Many people found our previous post ‘Alter Your Mood, Naturally‘ really helpful, so we have followed the same theme with some more ideas for you! Whether you find just one that works for you, or a whole range, hopefully this will put some more natural remedies in your weaponry against poor mood, anxiety or mild depression.
1) Paint your room
If you have dark or aggressive colours in your living space, why not try giving your home a facelift? Research seems to show that blue soothes us, and it is a great colour to use in our homes – particularly where we rest, like our bathroom and bedroom. Also, spring and summer colours, like yellow and green, have been shown to be linked to greater happiness.
2) Eat yourself happy
There is growing evidence that low levels of omega-3s (a healthy fat) are linked with depression, so fish should become a staple part of your diet. In addition, Brazil nuts give you selenium (being low on this can get you down) and orange juice gives your folate (too little can cause a dip in serotonin levels). Between the three you almost have a full meal made!
3) Chill out
In this world of constant pressure at work and mobile phones meaning we often take work home, it’s no wonder that we feel burnt out. Stress and a feeling of being overwhelmingly busy are common triggers for depression, and so it’s important to book yourself some time in your diary. Whether you use that opportunity to rest, sleep or exercise, simply breaking up your schedule can give you some peace of mind.
4) Change your diet
Some diets can work well but cause real mood swings and a low feeling. Balance your need for weight loss with your need for mental wellbeing. If you are on a strict low-carb diet, some research shows that you can lose weight but you could be happier by reducing fat intake instead.
5) Give up the booze
Drinking and drug use can change the chemistry of the brain, and is often triggered by depression and anxiety. Although wine in moderation probably has no bad effects at all, it is important that if you are depressed, you really limit your alcohol consumption, and don’t take drugs. Drink and drugs can also be very dangerous when combined with anti-depressants, so why not cut out the booze for a month and see how you feel?
6) Try Therapy
There are several popular forms of therapy, including cognitive therapy and interpersonal therapy, which aim to improve thought patterns and mood swings. As above, there are also forms of therapy offered online, so regardless of how able you are to travel, or your access to skilled therapists, there are ways and means of getting this support through the web.
7) Talk it out
Having a good support network is vital for beating depression. It’s not easy to open up, but it’s much better than keeping a secret for a long time. There are lots of strong support networks online, so do try those, although building closer and more open relationships with those who live with and near you is the best option.
I hope these help – and do let us know any others you have found to work 0brn2hw.