Putting together a Depression, Anxiety Winter Survival Kit

Information about depression and other related health issues (includes medications).

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CitM
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Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:45 pm
Location: United States

Putting together a Depression, Anxiety Winter Survival Kit

Postby CitM » Wed Sep 07, 2016 2:11 pm

Just like you prepare for winter for your home, gardens and cars, back to school supplies and coats, boots and mittens check, you need to do that for yourself if you suffer from anxiety and depression.

Here is some new things I've learned. If you are anxious, you are more prone to inflammation as the same hormones are involved in both. Getting on an anti inflammatory diet is key. This is basically a low sugar, low fat, high fiber, lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fish or fish oils diet.

If you are vegetarian, you have to swallow fish oil tablets, sorry. You have to get it in your diet. You don't have to eat the fish, but at least you can rest in the knowledge that you are participating in the total use of the animal that died for other people's plates

Cut down on red meat, and whole dairy foods. You can have them once in awhile, but if you are eating these more than twice a month, you need to cut back, especially the whole dairy foods. Yogurt or kefir is an exception and can be eaten on a weekly basis.

Cut down on white cane sugar. Mix it instead with other kinds of sugars like maple sugar (yes they sell it), stevia, coconut sugar or a bit of honey etc. You do nut have to eliminate sugar, but cutting your intake is always good, especially for your teeth.

Have a therapy lamp. Yes they are expensive, but well worth it. If you cannot afford one, go to an indoor green house or botanical garden. Next best thing. Anything that grows a plant has enough of the right light.

Also supplement your diet with brazil nuts and oranges. It should be a brazil nut and orange every day. You can also get serotonin supplements. Don't forget your green leafies.

Make sure also that you are getting enough zinc, magnesium, calcium, and b vitamins.

Exercise five days a week. I'm going to try going for six days a week, but I'm going to do at least five.

Meditation/prayer is important and please don't forget this every day. Just a 'thank you God' or to your higher power may be sufficient. Sometimes it takes more, like a prayer service or AA meeting or meditation or going to an art museum, concert, whatever seems to fill your soul.

Now at first all these changes are going to be hard. Some things you will feel the benefit right away like therapy lamps, vitamins, oranges, leafies, and brazil nuts. Other things, like exercise after the first month, you're body will start to crave the experience. But the first four weeks are hardest, which is why you want to get into the swing of it by the second week of October.

Good luck and be very well, fit, and mentally healthier.

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