Combating mental health issues, such as depression, is usually associated with lengthy counselling sessions, with cognitive behavioural therapy, with invasive talking therapies and with antidepressant prescriptions. While for some, traditional treatments will work and will offer many benefits, for others, a holistic, natural route will be favoured.

If you’re battling through depression, with the hope to utilise the likes of exercise, of mindfulness and of herbal remedies, this is possible. Yet, it is important that you weigh up the pros and cons of both traditional and natural treatments for depression, by considering their safety and effectiveness.

In most cases, a mix of both treatment forms will be recommended, to safeguard your physical and psychological health, and your ability to work through and manage your symptoms of depression. Through our guidance at Ocean Recovery, this will be the case, by offering a tailored recovery programme around your personal struggles with depression.

See the benefits that you can encounter through safer remedies, along with a range of natural treatments for depression which may suit your personal needs.

 

What is depression?

Depression is a significant mood disorder which falls way beyond the average feelings of sadness, of hopelessness and of unhappiness. It is unfortunately a commonly experienced disorder, where 1 in 4 individuals within England suffer from a degree of depressive symptoms. On a global scale, 264 million people, across age brackets, cultures, genders, backgrounds and statuses in fact suffered from depression in 2020. With this in mind, it’s easy to see how intrusive and damaging mental health issues, such as depression, can be.

A diagnosis of depression can materialise for any given reason. Change, negative experiences and trauma are highly associated with the development of mood disorders, where breaking the cycle of depression can become very difficult. Here’s where psychological emotions will drive behaviours, outlooks and actions, also impacting physical health.

It is, however, important to note that depression can also develop from a pre-existing weakness, down to genetics, down to low cognitive functionality, or down to substance abuse.

Down to the multifaceted causations of depression, along with the variation of symptoms of depression, finding the right forms of treatment is necessary to safely and effectively recover. Here’s where natural treatments for depression can carry many benefits in tandem with medically accredited treatment options.

 

The benefits of natural treatments

As we’ve shared above, recovering from depression is usually correlated with the necessity of psychological intervention. Carrying many benefits, opening up to professionals and considering new outlooks towards low moments is advantageous. However, some individuals will perceive traditional treatments for depression as invasive and difficult to take to. This is also the case when considering the likes of antidepressants, which are branded as controlling and addictive.

Many traditional treatments for depression are recommended through rehab, as they motivate recovery and manageable coping strategies. Yet, for some individuals, harmless treatments, linked to wellbeing are favoured, which work great with traditional forms of depression treatment.

Natural treatments for depression offer many benefits, by promoting a positive lifestyle which naturally reduces the risk of depression. Herbal remedies are known to boost physical and psychological health, while suppressing the susceptibility of disruptions to routine and outlooks.

The production of natural chemicals in the brain can also improve mental health, reduce stress levels, combat fixations on substance abuse, and provide sustainable tools to manage long-term symptoms of depression.

Unfortunately, some natural treatments for depression will not work independently. While ranked as safe, their effectiveness may not fulfil your recovery desires. This is exactly why working with professionals will be encouraged, to mix both traditional and natural treatments for depression, which will work for you.

 

Natural treatments for depression

If you’re looking to delve into harm-free coping strategies, here are some of the best natural treatments for depression, anxiety and further mood disorders. Helping to alleviate both physical and psychological symptoms of depression, effective natural depression treatment may be suited to your personal encounters and susceptibility of recovery.

Relaxation techniques

Side effects of depression commonly include insomnia, irritability and a lack of control. Difficult to cope through, it’s understandable to see why side effects can influence a build-up of stress. One way to reduce stress is to actively utilise relaxation techniques, helping you feel grounded, in control and self-aware.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the most favoured natural treatments for depression as it organically produces happy chemicals in the brain, helping to effortlessly combat depressive side effects. It is in fact compared to the positives of antidepressants, offering short-term respite from the symptoms of depression.

Finding a form of exercise that works for you is recommended, helping to increase motivation, offer routine and promote a healthy lifestyle; all of which will benefit your experience with depression.

Mindfulness

Many diagnoses do materialise through psychological distress or trauma. Through the ongoing cycle of depression, many individuals will then focus on those moments, aggravating the side effects of depression.

Mindfulness is a positive treatment, linked to the management of depression by promoting grounding feelings, clarity and perspective.

Music and art therapy

Both music and art therapy are natural treatments for depression, helping clients express their emotions. Connecting to the arts is a positive release mechanism, is identified as a source of relaxation and also mirrors the impacts of exercise, helping to promote dopamine, happiness and vision.

Yoga

Reducing stress, suppressing pressure on the nervous system and realignment are all feelings which can reduce the control of depression. Yoga can help you experience those feelings, helping you connect to yourself on physical and psychological levels. Practising yoga is also positive for your wellbeing, with strong links to spiritual and holistic healing.

Hot Kava

The plant of Kava is a natural treatment for depression as its ingredients provide a sedative effect. Hot Kava is commonly favoured over a long-standing prescription of antidepressants. However, it must be used in short bursts, as long-term use can be harmful to the body.

Restoration through herbal remedies

Alongside physical natural treatments for depression, there are some herbal remedies which can be consumed to help promote restoration. Consuming the likes of 5-HTP is linked to the organic production of serotonin, which is a happy chemical, helping to regulate mood, sleep and behaviours. Further herbal supplements along with the restoring of vitamin and mineral levels in the body can also help to reduce the control of depressive side effects, helping to rebalance the mind.

 

Sourcing help for depression here at Ocean Recovery

Depression is a challenging mood disorder to live through, which can aggravate physical and mental health in many ways. With this in mind, looking at ways to manage depressive symptoms is recommended, helping you balance your emotions and responses.

At Ocean Recovery, we can help you through traditional and natural treatment for depression, helping you sustainably maintain your lifestyle to promote health, wellbeing and positivity. You can encounter recovery efforts by keeping an open mind, with the potential to experience a wide range of treatments for depression, from medically recommended to naturally favoured forms.

 

Sources:

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems/

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression

www.psycom.net/depression-central-html/treatments-for-depression/alternative-treatments-for-depression

https://www.verywellmind.com/kava-kava-what-you-need-to-know-89703

John Gillen - Director at Ocean Recovery

John Gillen - Author - Last updated: January 22, 2021

John is one UK’s leading professionals in the addiction recovery industry. Pioneering new treatment techniques such as NAD+ and ongoing research into new therapy techniques such as systematic laser therapy, John is committed to providing the very best treatment for people throughout the UK and Europe. During his extremely busy schedule, John likes to regularly update our blog section with the latest news and trends in the industry to keep visitors to our site as well informed as possible on everything related to addiction treatment.