How to cure depression

How to Overcome Depression

This article was co-authored by Ira Israel. Ira Israel is a Licensed Counselor and Psychotherapist who has been in private practice for over 14 years. He specializes in teaching others about happiness and authenticity. Ira teaches sold-out Happiness and Authenticity workshops at Esalen Institute and Kripalu Center and has written over 400 articles on psychology, philosophy, Buddhism, yoga, film, art, music & literature for The Huffington Post, Good Men Project, Mind Body Green, Thrive Global, and Medium. Ira is also the author of How to Survive Your Childhood Now That You’re an Adult: A Path to Authenticity and Awakening. He attended The University of Pennsylvania and has graduate degrees in Psychology, Philosophy, and Religious Studies.

There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

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Suffering from depression means more than just dealing with a bad week or even a bad month. Depression is a weakening condition that can make it impossible for you to enjoy your daily existence. If you are plagued with feelings of overwhelming sadness, loneliness, worthlessness, and cannot imagine that things will get any better, then you may be suffering from depression. If you want to know how to overcome your depression and enjoy your life again, follow these steps.

How to Cure Depression (Professional Advice from a Therapist)

What the pharmaceutical companies seem to make consumers think is that antidepressants cure a chemical imbalance in their brains. But if that were true, why aren’t we seeing depression disappear? That’s not to say antidepressants don’t reduce the impact of symptoms and act as a bridge to effectively address the underlying problems, but relying on them to “cure” depression is not the answer.

So how to cure depression?

Johann Hari, a journalist and author challenging what we know about mental health, poses that depression and anxiety arise because our basic needs aren’t being met. He challenges the chemical imbalance argument and argues that masking the symptoms is not the way to cure it.

Overcoming depression starts by understanding that it’s not just a diagnosis but a signal that something bigger needs attention, that something is missing or off-balance. And just as we would do for a car or a computer, we need to look inside to find out what’s causing that flashing red light.

Table of Contents

What Causes Depression?

Before we dive in, it’s crucial that you know these three things first if you’re suffering from depression:

Whilst this article is not an exhaustive attempt to address all possible causes, we’ll talk about some of the most common causes of depression, namely the lack of meaningful connections and the negative beliefs that we hold from our past.

A Lack of Meaningful Connections

One of the most basic human needs is the primal need to feel connected, to be a part of something.

Our ancestral hunter-gatherers needed to be connected as part of a tribe in order to survive. Being rejected meant being exposed to the predators looking for weaklings, people who were alone and vulnerable.

Yes, times have changed, and we’re no longer expecting to be eaten alive in the middle of a city, but we still have that same need for a tribe, to have connection. The great irony is that we’re more able now to “connect” to humans all over the world, but we’re also lonelier than ever. We’re not getting as many real, meaningful connections.

The predators we face now are inside our own heads when we’re sitting alone in our flat feeling hopeless, sad, or (worst of all) feeling nothing. The predator is the belief that death is a way out, a way to ease the nothingness.

This is just one cause, but it’s a big one.

This isn’t about just talking to or being in the presence of others. You can feel alone in a crowd, and you can feel alone in a marriage. It’s not the physical aspect but the other bit that we get when we form a tribe: the meaning and satisfaction we feel when we share things with others. When we contribute some part of ourselves and improve some part of someone’s something, that’s when we feel a real connection.

In the working environments we’ve created for ourselves, people are working long hours with little to no connection or fulfillment. Our ancestors never had to deal with this type of environment, and it’s something which we need to be acutely aware of so that we can recognize and respond to the signals when we see them.

Professor Caccioppo, previously a psychologist at the University of Chicago and an expert in loneliness stated that:

“The purpose of loneliness is like the purpose of hunger. Hunger takes care of your physical body. Loneliness takes care of your social body, which you also need to survive and prosper. We’re a social species.” [4]

We need these feelings to tell us something is off-balance. Feeling lonely and disconnected means you’re not getting enough of the human connection you need, so you need to change your approach. But if you don’t know that these feelings are signals, and you don’t take the right approach, it’s easy to just give up and say “I’ll never be able to solve this, I’m useless.”

Your subconscious mind believes the things you tell it, and if you’re telling it just how worthless you are, how useless and how unlovable you are, then there’s no wonder you’re feeling worthless, useless, and unlovable. This is another cause of depression: the scripts we tell ourselves.

Your Childhood Scripts

“I’ve always lived with depression, it’s just the way I am.”

Believing that you’re stuck or that you were born with depression is a major block stopping you from overcoming depression. If you’re replaying the same negative scripts over and over, scripts you’ve written for yourself and scripts that others have written for you, then it’s not surprising that your head isn’t an easy place in which to live.

Not feeling like you’re enough. Not feeling like you deserve to be happy. Feeling like you’re a lost cause.

All of these types of beliefs are things learned over the course of a life, most likely when you were young. Your logical mind didn’t develop until your early teens, so when someone told you that you weren’t good enough or made you feel alone, different or weird, then your emotional brain took that to be the truth about you. But sometimes as adults, we need to revisit the stuff we let in when we were kids because it’s almost always irrational and illogical.

It’s absolutely not your fault that you have them, but it is your responsibility to find and remove them.

A client of mine believed that he couldn’t change because it was the way he’d always been. When we overcame that belief, the next one was that he didn’t believe that what he did was ever good enough. He tried to fit into a career that he thought he needed to, and when he couldn’t face it anymore, he told himself he just wasn’t good enough.

He didn’t contemplate that he was just trying to be someone that he wasn’t and that there were things at which he was amazingly talented. But the shift happened when he started seeing that depression was just a sign for him to keep searching to find his passions, not to settle for a career he hated and to make peace with the relationship he had with his father.

This is something all of us need to work on, and often it’s easier with a therapist who specializes in the subconscious mind (as that’s where it’s all stored), but ultimately you can do this on your own with some real introspection.

How to Cure Depression

By now you’re no doubt aware that there’s no miracle “cure” to depression, but hopefully you can see that depression is a very real and often understandable response to things you’ve been through or things (or lack of) in your environment.

It’s not a matter of just “getting support” or “finding more friends”; that won’t solve it, and it’s not really what you need. Here are some things that will help:

1. Change Your Scripts

Overcoming depression starts by understanding how your brain works and how other people’s brains work. When you know that your pain has a purpose, that it’s a method of self-preservation, then you can start being aware of what it’s causing you to do and think. When you are aware, you can then change it and rewire it.

For more ways to shift your mindset and rewire your scripts, check out some tips here.

