Depression (signs, causes, treatment, medication, prevention)

Try these relaxation techniques. With them, you should be able to at least get a bit of a relief from symptoms of depression and stress.

Although nothing can be comapred to real human contact, try adopting a pet and caring for them. They can offer companionship and joy. On more about pets and their healing abilities, visit this page.

It is said that doing yoga (as much as your body allows you to, of course), can help you get rid of anxiety, stress, hostility, and other symptoms of depression. So, give it a try! Here are some yoga positions that might help you.

If you are grieving, please visit our page with solutions for grief.

Sometimes, sharing experience with other people on the issue you share can help you out in figuring out how to solve your own problem. People in support groups have been though similar things like you, can understand you better, and offer their view on the matter, or even some good advice.

Besides, it feels good to be able to vent to somebody who can understand you the best. So ask your doctor, and ask around, for such groups in your vicinity.

Highly carbonated meals, which can be found in the Western cuisine is reported to be associated with higher risk of being depressed, whereas those who eat more of fish-based meals don't have as much risk of getting depression.

The ideal solution for enriching your diet in that way is by consuming fish oil. It is rich with omega-3 fatty acids.

Check if your medications might be the cause of your feelings of depression. You can find it in the instructions that come with the medicine, or you can consult with your doctor.

Usually, the medications that cause symptoms of depression are:

• Medications for hepatitis C, like Interferon
• Medications for anxiety and sleep, such as: alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam.
• Medications for high blood pressure, like beta-blockers, methyldopa, reserpine.
• Hormonal medications, such as: contraceptives and corticosteroids.

Also, refer to this page for more information.

Those practices involve self-guided meditation and other exercises that can help you in fighting with your depression. The benefits are many, and not only for mental, but also for physical health. Here are some of the techniques that you can use. And on this page, you can discover more about mindfulness techniques in general.

Seasonal depression is mostly associated with winter, where people are least exposed to sunlight, and where the sky is mosly overcast anyway. People stay indoors. Their movements are limited and the frequency of their going out is being reduced. This can immensely affect their moods.

The sun has always been dictating the biorhythm of all living things and humans are not an exception. With the reduced access to sunlight, our activity, in general, decreases, we are getting slower and it is harder for us to function. To some people it is a nightmare, and they suffer from the so called, seasonal depression, that leaves them as soon as spring comes again.

But in the meantime, light boxes can be used to at least alleviate the symptoms of said depression, because it mimics the light. At least ten minutes a day of exposure to this light can have significant positive effects.

Here is some more about the lightboxes.

You can buy one here, if you wish to.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you change your way of thinking and get rid of unuseful way of thinking. It is a form of talk therapy that makes you become aware of the negative way of thinking you have been doing, and offers ways to change that train of thought. Here is more information about it.