Not depression

lizzydavis said:

Black Dog
This is a guest post from John Van Sickel of Walking the Black Dog, a blog about overcoming depression.

Over 120 million people worldwide are affected by the black dog of depression, as Sir Winston Churchill described it. Depression is one of the leading causes of disability, missed work, broken relationships and more.

Chances are you or someone you know will suffer from it in your lifetime.
It is truly one of the most devastating of dis-eases (not at ease!) in that it robs you of the ability to simply enjoy life. Activities that you used to enjoy leave you feeling empty. Interacting with friends, family and coworkers can be overwhelming.
So what can we do? Traditional routes of therapy and even medication are effective and should definitely be considered if depression is disrupting your life.
However there are other, natural steps to take that can, over time, be very effective. In fact, some studies have shown these to be as effective (or more so) than traditional therapies.
As an added bonus these are good lifestyle changes that will enhance anyone’s life, depressed or not, and most don’t cost a thing!
Here are the very practical caveman therapies for modern men and women.

1. Get outside. Our caveman friends saw lots of daylight; getting up at sunrise and going to sleep at sunset. Exposure to bright sunlight for 30 minutes a day either through sunlight or a light made for this, helps keep your internal clock set. This circadian rhythm helps to regulate our sleep/wake cycle and insures a good night’s sleep which in turn, helps our physical and mental health. Don’t wear sunglasses though; the exposure must come through your eyes!

2. Aerobic Exercise. Primitive folks had to forage or work in the fields for their food. 30 minutes at least 3 times a week means those ‘runner’s high’ endorphins get released regularly. It’s also a good way to work through and release stress. You don’t have to run a marathon, just get your heart rate up to your target range – around 120 to 160 beats per minute depending on your age and condition. Walking works wonders. Get your doctor’s approval first!

3. Omega-3 fatty acids. 1,000 mg daily. Omega-3’s aid in the brain’s neuron connectivity. Enteric coated capsules help prevent burping the fishy tasting oil but you can also freeze them. Throw in a good multi-vitamin and avoid overly processed foods in favor of complex carbohydrates (whole grains), fish, free range meats, & vegetables and you’re good to go.

4. Sleep. Change your sleep routine so that it’s more conducive to a good night’s rest. Turn your lights down and go to bed at the same time everynight. Turn the t.v. off. Engage in calming, quiet activities like reading, listening to soft music, taking a warm bath, rubbing soothing lotion on your body, drink sweet dreams hot tea, etc. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Don’t work late or do other stressful activities that cause your mind to race. Think positive & good thoughts - Remember a tired body and quiet mind are the requirements for quality sleep.

5. Socialize. Remember the Amish farmer has his family and community to fall back on for support. There’s no reason you can’t too. Involve yourself with close friends and family. You don’t have to engage in heavy conversations about your plight, just have fun. Keep it simple and go to a movie, visit an art gallery or museum, go to a ball game, grab a cup of coffee or have a meal together. Just be with other people and your feelings of isolation will fade. Do this face to face (not online!) and do it regularly.

6. Watch your thinking! Anti-rumination strategy is vital to breaking out of depression and other emotional ruts. Become aware of those times you dwell on the negatives in your life – both real or imagined – and stop them. It takes work and persistence but if you constantly tell yourself to ’stop it’ when you start to go over and over the negatives, then you are building a positive habit that will change your life for the better. Whether it’s the jerk who cut you off in traffic or something a little closer to home, don’t give yourself the luxury of a negative thought.

To read more excellent posts from John, check out his blog, Walking the Black Dog.

PhillieG said:

Not to be contrary...
but the comments posted from John Van Sickel make absolute sense.
-p

PS: I just looked back at your first response:
"I think there is a deep difference between people who get depressed and those who don't, and it's pretty hard for the one group to have any sympathy with the other."

I now see how you can say Van Sickel's comments are BS ...

bdee said:

I've just got to comment on the Caveman
1. I can't get out in the sun. Five minutes of sun exposure and I'm itching and breaking out like crazy.
2. I've always been a walker and even since starting this chemo and not getting outside I do exercies on my WII every day.
3. I can't take the Omega tablets because they have soy in them which affect my thyroid. My thyroid go hypo when I take or eat any soy product. But for 25 years I've watched what my family and I eat. My kids thought at one time that only fish and chicken were sold in the commissary. And still with watching what I ate, I had Grave's disease, diabetes and cancer.
4. Sleep is one thing that depresses me the most. It is hard to lay in bed for hours or to be up until 4:00 a.m. just to sleep until 8:00, if I sleep at all.
5. I'm lucky that I have two former jobs here in Little Rock and have stayed good friends with both groups. I visit with one or the other group at least once a month. Plus my family that I see or talk to every day.
6. I try my best not to think about the negative aspect of my life. I've always been the positive one in my family and when the rest talk about "how long" for me I tell them "as long as I want."

So, as you can see, if I was a caveman I would be okay with your analysis. But then you have to wander, if they were in such good health, what happened to the cavemen?

Debbie