2. Build Meaning and Connection

Building meaningful connections with others will be easier by working on your emotional intelligence and communication skills. Understanding how to read people’s facial expressions, voice, and body language, and focusing on what that person is saying and feeling will help you develop these.

You’ll be able to get control over your self-preservation instincts causing you to feel threatened, and you can see people in a different light. When others feel heard, they’re going to want to hear from you. And if you actually open up, you might find that they feel the same or that you can show them a new perspective.

3. Do Selfless Acts

It has also been shown that we find meaning when doing something for others, doing something where you show human kindness and make a difference to someone. Start by passing on something helpful, or being there for someone, even if it feels really hard.

When you step up and show someone you care, or when you open up about your struggles and be vulnerable, someone who needs it (be it in your office, at a homeless shelter, or just a friend) you’ll be amazed at how good it feels. It’s small, incremental changes here that really help.

Final Thoughts

Depression is really signalling you to stop and take stock of what’s happening around you or what you’ve left unresolved from your past. Just know that you can work on it, that you can find out what ignites your fire and passion, and what makes you feel like you. Above all else, know that it’s all figureoutable and that you’re going to be fine.

The phenomenon of depression and the ways to overcome it

All of the people are facing psychological disorders to various extents. Depression is the most serious out of such disorders.

It is true to say that people may suffer from the manifestations of depression for many years, while constantly persuading themselves that these are just temporary problems.

This article provides tips on how to recognize the disorder and how to get out of depression in the event where it is officially diagnosed.

Contents:

What is depression?

Depression can be described in dozens of ways through using professional and clinical terms, statistics, artistic comparisons, and the patient’s personal feelings.

William Styron, famous for his novels “Darkness visible”, “Sophie’s Choice”, had a chance to experience the dark sides of the disease first hand. This enabled him to describe it very accurately: “In the case of severe depression, suffering is completely unimaginable for someone who has never experienced it. It sometimes may be totally unbearable”.

Depression doesn’t only affect the rich or the poor, normal people or only famous ones. Paintings by Van Gogh and Picasso are painted in disturbing shades. Acute manifestations of uneasy feelings can be heard in the music of Beethoven, Schumann, Tchaikovsky and Bach.

Depression is a disease that takes away the joy of life and makes people feel helpless and worthless, according to patient testimonials. A young woman that we interviewed describes it by saying, “I don’t feel anything, I get up in the morning and don’t know what to do with myself. If I start doing some things, I can’t finish any of them. I can start crying for no reason. I have absolutely zero energy”.

Depression is an illness that is not age-related. It is a spiritual storm that knocks the person off their feet, taking away their strength and their desire to exist. The extent of this storm is absolutely daunting. According to various sources, depression affects up to 350 million people on the planet. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that in 2020, depression came second after diseases of the cardiovascular system.

How to understand that you have got it?

There is a fine line between “regular” sadness and depression as a disease is rather vague, however, there are certain symptoms that allow distinguishing one from the other. Depression is defined by a loss of interest in what is happening around the person, forcing them to function in slow motion, to look at the world in a gloomy and pessimistic way and to perceive the future only from a negative perspective.

The general symptoms of depression

The following symptoms that characterize depression, are mentioned most frequently by patients:

Diagnostics should be the first response to signs of depression. The disease is diagnosed if at least four symptoms appear simultaneously and persist for at least two weeks.

Types of depression and the reasons for it

The spectrum of shades of depression is as large as the number of patients diagnosed. We talk about depression when someone experiences seasonal mood swings (seasonal depression) or suffers from it after traumatic situations (psychogenic form). In the latter case, the reason for it may be a seriously traumatic event, for example, the loss of a loved one (endogenous form), or biochemical changes that occur in the body in the event of an illness (somatogenic form).

Is there a difference between depression in women and men?

There is no conclusive evidence to indicate that female and male depression is different. Symptoms in women and men can be manifested in the same way. However, statistics show that gender may largely determine the predisposition to depression.

In order to discuss it in more detail, we note that there are social, psychological and biological differences between the sexes.

1. Social differences

Experts state that up to 65% of cases of male depression remain undetected. This can be proven by the fact that men are less likely to seek the help of a psychologist. This is largely due to being ashamed of the symptoms, thus choosing to get out of depression on their own. As a result, men end up with alcohol and drug addiction more often than women.

2. Psychological differences

Male and female perceptions differ in their approach to problem-solving. Women explore the cause of a difficult situation, analyze their past experiences and consider all aspects. Men, in turn, take concrete actions to resolve the problem. Therefore, in a desperate situation, they are much more likely to attempt suicide. According to forensic experts, up to 80% of suicidal cases occur in men.

3. Biological differences

Biological factors, such as physical features or hormonal manifestations, can also influence the development of depression in men and women in different ways.

How is depression manifested in women?

Depression is twice as common in women as it is in men. This is due to gender characteristics, hormonal factors, the psychological perception of reality and behavioral patterns.

Factors of depression in women:

1. Relationship status

This is one of the most common risk factors. Depression is less common in single women than in married women, while in men it is the opposite case. This is explained by the influence of social roles. It is worth noting that such a phenomenon is almost never found in certain cultural circles, for example, in the Mediterranean countries, where the care of a woman at home is valued, according to traditions.

2. Relationships within the family

The risk of developing depression in women is associated not only with the fact of marriage, but also with the quality of their family relationships, which is often influenced by difficulties in interacting with their partner. Lack of intimacy, trust and long-standing marital conflicts cause stress, which deprives women from a source of support and lowers their self-esteem.

3. Professional status

The risk of developing depression is increased with unemployment. Work has been proven to make women resistant to negative life events, making them more organized, active, determined and under control.

4. Thinking patterns

Gender differences in thinking patterns also contribute to the development of depressive disorders. Women tend to have lower self-esteem than men. Therefore, they tend to focus more on themselves and their emotions than on actions in response to negative events. It is more difficult for women to distract themselves from disturbing thoughts and, thereby, improve their well-being in an autonomous manner.

5. Postpartum period

Another risk factor is the postpartum period. It is influenced by pain associated with childbirth, rapid hormonal changes, as well as changes in the woman’s body. New mothers are faced with a new social role in which they have the need to mobilize their efforts to take care of their newborn child, which also acts as a major stress factor.

6. Menopause

This period is characterized by isolated depressive syndromes. Women who previously suffered from depression, have severe premenstrual tension and experience severe postpartum symptoms, are more prone to such manifestations.

How is depression manifested in men?

Men tend to be more likely to achieve power and success than women. They don’t like admitting their weakness, hence they are less likely to talk about their experiences.

