods can actually help. A diet rich in plenty of fruit, vegetables, eggs and protein especially salmon. Oysters and mussels are said to be natural antidepressants.

Supplements like fish oils, vitamins B and D are good to take too (Sonne Cod Liver Oil contains all three). Avoid caffeine and alcohol they may give a temporary high but when that wears off – you can feel worse.

4. Exercise:

Exercise temporarily boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphins. Exercising in nature is a double benefit as soil contains microbe’s dubbed “outdoorphins” (M. vaccae) similar to the endorphins. Mycobacterium vaccae has been found to mirror the effect on neurons provided by drugs like Prozac. "Ourdoorphins" creates a natural anti-depressant that makes people relaxed and happier. 

• Try your gym routine outdoors. 
• Run, jog or walk. 
• Biking. 
• Practice yoga or tai chi. 
• Gardening is great outdoor exercise and has the added benefit of natural produce for your diet. 

5.Appearance:

It’s easy to neglect appearances when feeling low. Appearance is important and an easy change to give you a lift.

As will your posture. When we are feeling low, we bow our heads, round our shoulders, look at the ground and – slump. Just by standing tall, shoulders back, head high looking straight ahead expands our energy field while giving a message to the brain of self-worth. Try it as an instant mood booster.

6. Sleep:

Getting enough good quality sleep is important when depressed and just being in bed because you don’t want to get up is not the same thing at all. 

• A bedtime regime will help by retiring and getting up from bed at the same time. 
• Switch your cell phone to airplane mode and switch the Wi-Fi off at night and when not in use. 
• Keep your bedroom cool, dark, making it your safe cave. 
• Sleep is when we heal and get well.

7.EMF Radiation:

Electromagnetic Radiation not only can it cause depression, it is also one of the well-researched symptoms of overexposure to EMF. And, even minor exposures to EMF can be a secondary contributing factor to making depression worse.

Limit the EMF around you. 

• Don’t carry your cell phone on your body (belt, bra or pocket). 
• Limit your time on your cell phone by using the hands free mode. 
• Spend as little time on your computer as possible. 
• Don’t use your laptop in your lap. 
• Look around and see if you are living near high power lines. 
• Don’t put your headboard on an adjoining wall to your main power feed box.

Give yourself a break from information overload. Information overload from news, social media and the internet which is often negative intensifies the feeling of hopelessness connected with depression.

Give yourself a break from EMF and make sure that you have adequate EMF protection.

8 Meditation:

Meditation is a good way to relax and be in the moment. Create a daily experience. Start by simply focusing on the breath, you can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. Think about creating a safe space to meditate. Use music and scents to create a sensory pleasant experience.

9. Talking:

Talking is always good for the soul. Whether it is with a professional, a friend who will really listen or your God. By talking or unburdening emotions, you can often get insights, understandings and even inspiration. Always though we need to take the responsibility of knowing we are not victims.

10. Positive thoughts and positive relationships:

Surround yourself with positivity. Your thoughts, actions, activities, and the people around you. Nothing is more uplifting. Conversely negativity will bring you down and keep you down.

11. Trying something new:

It’s easier when we are down and depressed to keep doing the same-old, same-old. Although some routine is necessary and beneficial trying something new will bring the zing into your life. The beneficial uplift that we all need from new experiences, new challenges, and achievements. However small a thing it may be, like walking a different way to the shops, do it and feel the boost it gives you.

12. Humor and fun:

It is said that laughter is the best medicine. And it’s true. A good laugh releases endorphins – the feel-good hormone. It helps your heart, boosts your immune system, reduces stress and helps you to relax. If you’re depressed making time for things you enjoy is important even though nothing seems fun anymore. You have to keep trying to bring some into your life.

13. Gratitude:

Gratitude isn’t easy when you are down and depressed. Your perspective is introspective instead of looking around you, feeling thankful. But gratitude is one of the most uplifting things you can do. Just a tiny flower struggling to grow in a cracked pavement – be grateful that it shows you survival is possible. A lovely sunset – gratitude that there is more, and bigger than the confines you are feeling right now. A hug from a friend, or their listening ear. Raindrops that wash away your tears or remind you that you are waterproof, so therefore beautifully engineered. Grateful to a creator that made you that way. Gratitude gets easier with practice and makes you feel good – every time.

Depression should never be overlooked or ignored, you need to take active steps to find and look at why and address that. Depression like any illness or disease is an energy imbalance that becomes a blockage in our energy field. Energy balance is absolutely necessary for our general health and wellbeing.

Don’t think that depression will just go away, or that it’s alright to feel ‘down’ under to present life situation. It isn’t OK. You need to take steps to heal it in the same way as you would any physical dis-ease. Even emotion healing, such as grieving is necessary.

If you find that you need support with this, get it. Don’t let your depression get out of hand by consuming you with hopelessness. Seek out a friend, family member, or a health care professional that you feel comfortable with and will understand. And there is always someone to help because most of us have been there ourselves – at some time in our lives.

Natural Healing Tools recommends you always speak with your professional medical team about your individual medical needs before taking supplements, etc. Our blog is for informational use only.