Natural Remedies for Coping with Depression and Anxiety

Though we'd rather not think about it, depression and anxiety are daily issues for most people.  Let's face it, the world we live in is wrought with things that can cause or exacerbate these issues.  You can go to the doctor and get a prescription, but who can deal with the side effects, not to mention the cost?  (Disclaimer here:  These are serious medical conditions and if you are affected more than mildly by them, please seek help.  The info presented here is for individuals who have these conditions under control and are simply seeking natural ways of helping them to deal with them.)  Though I have not personally been effected by depression, I have people who are close to me who deal with it daily.  As for anxiety, I don't think you can be alive and not have to deal with it at some point in your life.  These are some of the means we have come up to help ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety.


If you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times but it bears repeating.  The best treatment for ANY illness is diet and exercise.  Unfortunately, people care more about the oil they put in their car than they do about the fuel they put in their bodies.  As someone who suffers from a number of health issues, I can speak from experience and say, the only thing that got me back on my feet was changing my diet.  A good rule of thumb is eat at least 50% raw (uncooked) foods at each meal.  The less you eat the better.  You should never feel full.  All of this taxes your digestive system and causes your body to spend more time dealing with digesting and less time taking care of the other issues that need attention.  Exercise is important in allowing your body to flush out toxins, which can contribute to these conditions.  Even just 30 minutes of walking a day has proven helpful in dealing with a number of different health conditions.

You may also find that supplementing with different vitamins and minerals helps.  Often, depression and anxiety are caused by a deficiency.  SAM-e is a supplement that has gained a reputation in helping with depression and anxiety.  The dosage we've found to be effective is 400mg/daily, taken in the morning on an empty stomach.  To make SAM-e work, you also need 800mg of folic acid and 1000mcg of B-12.  Make sure your B-12 is sublingual (the kind that dissolves in your mouth) and Methylcobalamin.  Research has found this to be the most easily absorbed form of B-12.  When you find yourself under a greater amount of stress, increase to about 800mg of SAM-e.  (These are the dosages that work for us.  You may find 200mg/daily is sufficient or you may need 800mg/daily.  Start small and work up until you find the dosage that helps you to feel less stressed and depressed but not irritable.) Then once things calm down a bit, decrease back to your normal dosage.  If you start feeling irritable on SAM-e, it means your dose is too high.  Also, you may experience some stomach upset when you first begin to take SAM-e.  This will go away with time.  Don't stop taking it.  The improvement you'll feel mentally is worth a little tummy ache!


Essential oils have also been found to help with depression and anxiety.  Check out the recipes page for a great "anti-anxiety" blend.  We have used this with much success on numerous occasions.  For intense moments of anxiety, Bach's Rescue Remedy works wonders.  Regardless of why your experiencing stress, this helps, adults and kids alike.  We often use the oil blend and rescue remedy together.  


These are a few things that help us face each day, knowing we can deal with whatever comes our way.  Maybe they'll help you.  And remember, even just the act of smiling (even if you don't feel like it) has been shown to improve one's mood.  So put a smile on your face and feel better!