Factors that contribute to depression in men:

1. Relationships with partners

Research demonstrates that the most common cause of depression in men is marriage or relationship problems. Arguments and quarrels give men physical discomfort, hence they tend to avoid them. In the event where it doesn’t work out, they become self-centered and are unable to get out of depression.

2. Sexual relationships

Depression forces a man to lose interest in their own body and, as a result, in sexual relationships. Antidepressants may only aggravate the situation in this field. Increased libido is sometimes listed as a way to improve mood.

3. Pregnancy and children

It has been found that one in ten men experience psychological problems when they become fathers. The need to devote more time to the mother and the child leads to fatigue and inability to concentrate on work. Depression is aggravated if the partner is in a similar state, if the relationship is not going well, or if the family is experiencing financial difficulties.

4. Unemployment and loss of workplace

Losing a job, for whatever reason, can be very stressful. According to research, one in seven unemployed men becomes depressed within six months of losing their job.

5. Retirement

Reaching retirement age and retiring can be difficult for a man, especially if their partner is still working. It is difficult for them to adapt to new living conditions independently.

6. Emotional state and mood

Depression is common among shy men who do not have a stable relationship and who find it difficult to defend their rights and get settled in life.

Is it possible to overcome depression without the help of a doctor?

There is no magic pill that is ideal for every patient. However, this does not mean that there is no way out of depression.

In order to overcome depression, you need to acknowledge it. The disease reminds us that the dark side of reality is no less a part of our existence than are its bright and colorful sides. Depression can be an opportunity for mental and spiritual development. Nevertheless, if left untreated, the condition can develop into a serious mental illness.

Unfortunately, only 50% of patients are undergoing therapy. A person suffering from depression falls into a kind of vicious circle: getting rid of the illness requires energy and will, which are lacking when a person is depressed. Therefore, people cannot always heal on their own, simply “by pulling themselves together”.

Several treatments are used for depression. However, it is up to the doctor to decide what will be better in every particular case. In less serious cases, people can limit themselves to lifestyle changes. In more severe situations, medicine and psychotherapy come to the rescue. Severe depressive conditions require hospitalization. The treatment of depression is a lengthy process. However, when seeking the assistance of a doctor, between 80 and 90% of patients are able to recover successfully.

How to overcome depression on your own: tips of psychologists

With a great desire to get out of a state of depression, one can be able to cope on their own. On the other hand, if a patient does not perform any actions aimed at recovery, then neither the psychologist nor the psychiatrist will be able to help them.

How to act in various situations?

If depression is contrasted with happiness, allow yourself to experience more happy moments.

1. Happiness in a relationship

How can you deal with depression if it is the result of a toxic relationship? It is worth trying to resolve misunderstandings and settle conflicts. If this is not possible, try to limit contact with toxic people as much as possible. If you live with such a person under the same roof, do everything in your power to free yourself from this destructive relationship. If such toxic relationships are work-related, switch jobs even if you have been working in this company for many years. Work cannot be more important than your health.

2. Social interactions

On our planet, many creatures lead a solitary lifestyle. However, humans are herd species, which means that we need humans to sustain our mental state and our levels of happiness. Sometimes, even one friend or relative may be enough to get out of depression. Their affection, acceptance and kindness can work wonders. Do not become anti-social. Find such a person in your environment and establish a trusting relationship with them.

3. Happiness on a plate

Food affects our well-being. If the diet is based on unhealthy foods, the chances of getting out of depression are almost null. Changing your eating habits is difficult, however, it can be done if performed in small steps. Replace soft drinks with water and fresh juices, pizza with cereal bread, sweets with fruits and nuts. This way, you will be able to gradually turn your healthy eating habits into a healing diet. Beware of the temptation to drink alcohol. It may provide some temporary relief, but at the end of the day, it will only make the condition worse.

4. Running towards happiness

As there is no happiness without a healthy diet and there is no happiness without physical activity. You don’t have to spend half a day at the gym. A short walk three times a week is enough to revive the body. The oxygenated brain produces endorphins, which are hormones responsible for happiness. This is why runners feel euphoric after a run. All that is needed is vigorous exercise, preferably outdoors. Exercise for at least 30 minutes, 3-5 times a week.

5. Happiness in domestic animals

Pets help people to get out of depression. It’s hard to deny the soothing power of domestic animals. Communication with dogs helps to maintain a positive mental attitude, reduces stress levels and increases self-esteem.

With an animal in the house, people focus on it instead of negative thoughts. Pets give warmth, unconditional love and joy, never condemn and always forgive. Therefore, their positive effect in the treatment of depression remains undeniable.

6. Cleanliness of the surroundings

In a difficult state, we sometimes do not notice how cluttered the space around us is and how chaotic our life is. Declare war on depression by starting a big cleanup. Try to get rid of things that you haven’t used in over a year. Perform the same procedure with your documents. Organizing an archive of papers, letters, photographs will provide a feeling of stability and control over your own life, and will definitely improve your mood.

7. Connecting with nature

When everyday life is full of worries and problems, nature may give a person the strength to overcome them. Fresh air, the trees and the sun, as well as trips to beautiful places, could all be an amazing cure.

Nature-orientated therapy helps to relax and reduces stress levels. Gardening may help to improve mental health. The city of London has even got a special park called Sydenham Park where healing gardening sessions are held. According to a woman who first came to the park as a patient and now works there as a volunteer, “this is an oasis of peace. When you come here, the outside world ceases to exist for you”. This is a great example of using nature as a cure.

How to help your loved one to overcome depression?

If your family members are depressed, do not turn a blind eye to it. The main thing is to see a doctor who will help establish a diagnosis and a treatment plan. This should be done if only the patient does not recognize the symptoms that are clear to others and is not able to help themselves on their own.

Treatment for depression is the moment to release tough emotions. Decreased motivation to carry out daily tasks or to interact with others are the most common symptoms of the disease. The support of a loved one is expressed in being there when needed, not judging, showing empathy, and helping on an everyday basis.

It is surely often a hard process. Nevertheless, you should certainly try hard, since, in such situations, health and even life can be at stake. It is important to convey the notion that you are there for your loved ones if they need help.

What should definitely not be done?

As we have already stated, depression is not the same as a bad mood. Depression is when a person does not want to carry on. They do not see any reasons to wake up in the morning. They do not care how they look and they have no willingness to perform the simplest actions.

Someone may say that a person has simply gotten lazy as this condition is often wrongfully associated with laziness. The most damaging thing for people with depression is a misunderstanding. Therefore, it is so important not to say things that may make a person feel even worse.

Which phrases are to be avoided?

