Natural Cures For Depression That Actually Work

In this article, when I talk about natural cures for depression, I'm speaking about lifelong changes in the way you think and act--not herbal supplements or other so called "natural depression cures."

This doesn't mean that prescription medications for depression ("Prozac," for example) should not be taken for short-term help.

Prescription Meds Fix Only One Part Of Depression

Normally this will solve only a part of your problem.  It's your long term commitment to your new way of living that will be your "cure." Depression is a signal that your life has gotten out of balance; it's a wake-up call. So "curing" yourself of depression involves making the necessary adjustments to get your life back in balance.

Those things include daily aerobic exercise, eating healthy, quitting smoking, no excessive drinking, and NO 'recreational' drugs whatsover.  Usually doing just these things by themselves will "cure" depression in most cases.  "Extra credit" would be things like counseling or other cognitive therapies.

But when most folks think about natural cures for depression, they think of herbal 'medicines' that you can swallow like a pill.  The expectation is it's a "natural" alternative to "Prozac" (for example).  This isn't surprising.  After all, we live in an age of 'instant gratification.'  We've become conditioned to expect an instant and easy solution for almost everything:

Quick Fix For Everything

Need cash at 2 am?  ATMs.  No time to cook?  Frozen pizza from your freezer to microwave ready in 10 minutes.  Need your oil changed?  Pull into 'Fast Lube.'  Need information on global warming for a school report?  A few keystrokes on the internet.  (Need this paper written for you?  Have your debit or credit card ready.)  

...The same mindset applies to our medical needs:  Tired?  Drink a Red Bull or similar energy drink for a fast burst of energy...heck, even the remotest backwoods convenience store sells them.  Feeling stressed out?  Take a Valium...You can get a steady supply if you really want to.  Don't want to get pregnant?  You're right--the answer comes in a pill.  Got RLS--"Restless Leg Syndrome?"  You sure do, and the big pharmaceutical companies can PROVE you do...and they happen to have the remedy...in a pill, of course.

So we expect the pharmaceutical companies to have a cure for depression for us, too.  And, of course, they do have different drugs for us.  Oh, but if it were only that easy, though.

Unfortunately, Exercise And Eating Right Can't Be Taken In A Pill

The pharmaceutical industry DO have some good drugs for us. Sometimes our neurotransmitters--the chemicals in our brains responsible for our moods--need help to "even out" the highs and lows. But this is the quickest and easiest part of curing depression.  The hard part is daily exercise and eating healthy, not to mention stopping ALL self-destructive behaviors--such as smoking, drinking, and abusing other recreational drugs.  This is the 'grunt work' of any depression cure, and also the part that not many people talks about much.

...For starters, there's little incentive for the pharmaceutical giants to promote treatments such as eating right and exercise, because there's no profit in it.

The Cure Is Up To You

Nope, it's up to the depressed person to motivate him or herself to do these things daily and to NOT abuse drugs or alcohol.  And it can't be a temporary thing like a diet; it must be a habit like bathing.

I realize that accomplishing some of these natural cures for depression is much easier said than done...and that if it were easy, no one would be depressed.  (Heck, just thinking about cutting out your vices and exercising & eating right may make you depressed!)  Somehow, however, you're going to have to face these challenges and drive ahead with your plan to improve yourself anyway...

Natural Cures For Depression Don't Come Easy, But Are Worth It!

Natural cures for depression are not easy, but they're free and sustainable with some effort.  Just remember that you can do just about anything you put your mind to.  And they're the only way to a life of fulfillment and happiness.  But one thing you MUST do:  You must want to get better MORE than stay the same!