Depression is a multifactorial disease. This means that there are many factors that influence its onset and its impact on the life of the person who suffers from it, so to combat depression it is best to take all the different measures available.
Lately much importance has been given to the chemical changes that occur in the brain and that are associated with depression, we have heard about the hormones of happiness, stress, everything, also neurotransmitters and their effects on our mood. The approach is scientific and valid, it is also important to clarify it.
- Depression causes chemical changes in the brain and vice versa; however.
- Brain chemistry is variable.
- The quality of thoughts and substances we ingest are two of those agents capable of altering brain chemistry.
- Which in case of depression increase or decrease the amount of Serotonin available.
Serotonin production begins in the gut. This is where a precursor to this hormone, called Tryptophan, is produced, which is why some people call the gut “the second brain”. For this reason, we should pay attention to the type of food we eat and the lifestyle we lead. there are completely natural methods to produce more Serotonin, which helps fight depression.
First, it is important to say that there are foods that inhibit Serotonin production and therefore increase the risk of depression, basically these are carbohydrates and foods high in sugar, this type of food is like a discharge of energy to the body. Quick to digest and generate desire. Some kind of withdrawal syndrome.
On the other hand, other foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, help bring more Tryptophan into the bloodstream, increasing Serotonin production and therefore acting as a protective agent against depression. Recent medical studies give turmeric special power to produce this effect.
Any exercise practice increases the level of Serotonin in the brain, however, the effect is much more significant when exercise is combined with specific situations, ideally it develops in an environment that calms the mind, an environment that reduces the level of distress.
Physical exercises are much more productive if performed in a natural environment. Trees and the green of nature reinforce the positive effects of the exercise itself. A simple quick walk through the forest can have extraordinary effects. The sea is another of these healing, scenarios.
Thought has enormous power over humor. For example, the placebo effect was found to be very high in people with depression. There are experiments in which people thought they would take a next-generation drug that, according to the researchers, was very effective against depression. Most people ingest and improve. This is the effect of positive thinking.
Relaxation and meditation practices are also highly recommended for those who feel depressed, sometimes you only have to take the time to breathe, trying to leave the mind empty, it has also been proven that for religious the repetition of their prayers increases the feeling of happiness.
Literature allows us to get in touch with the experiences of others, reflected in the characters or in the narrator himself, to fine-tune our own emotions. Inspiring stories produce a sense of well-being and help change brain chemistry in a positive way. They are equivalent to positive thoughts.
Writing, on the other hand, has an important catharsis effect. Joel Robertson, an expert on the subject, recommends writing for 20 minutes for 4 consecutive days, the subject must be painful experiences and it is good to do it without thinking, almost automatically, this researcher assures that this experience provides a deep peace.
Certain melodies have been shown to increase Serotonin production. They harmonize the brain and provide a sense of well-being and enthusiasm. Bach’s music is one of the most recommended. This artist has made compositions in a mathematical order that seems to coincide with certain frequencies in our brain.
Like other composers such as Brahms, Chopin, Handel, Haydn and some operas such as Madame Butterfly, this type of music inspires and induces a kind of openness in feelings, helps you connect with your own pain and has a healthy effect. Effect.
For a depressed person, it is not easy to act for their well-being, because what the body requires is abandonment. Maybe I need a little extra motivation. Maybe I need help getting started. However, he thinks that the most complicated thing is precisely that, to begin with, these methods to overcome depression naturally are usually effective in the short term, whether you have depression or not, dare you try them to improve your mood?
Images courtesy of Art Studio Klyne, Mary Patters