1. “You are overthinking it”

This essentially means that you think that the problem is non-existent and that it got invented. By saying that nothing serious is happening, we make the other person feel guilty. We let him know that their reality simply needs to be reconsidered and that they do not want to make any effort for this.

2. “Don’t be childish”

Behaving like a child means not being able to cope with difficulties on your own. Adults experience much more difficulties than children who are not yet aware of them and are more emotional with the problems. They perceive irritating factors differently, the same goes for awareness and other emotions.

3. “Oh well, you will sort it out”

One can deal with the clutter in their room, but not the clutter in their soul. Depression is not cutlery that can be stored in a kitchen drawer. Together with admitting to this psychological condition, a person has to deal with a huge number of problems, including problems that are with them since their childhood. Even with the help of a psychologist, such a process can last more than a year.

4. “Go out more often”

Being active is highly recommended to treat depression. However, you are dealing with a person who struggles to simply get out of bed. Therefore, you shouldn’t try to drag them out. Most likely, you won’t succeed. Meeting people is the last thing a person wants if they feel bad. Hence, you have got to respect their decision if they refuse to leave the house.

5. “Normal people don’t have any problems”

It is normal to sometimes experience unpleasant feelings, as well as to understand the situation and be willing to get out of it. All you can do is help them with this matter. However, if you don’t want or can’t do it, step away and don’t make it more difficult for them.

6. “You are not busy enough”

It is naive to think that depression can be cured with simply a busy work schedule and some willpower. It is certain that work allows to keep busy and not to think about negative things, at least for some time. However, it’s not enough to get out of bed and to find something to do, in order to make the problem go away. In the best-case scenario, the depression will go away for an hour or two.

7. “Stop complaining and pitying yourself!”

Why not? Anyone has the right to do so. Problems, bad mood and problems with well-being often cause the need to cry and complain. In this case, we have got to bear with the person and be there for them.

8. “It is hard for others too!”

You argue that a person has no right to feel bad, whilst stating that such issues may happen to anyone. This way, you deprive them of the right to their own experiences, and make them feel guilty because there are global problems such as wars, hungry children and the coronavirus in the world. Nevertheless, the point is not that it is difficult for everyone now, it is that it is hard for a particular person in this case.

9. “I can only imagine what you’re feeling now”

No, you cannot imagine. A person who has not experienced depression themselves and has not been close to someone who suffered from it usually does not understand what they are dealing with. Being angry with your boss or simply feeling tired is not at all the same as feeling depressed.

10. “Don’t do this, you look deplorable”

This is one of the most selfish things to say, it means that you are essentially saying “I don’t care how you feel, it is not important to me. However, looking at you makes me feel bad”. This is the mood that you are broadcasting to a person. Even in the best sense, it means that you are sorry for them. Think about these words and whether you would be willing to hear them if you were in a similar situation?

Useful books

In order to understand the nature of depressive disorders, as well as the different facets of it, we have chosen a few books which may be useful to you:

1. Jon Kabat-Zinn “The mindful way through depression”

Psychiatrist Jon Kabat-Zinn talks about practices that stem from the meditative traditions of Buddhism. He has proven the effectiveness of this meditative therapeutic method for treating depression.

2. Antoni Kepinski “Melancholia”

This is a book about depression, sadness and neurotic conditions that arise in the lives of people of different ages. Despite the fact that the Polish psychotherapist wrote it in the 1970s, the issue is still relevant today.

3. Michael Cunningham “The hours”

This novel has been awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize, however, it is totally eclipsed by a film adaptation starring Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman. Nevertheless, the book version of “The hours” goes deeper into the corners of the mind-controlled by depression, presenting the various types of it. It concludes that everyone suffers from depression in different ways.

4. Robert L. Leahy “Beat the blues before they beat you”

It is a guide written by a practitioner and a professor of clinical psychology and psychiatry. Robert Leahy discusses common problems associated with depression and explains how to solve them. This is a must-read for those experiencing symptoms of the disease and those who see no way out of it.

5. Matt Haig “Reasons to stay alive”

The true story of the author, of a man who survived a crisis, defeated depression, survived and learned to live anew.

6. Loretta Breuning “Habits of a happy brain”

Almost everything that makes us feel at our best is associated with one of the hormones that are responsible for the feeling of happiness. The author, a clinical psychologist and researcher, offers several ways to increase the level of those hormones. The book will teach you to experience happy feelings and to adopt positive thinking, even when the world around you is not giving you many reasons to smile.

Depression is a serious chronic illness with a tendency to relapse. It will not go away on its own, it is a condition that requires treatment. The sooner the person is assisted, the greater are their chances of recovery. It is important for people to remember that life is very important, and that they are not alone. With the support of doctors, relatives and friends, the chance that the disease can be cured is high.

How to Cure Depression with Natural Remedies

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Depression; It’s not an illness, it is a state of mind that slowly poisons and takes over your body. Demonizing depression hasn’t helped anyone. However, accepting that you have it and trying to work towards curing it has helped many. Depression may seem like a crisis and suffering from it, the end of the world.

Depression is fatal, it drives one’s mind to derangement and aberration, According to a study(1)conducted by the WHO (World Health Organization) depression affects around 300 million people worldwide.

Most people ignore the symptoms or don’t take up the necessary steps required to deal with it. Stigmatizing this disease and prejudice against the people suffering from it has been fatal. WHO estimates(2) that 800000 people die due to suicide every year.

How to Cure Depression Naturally?

CURE 1: Foods for depression

It may seem shocking to learn this, however, food is a powerful modifier that could influence your brain and depression. The choice of what you put on your plate could help you control/prevent and even cure your depression.

Magnesium rich foods have proven to boost mood(3) and help people reduce stress levels. Magnesium is a significant element that is a cofactor in 300 reactions in the body. It controls the neural synapses in the brain and can influence it, lack of it in the diet can cause a lot of problems physically and mentally.

1. Banana (Musa acuminata)

In 100 grams of squashed banana, there are about 27 milligrams of magnesium. It is classified as a rich source of magnesium, which is directly absorbed into the bloodstream and acts almost instantly on depression.

How Does it Work?

Magnesium ions are directly absorbed into the bloodstream while they are being digested in the stomach. These ions directly act on the brain synapses and help increase the serotonin levels. This hormone colloquially termed as the happy hormone boosts the mood and happiness significantly. Additionally, the smoothie also contains flax seeds that have omega-3 which can boost your mood as well.

How to Use?

You can eat a banana as a whole, or you could even make a delicious banana shake (who said being healthy isn’t tasty?) However one of the best recipes for ingesting banana is a banana almond flax smoothie.

