Depression Home Remedies

One way to feel good about yourself is to make someone else feel good.

Try to have at least one substantial activity at the end of each week that you can anticipate with enthusiasm. Plan a day trip, a shopping excursion, or dinner at a favorite restaurant.

Alcohol is a central-nervous-system depressant. After a drink, you may feel better at first.

Be optimistic, even if you don't believe it at first, says Dr. Vittone. Your attitude is likely to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Get out of the house. Buy new clothes. Pray. Talk to people. Be thankful for everything you have.

When you're feeling blue, you may feel as if your mind and body are disconnected. Healing touch—once a week if possible—helps reconnect mind, body, and spirit, says Dr. Hallowell.

Research shows that spirituality can improve mood, whether you pray, attend services, or read uplifting materials. Spirituality restores hope.

Stock up on sardines, herring, mackerel, wild salmon, kippers, and other fish from cold northern waters, says Andrew Weil, M.D. These fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Of the house, that is. Aim for a few hours out every day, says Dr. Vittone.

Remind yourself what's good in life. Each day, jot down five things for which you're grateful. "Try to find things, little or big, that you appreciate," says Dr. Vittone.

Watch a comedy show on television, see a funny movie, or catch a comedian on stage. Happiness is contagious, says Dr. Vittone.

Lack of sleep may cause depressive-like symptoms, such as lack of concentration and low energy, or exacerbate existing depression. Gauge how much sleep you need by how rested you feel.

Even with mild depression, temporary forgetfulness and clumsiness are common. You might misplace your keys or drop a glass.

The opposite of depression is expression. The blues often result from a pattern of suppressing and then repressing feelings, says Dr. Hallowell.

A lack of B vitamins is sometimes associated with depressive symptoms, such as fatigue, poor concentration, or moodiness.

Socialize at least twice a week, Dr. Vittone says. Don't just schedule business meetings, client lunches, or telephone talks. Get together with people to talk, laugh, and relax.

Choose a balanced diet rich in complex carbohydrates (such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains), lean protein, and some fat.

It's okay to feel anything, says Dr. Hallowell. There are no "bad" feelings. Accepting how you feel helps you get past it.

Alternating rest with activity brings healing by restoring the body's natural rhythms. For example, go to sleep at the same time and get up at the usual time every day.

This dietary supplement, which is short for S-adenosylmethionine, helps regulate some hormones and the neurochemicals that are important to mood: serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, and adrenaline, Dr. Weil says.

Spend time on grooming. Buy an outfit that enhances a positive outlook. "You'll feel better," Dr. Weil says.

Tune in to the television or radio news. Pick up a newspaper or magazine. Keeping up with current events helps you feel more involved in life around you, says Dr. Vittone.

Keep decision making to a minimum when you're feeling low. Decisions are less clear when you're depressed than when you're feeling at your best.

No matter what mistakes you think you've made, forgive yourself. Treat yourself with kindness, and never give in to regret. Everybody has failures.

Many studies show that this herbal remedy improves mild depression, says Dr. Weil.