Depression Meds - What Are the Options Available?

Depression meds come with a wide variety of warnings on the box so that you can have something to read as you munch through your breakfast cereal! Let us take Effexor XR as an example because it is fairly typical of the depression meds on the market right now. Side effects from this medicine can range from dry mouth, sleep problems, loss of appetite, nausea, sexual side effects, sleepiness (at the wrong time of day or night!) and general weakness. You have to ask your doctor all sorts of questions to find out if this is one of the depression meds for you. If you opt for a natural remedy for depression, you will not have to worry about any nasty side effects and there are no health risks or monitoring that have to be done.

Another alarming thing about depression meds is that the patient has to be watched for signs of suicidal thoughts, agitation, aggressiveness, irritability, restlessness and impulsivity. Even if you had one or two of the side effects I have listed above, it is enough to set you back and make you more depressed. Surely the aim of any meds for treating depression would be to improve mood and lessen anxiety. That is what happens if you opt for a natural remedy for anxiety and depression but none of the drug companies want you to know that and neither does your doctor in all probability.

Let us look at some of the other options available when considering depression treatment . You can opt for either antidepressants, tranquillisers, and mood stabilizers. These are the most popular meds for treating depression at the moment. There is also electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) which is for more severe forms of depression. You could try Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. This is where patients are trained to recognize how their thinking can affect their mood and they can learn how positive thinkng can affect their moods . If you opt for psychotherapy than you will have to expore with the help of the therapist aspects of your past life and discover what are the links which have led to your depression.

I know patients who discontinued with depression meds and they had manic and psychotic symptoms. It seems to me that choosing a natural safe remedy which uses herbs and which have been proven to be just as effective as the depression meds, is the way to go but that is a personal opinion. If you want to see why this could be a much more attractive option in treating depression, see the link below.

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Depression & Breakfast - Is Cereal For Breakfast Keeping You Depressed?

Not so long ago, on advice from a naturopath, I tried a low GI muesli with almond milk for breakfast. Supposedly healthy right? For the next few hours I felt like I was fighting to stop from drowning. My emotions dived to their darkest depths they had in many years. Had I not been aware of what I was normally like in the morning (when not having cereal for breakfast) I would have been ready to crawl into bed to hide for days, or worse... Thankfully the feeling passed by midday and I was back to my normal self.

When I have cereal for breakfast it makes me depressed. How come the Doctor doesn't know to tell me that? I haven't had cereal for breakfast for over 6 years. Not porridge, not low GI muesli, not flakes, biscuits or bubbles. Only 3 generations ago there was no such thing as a breakfast cereal but now most people can't imagine what you would have for breakfast if you couldn't have something in a bowl with a white liquid on it.

I am not suggesting that everyone skips cereal for breakfast (although I could probably justify it). The important thing is to find out what works for you. Some people do better starting the day with protein, some with carbohydrates. Try something different for a few days and see if your depression lifts.

You may notice the difference immediately and never want to go back. Make a note to check in with yourself through out the morning. Make an appointment in your calendar or set the alarm on your watch to remind you to see how your doing. Also, ask people who you spend time with in the morning to notice if you seem different as well.

So what can you eat instead of cereal for breakfast? Many cultures around the world do not have cereal for breakfast. Instead they have something to eat that would eat at any other time of the day. For example, left overs from the night before, baked beans, steamed broccoli, tuna salad, tofu and leafy greens, even an omelette that includes vegetables. And no, two pieces of raison toast or a blueberry muffin are not good substitutes. We're aiming for good protein sources.

What about asking friends for ideas? Do you know anyone from non-western backgrounds? If so, ask them what they have for breakfast - many cultures around the world don't have breakfast out of a box so there must be answers out there.

But what about the time it takes to prepare something other than cereal for breakfast? For the 9-5 lifestyle, being able to throw something in a bowl put white liquid on it and then bolt out the door saves time in the mornings. My question is: How important is your health to you? Ok I'll stop preaching from on high. Time is a consideration in the mornings and I imagine that having to come up for something for children as well only adds to the pressure. What about a large pan of scrambled eggs, a saucepan of beans, or a large salad with left over sausages?

What about the additional cost? Cereal is cheap but you get what you pay for. Are you currently paying for depression medication? If you can reduce or eliminate your medication by changing what you eat for breakfast then you will have freed up some money to buy quality food instead.

If you have a protein breakfast, what about calcium from milk? So, the dairy industry has you convinced that you can't get enough calcium from other sources, eh? If you want to try the experiment of not having cereal for breakfast for a few days, have it for you last meal of the day instead. I know it might feel like your back in college and have nothing else to eat but if you do well with higher protein in the mornings you will probably also do well with higher carbs at night. Try it and see - the kids will love the novelty.

Remember, its about finding out what works for you. We all have different metabolic types that require different ratios of proteins and carbohydrates at different times of the day. By varying our diet and noticing the difference in how we feel we can work out what is just right for each of us.

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