Ingredients:

Procedure:

How Much to Use?

You could have a banana almost after every meal, as a dessert. The banana almond flax smoothie can be had twice a week, in the morning on an empty stomach.

2. Chicken Eggs

Don’t miss out on those eggs that are passed around at brunch. Eggs, especially raw eggs are known to have anti-depressant properties(4). This is due to the plethora of essential nutrients (magnesium and zinc) and omega 3 that it holds.

How Does it Work?

How to Use?

You can eat boiled eggs by slicing them into pieces and adding in a dash of black pepper and salt. However, a poached egg is an easy and effective way of keeping depression at bay, as the yolk still remains uncooked.

Procedure:

You can add this poached egg on top of boiled chickpeas you could also add onions, tomatoes, coriander, and spices of your choice.

How Much to Use?

You could consume up to two eggs every day, you could have it anyway. Raw, cooked, poached. Any way you’d like. Just make sure that you don’t overload it with salt.

3. Fish

Although it might seem like a very broad food category, we will narrow it down for you. It is recommended that you consume oily, fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines. These fishes are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. In a Norwegian Study(5), it was observed that people who didn’t take pills developed depression, in comparison to people who took the pills.

How Does it Work?

Our brains are mostly fat, it may come as a shocker. It is imperative that our brain is supplied with enough omega-3 fatty acids. As these fatty acids are needed for the optimal growth, development, and functioning of the brain.

If there is a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids it leads to the disintegration of the brain structure, cell membranes, and the nerve connections. This could lead to emotional and cognitive disorders.

How to Use?

Supplements: It is easy to get your hands on fish cod liver oil supplements, however, it is advised that you consult your physician before you start this regimen.

– Cooked Meat:
There are several fishes that are considered as the best meat to help curb depression.
You could have all these fishes and integrate it into your diet. All these fishes have above 500 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per 85 grams.

How Much to Use?

For the supplements, it is advised that you consult with your physician before using them to find out the right dosage suited for you. For the meat, it is advised to eat 2-3 servings of 100 grams, each week for the best results.

Summary:
Foods have a negative image when it comes to dealing with depression, however, integrating these foods into your diet could balance out your need for essential nutrient and minerals and would help you feel satiated from your body and mind.

CURE 2: Herbs for depression

Herbs are naturally occurring substances which originate from plants or plant derivatives. They show immense potential in curing a lot many diseases effectively including mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. Herbal remedies are easily accessible and don’t bear any kind of side effects. Some of the best herbs to deal with depression include

1. Kratom for Depression (Mitragyna speciosa)

This is a psychoactive plant that is native to southeast Asia, has been gaining a lot of traction for its benefits in the domain of mental health. It was earlier used and is still used as an analgesic. In recent years, there have been a lot of studies(6)that have linked it to being a herbal antidepressant.

Kratom isn’t technically an opiate, but it does function as one in the brain. The active in kratom is Mitragynine, this compound binds to the receptors in the brain and helps in relieving pain and helps in feeling relaxed.

Although there isn’t much research about the same, users have reported that they feel less anxious and depressed. In an independent study(7) conducted in 2017, it was confirmed that kratom does help relieve depression and enhances the mood of the user.

How to take kratom?

Kratom can be used/ingested in several methods. Capsules, tablets, gum, tinctures, extracts are all available in the market for consumption. There have been some cases were kratom leaves were consumed directly, boiled and even consumed in the form of tea.

Ideally, it is suggested that you use tinctures or capsules as they are safe, however, you could still employ any of the other methods as well. There is currently no research available that identifies the best way to ingest kratom.

How much kratom to take?

The dosage of kratom is a serious issue that is still under debate. However, in a 2018 study that was conducted amongst individuals that used kratom for depression concluded that 5 grams of powder taken up to 3 times a day had enough adequate effects.

It is ideally advised that you start from the lowest dosage possible and gradually increase it until you achieve the desired effects

Dose: 1-5 grams

2. Holy Basil (Ocimum Tenuiflorum)

It is mostly found in every household in the southern part of India as it is treated as a deity. This auspicious plant has several medicinal plants and one of them is to curb depression and keep your mood enhanced. This happy herb makes up for a refreshing cup of tea which is very useful in bursting your anxiety and dullness.

How Does it Work?

Holy basil is a well-studied herb and has several types of research and studies backing its effects on the human body. Several studies have proven that this plant can help reduce depression, anxiety, and stress.

The exact mechanism is yet a mystery, however, it has been hypothesized that these leaves work on reducing cortisol levels in the blood, which thereby helps in reducing depression. It also helps keep the blood sugar levels in check which reduces the adrenal fatigue, thereby keeping cortisol off the bloodstream.

How To Use?

Holy basil is available in so many different forms. Tinctures, dried powder, extract, capsules, gum. You could choose to use any kind of form that is readily available near you. Ideally, plucking the leaves the fresh from the plant has proven to have a lot of benefits.

You could drink it in the form of tea.

How to enjoy a refreshing and soothing tea made of holy basil

Procedure:

Precautions to follow:

If you are suffering from depression during pregnancy, avoid using tulsi as a remedy for how to deal with depression.

How Much to Use?

For general preventive therapy, the dosage ranges from 300mg- 2,000mg of holy basil extract for a single dose on a daily basis. However, it is suggested that you meet your physician before starting this regimen for the right dosage.

3. Ginseng (Panax)

This oriental root has been used for ages as a traditional medicine in Asia, especially in southeastern Asia. This root has several medicinal benefits such as acting as an analgesic, to control diabetes and promote good mood and relaxation.

How Does it Work?

Ginseng effectively regulates the immune system and the hormonal changes due to stress and thereby maintaining homeostasis. Recent findings(8) suggested that ginseng acts on hypothalamus and pituitary axis and controls the hormones thereby keeping depression and mental stress at bay.

How to Use?

Ginseng is available in so many different forms. Ginseng root can be consumed in many ways. It can be eaten raw or steamed as per your taste. It can also be stewed in water to make tea. To do this, just add hot water to freshly sliced ginseng and let it rest for several minutes. Strain the solution and add some honey and you are good to go.

Ginseng can be added to various recipes like soups and stir-frys, too. and the extract can be found in powder, tablet, capsule and oil forms.

How Much to Use?

It is ideally recommended that you consume a daily dose of 1-3 grams of ginseng root or 300-400 mg of the extract is suggested. However, it is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice before using this regimen.

Also, it is crucial to remember that you start from lower doses and then work your way to the right dose for you. If you would like to use the extract, it is recommended that you look for 2-3% of total ginsenosides in the extract and consume it before your meals for the best results.

