Natural Depression Treatment

Are There Natural Depression Treatments to Relieve PMS & PMDD Depression?
by Dr. Daniel J. Heller

You can relieve PMS and PMDD depression symptoms such sadness, lethargy, and other symptoms of PMS and PMDD depression with natural depression treatment. The holistic approach to depression help views you as a whole person: body, mind, and spirit—and can help you find a sense of balance and peace within yourself. Many women look for a natural depression treatment because they don't want to take depression medication, or they've had side effects from drugs like Prozac^® or Zoloft^® (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs). Alternative PMS depression treatments can help you become healthier overall, relieving PMS symptoms and PMDD symptoms like bloating, cramping, and headaches, as well as potentially reducing your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and cancer.

 Although we're sometimes asked, "How can I cure depression?" it's important to point out that depression, like other complex health conditions, isn't usually cured—but there is hope for natural depression relief that can help you get back to living fully again. When it comes to the depression that often accompanies PMS, and that is a central feature of PMDD, we are doubly sure of the importance of a holistic and natural approach.

PMS Balance Diet: Our PMS Balance Diet is a perfect fit to relieve PMS and PMDD depression symptoms and to help correct the hormonal imbalance that creates PMS and PMDD in the first place. As with any healthy food plan used for true long-lasting health benefits, it doesn't work overnight—developing healthy habits you can maintain over the long run is the key. The PMS Balance Diet isn't a replacement for medication, and a complete holistic relief program for PMS and PMDD is better than diet changes alone. But what you eat, and what you don't eat, has a powerful impact on your moods, your behavior, your blood sugar and your hormones. We've listed diet as the number one natural depression treatment for a reason: we've seen it help PMS and PMDD symptoms, including depression, over and over.

Exercise: Exercise deserves twin billing, along with a balanced, wholesome diet, as natural depression reliever number one, because even small amounts of exercise can invigorate you and help bring you out of the rut of negative thinking that is so common with depression. Human beings are made to be physically active, which means regular exercise can help improve your sleep and lower your stress level, both of which lighten your mood and shine a ray of sunshine through the dark cloud of PMS and PMDD depression.

Besides, exercise is good for your figure, your digestion, and helps protect your heart and your brain from the effects of aging; it may even help prevent cancer. There's a whole range of available physical activities, from yoga to walking in your neighborhood, personal training at the gym and bike riding. Even small amounts of activity add up: climbing stairs instead of taking the elevator; parking across the parking lot and walking rather than finding the closest possible spot; or, weather permitting, riding your bicycle for small errands.

There is no one-size fits all prescription for how to feel connected to others

Some women derive that feeling from family, but one look at the divorce rate, and at the dread some people feel over family holiday get-togethers, and we know that doesn't work for everyone. Religious affiliation and spiritual community is another source of social connection and fellowship, but for plenty of women that has no appeal.

Stay connected to people and community: Withdrawal from others is both a cause and a symptom of depression, and a risk factor for poor health overall. This is both straightforward and complex. Some women feel deeply isolated in the midst of a hectic social life, while others can have a few close friends and family members, spend plenty of time alone, but feel socially connected. In our uber-hectic and grindingly competitive culture, a feeling of social isolation is quite common. Our society focuses on the individual and individual achievement in a way that actually causes isolation, compared to more communal and family-oriented cultures.

Therefore, the best thing you can do is recognize when PMS and PMDD depression are causing you to isolate yourself, and take that first, second, and third step of reaching out, finding a way to participate in your community (volunteering is one of our favorites, because you get to help yourself and others at the same time) and reaching out to people you care about, and who care about you. Creating a deeper social connectedness requires some effort, but it's a real investment in your health.

Talk to someone: You can, of course, talk to friends, family, and coworkers when something is bothering you. But sometimes it's best to talk to someone who is trained to listen and understand, either a professional counselor or a clergyperson. Talk therapy, whether short or long term, has been proven to help with depression, and that includes the PMS and PMDD variety.  Remember that this person will be your emotional health care partner, so it's important to find someone whose personality and counseling philosophy feel like a good fit with you and your needs and values. Therapy can broach difficult subjects, so it's crucial that you feel safe and respected in any counselor-client relationship.

Meditation and deep relaxation practices:  Setting aside quiet time for yourself, particularly if it allows you to put aside your cares, concerns, thoughts and anxieties, can be deeply healing. Although meditation and relaxation exercises can sound intimidating, it boils down to simply breathing calmly into your abdomen, noticing your breath going in and out, whatever sounds and sensations are occurring around you, and noticing whatever happens in yourself without judgment. Even if negative thoughts occur, you don't have to believe them. Let them pass by: you'll find other thoughts, random or useful, will occur to you. This quiet time of meditation and prayer can be a reservoir of creativity and renewal for you.

Some women enjoy making this into something of a ritual with candles and incense and even an altar honoring whatever inspires you deeply, while keeping it simple is another time-honored prayer and meditation strategy. However you do it, we recommend you wear comfortable clothes, turn your cell phone ringer off, and be patient with yourself and the process.

Rediscover your purpose: Whether this has to do with religion, community, serving others, or working towards a specific goal, having the feeling that there is some deeper meaning to life can help us reach a deeper sense of fulfillment and can remove the anxiety and depression that our individualistic society can foster. Of course, depression can make it hard to feel or see that there is any purpose to life, and cause us to lose sight of the meaning of our existence. That is why cultivating that sense of purpose and meaning can be a natural depression treatment.

You can overcome depression naturally. Even if you take antidepressant medication for depression, anxiety, or PMDD, a holistic lifestyle plan can improve your mood and outlook and support your overall health.