Summary:
Your depression may feel like it is crippling you, however, herbs is all you need, to feel lighter and better. Herbs have proven to be long-lasting and consistent in the treatment of depression. Integrate herbal products into your lives to help you fight with depression.

CURE 3: Essential oils for depression

Essential oils are now being used as an adjuvant treatment alongside therapy. There have been several studies that were conducted to test the efficacy of essential oils, In one such study(9) essential oils are proven to be a remedy to reduce anxiety and manic depressive disorder to a great extent.

1. Lavender Oil

Lavender essential oil has calming properties which have helped people suffering from depression to calm down.

How Does it Work?

Lavender oil when infused in the air, is absorbed into the body via the olfactory nerves. Linalool, the active ingredient(10) in lavender oil acts on the brain inhibits the glutamate binding and also inhibits acetylcholine to be released. This causes a euphoric and relaxed feeling

How to Use:

– Diffuse:
Place a diffuser in your bedroom and add lavender oil to it. Enjoy its sweet smell while you sleep at night. This helps to increase clarity and avoids depressive thought build-up in mind.

– Inhale:
When you experience sudden anxiety, inhale lavender oil right from the bottle and get instant relaxation and calmness.

– Topical Use:
You can rub this oil behind your ears or on the inside of your wrists for positive results against anxiety and depression

– Oral:
You could also consume the pills of lavender extract that are available, however, check with your doctor for the proportionate dosage that is appropriate for you.

How much to Use:

Lavender oil can be diffused into the bedroom, ideally, you could use it all the time, especially while you’re sleeping.

You could generally use around 3-5 ml of the oil for application or inhalation, it could be used twice a day or whenever you feel like you are going to have a panic attack.

2. CBD oil for depression (Cannabidiol Oil)

This is a naturally occurring chemical compound that is found in the hemp plant. This non-psychoactive oil can help you battle depression very effectively. Clinical trials have shown that CBD oil is an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, and insomnia and is also known to increase mood scores.

How Does it Work?

This phytocannabinoid works on the central and limbic nervous system and causes the release of endocannabinoids in the body that causes you to relax and helps your brain’s neural synapses to unwind.

How to Use?

– Inhale:
You could directly take a whiff from the bottle and it could help your body relax and boost your mood.

– Topical Use:
You can rub this oil behind your ears or on the inside of your wrists for positive results against anxiety and depression.

– Oral:
This is one of the best ways to ingest CBD oil for depression. You could take these pills whenever you are feeling low/depressed. However, it is strongly advised that you consult your physician for the dosage and use of these pills.

How Much to Use?

You could use CBD oil without any restrictions, as it doesn’t cause any kind of ‘high’ like THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) products. It is advised that you use 2-4 ml of this solution for topical application.

3. Ylang-Ylang Oil

Canaga odorata, also known as the canaga tree that is seen in the tropical regions is the source for Ylang-Ylang oil. The oil is extracted from the flowers that are present on these trees.

How Does it Work?

Although there are no known studies or research that is clear about the workings of this essential oil, however, it is identified that it is a strong sedative and can reduce cortisol levels in the body, thereby reducing stress which helps in controlling mood changes.

How to Use?

– Topical use:
Rub in a few drops of the oil directly on your wrist, neck, and the back of your ears. This will help in the uprising of your mood and bring a smile to your face.

– Diffuse:
When used in combination with orange essential oil, the mixture helps to decrease cortisol levels in the body which in turn maintains hormonal balance. Add three drops of both the essential oils to the diffuser and relish a happy feeling.

– Bath:
You could add this into your bath, along with Epsom salt that can help your body relax as well as help in managing your mood and depression

How Much to Use?

Ylang-Ylang oil can be used without any moderation, however considering that it is ideally suggested that you use 3-4 ml for topical application. Also, when you draw your bath you could add around 10-15 ml of this solution.

Summary:
Whatever might be the reason for your depression, the remedy is all about, ‘how you feel’. The effects triggered by the sense of smell has proven to be long-lasting and consistent. Smell good and feel good by lifting your spirit. Use essential oils and get rid of depression.

CURE 4: Supplements for depression

This is an adjuvant therapy, i.e you do this therapy alongside the primary therapy. Supplements form the backbone for your recovery as lacking nutrients and minerals could lead to depression and anxiety.

1. 5-HTP for depression

This supplement is a precursor of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for boosting happiness and maintaining the emotional well being of a human being.

How Does it Work?

Our bodies are naturally capable of making 5-HTP. However, sometimes the body struggles to convert it from tryptophan into the happy chemical. Artificially supplementing this compound, would allow it to cross the blood-brain barrier and allows you to maintain an organic supply of this compound, thereby reducing stress and depression.

How to Use?

Ideally, it is suggested that you meet with your therapist and then decide on the kind of usage that would suit your condition. For general usage, it is suggested that you use 1-3 100mg capsules before bed or even spread throughout the day.

How Much to Use?

This is completely a subjective choice and it depends on several factors such as the severity of your depression, the kind, your body mass index (BMI). Hence it is recommended that you consult with your therapist for the right dosage that would suit you. For general usage, it is 100-300mg per day.

2. Vitamin B12 +Methyl Folate

This is one of the crucial elements that is required by the body on the molecular level to keep the body functioning. According to a study(11)published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, roughly 30% of depressed patients are folate deficient, and those with the deficiency experienced the worst symptoms. Folate deficiency is linked with lower of serotonin.

How Does it Work?

Methyl folate and vitamin B12, when combined together, increases the uptake of serotonin as it acts on the receptors and helps in reuptake of serotonin and thereby promoting a betterment of the mood. Also, this combination is known to help your brain cells in staying healthy and promoting a better condition of the nerve cells.

How to Use?

Ideally it is suggested that you meet your therapist and then decide on the kind of usage that would suit your condition. For general usage, it is suggested that you use 800 mcg DFE of folate, with 5mg+ of Methyl-B12.

How Much to Use?

This is completely a subjective choice and it depends on several factors such as the severity of your depression, the kind, your BMI. Hence it is recommended that you consult your therapist for the right dosage that would suit you. For general usage, it is daily once with food.

3. Zinc for depression

Did you know that your body cannot store zinc? Yes, you read that right. Zinc deficiency is seen in people who don’t eat a balanced diet. This deficiency may cause symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression, and memory disorders.

Studies(12) were conducted on serum zinc levels and it was noticed that they were reduced in those suffering from depression. Even further, those with more severe depression had the lowest levels of zinc.

How Does it Work?

Zinc is known to regulate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a critical brain protein used for regulating mood and stress. Hence a deficiency of this would lead to the lack of formation of this protein.

How to Use?

Ideally it is suggested that you meet your therapist and then decide on the kind of usage that would suit your condition. For general usage, it is suggested that you use 15mg zinc orotate.

How much zinc per day?

This is completely a subjective choice and it depends on several factors such as the severity of your depression, the kind, and your BMI.

Hence it is recommended that you consult with your therapist for the right dosage that would suit you. For general usage, take once daily with a meal, but avoid combining with meals or supplements high in iron, calcium, and phytates, which can decrease the absorption of zinc.

Summary:
Supplements form the adjuvant therapy, i.e you do this therapy alongside the primary therapy. Supplements form the backbone for your recovery as lacking nutrients and minerals is scientifically linked to higher risks of depressionand anxiety. Follow and adhere to your regimen and you would notice a difference in your mental health.

Lifestyle Choices

Depression and its derivatives could be a crippling condition to live with. You’re bound in a vicious cycle of guilt, procrastination and then again, feelings of depression. This is an endless cycle. However, making a drastic change, such as a new exercise regimen, Yoga or gardening could make a monumental change in your thought process.

1. Exercise

When you have depression, it is understandable that this is the last thing you’d want to do. Breaking a sweat, however, has proven to be one of the better ways of keeping your depression at your bay. Once you’re motivated, you’d be breaking this cycle and getting on one!

How Does it Work?

Once you start regularly exercising, you ’d be releasing feel-good endorphins in your body. These are natural cannabis-like products (endocannabinoids) and other natural brain chemicals that are necessary for your emotional well being. It could help you take your mind off worries and you can only concentrate on your work out and not on the negative feelings.

How to Use?

Most people are under the assumption that you would need to hit the gym to exercise or to let your mind off certain things. Yes, structured exercise is good, however, good old brisk walking and stretches aren’t inferior either.

It is recommended that your workout includes running, lifting weights, stretches. You could even add in a game to play as well. As you progress you could also increase the intensity of your exercises.

How Much to Use?

It is strongly advised that you stick to a very strict working regimen, it is generally advised to workout in the morning for 30-45 minutes. However, it is strongly recommended that you meet your therapist and your doctor and ask for their suggestion.

2. Yoga for depression

This ancient and age-old body stretching activity that originated in India, can work miracles on your body. It has proven to cure and prevent many diseases. Yoga requires you to learn and control your own breathing and as well be flexible, so don’t be discouraged, with time you’ll learn.

How Does it Work?

Once you regularly start doing yoga, you ’d be releasing feel-good endorphins in your body. These are natural cannabis-like products (endocannabinoids) and other natural brain chemicals that are necessary for your emotional well being. It could help you take your mind off worries and you can only concentrate on your work out and not on the negative feelings.

How to Use?

There are exclusively three yoga poses for treating your depression. It is very crucial to remember that every pose has specific positions to stay in and a specific breathing pattern. The three poses are

Depression is a crippling mental illness that could eat into your life and take control of it.

Most of us confuse being sad and moody with being depressed. Clinical depression is when all the symptoms have amplified to such an extent that it has broken the ceiling of your threshold capacity.

Feeling momentary sadness and being in perpetual torment of your mind’s confines are two different things. However, you could use these naturopathic remedies to cure/control your depression. It is imperative that you bear this in your mind that depression can we won over and that you matter!

You’ll be happy to hear that science has revealed 6 extremely important natural cures for depression. Yet, they are simple steps that could change your life like they have mine.

Please ask your doctor about the following options for you to add to your defence against depression. You will be glad you did!

«I’ve taken your advice and started to implement a natural cure for depression and I haven’t felt this great in more than 20 years! Thank you! Thank you!»

Natural Cure For Depression #1: 5-HTP

If our bodies suffer from a lack of the amino acid, tryptophan, which is our body’s source for producing the powerful hormone serotonin, we can become depressed. Serotonin influences your sleep patterns and mood. In fact, one study found that a lower tryptophan level corresponded with a higher depression score even for people who were already under treatment with anti-depressant drugs.

Here’s the process:

Tryptophan > 5 HTP > Serotonin = improved mood and sleep!

(It’s also been proven to promote weight loss too by the way.)

The body makes 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) from tryptophan and converts it into serotonin. 5 HTP is a natural cure for depression because it is a natural amino acid extracted from the Griffonia simplicifolia plant. 5-HTP has been used clinically for over 30 years.

5-HTP has been shown to be effective in treating a wide variety of conditions, including depression, fibromyalgia, insomnia, binge eating associated with obesity, chronic headaches, and insomnia.

«Why is 5-HTP such an effective natural cure for depression and many more illnesses?»

Because of our modern lifestyle, we commonly suffer from low serotonin levels. As a result, we are prone to become overweight, crave sugar and other carbohydrates, experience bouts of depression, get frequent headaches, and have vague muscle aches and pain.

All of these can be corrected by raising brain serotonin levels!

In fact, SSRI drugs such as Prozac work for depression by influencing serotonin levels.

However, Prozac, like most other antidepressant drugs prescribed by doctors—all of which have risky side effects—doesn’t produce serotonin. It helps your body to utilize whatever serotonin is available.

Tryptophan, on the other hand, actually produces serotonin, thereby helping you make enough of serotonin to start feeling good again. Tryptophan practically guarantees high likelihood of beneficial results, whereas Prozac and other drugs are limited in their function.

The bottom line on the power of 5-HTP.

>>5-HTP offers a natural cure for depression and an effective alternative to prescription drugs because it is quickly absorbed directly into the brain where it converts to and raises serotonin levels—and helps you feel better.

>>In some studies, 70% of depressed patients with lowered serotonin levels felt better after taking 5-HTP.

Consult your doctor before taking 5-HTP as a natural cure for depression. More on 5-HTP as a natural source of serotonin (opens in new window).

Natural Cure For Depression #2: L-tyrosine

You can also become depressed if you suffer from low L-tyrosine (an amino acid) in your body. L-tyrosine triggers the production of a number of good things called neurotransmitters.

When these neurotransmitters are not available in the needed amounts, your mood can be affected and you experience feelings of sadness, nervousness, irritability, and frustration.

There are also specific neurotransmitters that suppress the appetite and reduce body fat.

«What ‘steals’ these powerful healing neurotransmitters from my body?»

These good neurotransmitters in your body can be reduced by stress, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, poor diet, and prescription drugs.

«So, how do I increase my neurotransmitters in my body so I can feel good again?»

Along with adjusting your diet, using a pure form of an L-tyrosine supplement is a natural cure for depression because it can help restore these neurotransmitters so you feel better!

Ask your doctor about L-tyrosine as a natural cure for depression!

It was discovered in the late 1970s that the native Inuit population who ate a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, had surprisingly low heart attack rates. Since then, thousands of studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids promote cardiovascular health—and a host of other physiological and mental functions.

Because of this evidence, the American Heart Association advises that everyone eat at least two 3-ounce servings of fatty fish every week. Others suggest three or more servings of fish per week.

For carefully collected info on Omega 3s and how to properly add them to your diet, read Day 2 of our 6 Day Depression Free E-course. It’s free! Learn more about our «6 Key Ingredients to Beat Depression» E-Course

Ask your doctor about Omega 3s as a natural cure for depression!

Natural Cure For Depression #4: Melatonin

Your mood and behaviour can be affected if you have abnormal melatonin patterns in your body.

«Research has shown that if you suffer from depression, most often you have decreased melatonin in your body.»

One investigation of major depression in children and adolescents found that melatonin levels were significantly lower in those suffering from depression.9 Usually in the morning and at midnight your body’s melatonin activity is low.

The following drugs can also rob your body of melatonin: beta blockers, NSAIDS, steroids, nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, sleep aids and anti-anxiety medications. Fluoxetine (Prozac) may also lower melatonin levels. Low melatonin can also contribute to insomnia, sleep/wake disorders, or PMS.

Why is Melatonin important for my health?

Melatonin levels decrease with age and this deficit may be why so many elderly folks suffer from insomnia. If your normal sleep-wake cycle is disrupted by shift work, jet lag, stress, or other factors this can also trigger abnormal levels.

Melatonin can also affect your ovarian function if you’re a woman. A low night time level of melatonin has been found in women with malignant diseases in the breast and ovary. It has also been associated with disrupted menstrual cycles and infertility.

Why is melatonin testing important?

Because we have learned, thanks to scientific research, about melatonin’s powerful natural cure for depression powers, as well as anti-aging, anti-cancer, and sleep enhancing effects, the media has created a frenzy in its popularity. As a result, the popularity of melatonin as a hormonal supplement has skyrocketed. What many people don’t realize, however, is that too much melatonin can be just as bad for your health as too little.

Abnormally high levels of melatonin are an underlying cause of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), for example. That’s why it’s important to have your melatonin levels monitored before and during any supplementation program.

• Do you have a history of PMS, or infertility?

• Do you feel chronic fatigue?

• Do you often have trouble sleeping?

• Have you undergone a recent weight gain?

• Have you recently experienced increased stress in your life?

• Do you suffer from depression, anxiety, or another type of mood disturbance?

• Are you regularly exposed to sources of electromagnetic energy, such as computer terminals, electric blankets, and power lines?

• Are you prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

• Are you at high risk for cardiovascular disease or breast cancer?

• Do you often feel physical or psychological effects of premature aging?

• Are you feeling the symptoms of jet lag after a long trip?

• Do you work early or late shifts?

• Are you currently taking, or have you taken, melatonin supplements within the last year?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be suffering from hormonal imbalance.

Ask your doctor about your Melatonin levels. He/she can do a simple test to determine if you are suffering from abnormal levels of Melatonin.

Ask your doctor about choosing a natural cure for your depression! You will be so glad you did!

«What is the Best Natural Cure for Depression?»

Science has revealed that there are 6 major ingredients that must be present in your life to cure depression. The good news is that they are all natural skills that you can easily apply and are most likely missing without you even noticing. To enjoy and benefit from the research on a natural cure for depression, read >> Research on The Best Natural Cures for Depression: 6 Simple Steps

Related Articles

Natural Cure for Depression Resources:

Reinstein DK, Lehnert H, Wurtman RJ. Dietary tyrosine suppresses the rise in plasma corticosterone following acute stress in rats. Life Sci 1985;37(23):2157-2163.

Benkelfat C, Ellenbogen MA, Dean P, Palmour Rm, Young SN. Mood-lowering effect of tryptophan depletion. Enhanced susceptibility in young men at genetic risk for major affective disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1994;51(9):687-697.

Young SN, Smith SE, Pihl RO, Ervin FR. Tryptophan depletion causes a rapid lowering of mood in normal males. Psychopharmacology 1985;87(2):173-177.

Smith KA, Fairburn CG, Cowen PJ. Relapse of depression after rapid depletion of tryptophan. Lancet 1997;349(9056):915-19.

Delgado PL, Charney DS, Price LH, Aghajanian GK, Landis H, Heninger GR. Serotonin function and the mechanism of antidepressant action. Reversal of antidepressant-induced remission by rapid depletion of plasma tryptophan. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1990;47(5):411-18.

Arendt J. Melatonin—a new probe in psychiatric investigation? Br J Psychiatry 1989;155:585 590.

Brown RP, Kocsis JH, Caroff S, Amsterdam J, Winokur A, Stokes P, Frazer A. Depressed mood and reality disturbance correlate with decreased nocturnal melatonin in depressed patients. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1987;76(3):272-5.

McIntyre IM, Judd FK, Marriott PM, Burrows GD, Norman TR. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1989;9(2):159-164.

Shafii M, MacMillan DR, Key MP, Derrick AM, Kaufman N, Nahinsky ID. Nocturnal serum melatonin profile in major depression in children and adolescents. Arch Gen Psychiatr 1996;53(11): 1009-13.

Great Smokies Diagnostic Lab / http://www.gsdl.com/home/assessments/melatonin/faq/

Enjoy More Cure Depression Articles.

One Woman’s Cure Depression Story and Research Findings That Is Changing Lives in Over 120 Countries To Date.

What people are saying about the cure your depression research.

“Your web site is absolutely fantastic! We will refer all of our clients to your web site.” –Anthony, Director of Mental Imaging Clinic, Las Vegas

«As a licensed clinical social worker and a woman with a life-time history of depression, I really commend you on the work you have done on this site.» — Robyn, Social Worker

«I have been depressed for most of my life, have read many books and articles have taught others about depression, have taken various antidepressant medications. I have begun taking your advice on how to overcome depression for just over a week now.

I am encouraged at what i have read and i have put into practice what has been suggested. I have found that the research of Merri Ellen is very good, it is practical and makes common and medical sense. I fully agree that the medication is only part of the cure for depression, in that it takes away some of the worst symptoms of one’s depression. The time to do something about one’s depression is when the bad edge has been taken off. I have started the process you recommend and i am encouraged at my progress so far.