GLOOM,
DESPAIR AND AGONY ON ME
From
the TV Show "Hee-Haw" (1969 -1992)
Buck
Owens & Roy Clark
Gloom, despair,
and agony on me
Deep, dark
depression, excessive misery
If it weren't
for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all
Gloom, despair,
and agony on me
With
all the talk of depression and such out there lately I felt the need
to post something concerning what to do or take when you feel
depressed? I take the medication Cymbalta that is used to treat
depression but also for Chronic
Musculoskeletal Pain.
I found this information on the WebMD site. Cymbalta is indicated for
the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain. This has been
established in studies in patients with chronic low back pain(CLBP)
and chronic pain due to osteoarthritis.
Now
let me be clear I have not been diagnosed with depression but I will
say that I have bouts with it occasionally due to the constant pain
that I have.
I
found a list of 10 natural depression treatments that are pretty good
if you like to do things on your own. Let me say also that there is
nothing wrong with having to take medication to help you though
whatever you may be going through such as depression and pain. There
are things out there that can sure help but I like to do as much as I
can to help myself with out the use of drugs.
What
I have really found to be the best treatment for me is to have my
puppy, well he can considered a dog now, but he is so small that I
like calling him my puppy. Gonzo. There
are times I get so overwhelmed with the pain that talking to him,
petting him or even just playing with him takes the pain away. No, it
is still there but I think less of it. With what Robin Williams did
due to the depressive state he was in is so sad, and there are many
others that have done similar. I find that when I have Gonzo up close
to me, whether he be sleeping, playing or just chilling, I am able to
relax and feel a little bit better. I could not imagine doing
anything to myself having him so close to me. Those of you that have
pets know what I am talking about.
10
Natural Depression Treatments
WebMD Feature
Reviewed
by Joseph Goldberg, MD
Being
depressed can make you feel helpless. You're not. Along with therapy
and sometimes medication, there's a lot you can do on your own to
fight back. Changing your behavior -- your physical
activity, lifestyle, and even your way of thinking
-- are all natural depression treatments.
These
tips can help you feel better -- starting right now.
1. Get
in a routine. If you’re depressed, you need a routine,
says Ian Cook, MD. He's a psychiatrist and director of the Depression
Research and Clinic Program at UCLA.
Depression
can strip away the structure from your life. One day melts into the
next. Setting a gentle daily schedule can help you get back on track.
2. Set
goals. When you're depressed, you may feel like you can't
accomplish anything. That makes you feel worse about yourself. To
push back, set daily goals for yourself.
"Start
very small," Cook says. "Make your goal something that you
can succeed at, like doing the dishes every other day."
As
you start to feel better, you can add more challenging daily goals.
3. Exercise. It
temporarily boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It may also
have long-term benefits for people with depression. Regular exercise
seems to encourage the brain to rewire itself in positive ways, Cook
says.
How
much exercise do you need? You don’t need to run marathons to get a
benefit. Just walking a
few times a week can help.
4. Eat
healthy. There is no magic diet that fixes depression. It's
a good idea to watch what you eat, though. If depression tends to
make you overeat, getting in control of your eating will help you
feel better.
Although
nothing is definitive, Cook says there's evidence that foods with
omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon and tuna) and folic acid (such as
spinach and avocado) could help ease depression.
5. Get
enough sleep. Depression can make it hard to get enough
shut-eye, and too little sleep can make depression worse.
What
can you do? Start by making some changes to your lifestyle. Go to bed
and get up at the same time every day. Try not to nap. Take all the
distractions out of your bedroom -- no computer and no TV. In time,
you may find your sleep improves.
6. Take
on responsibilities. When you’re depressed, you may want
to pull back from life and give up your responsibilities at home and
at work. Don't. Staying involved and having daily responsibilities
can work as a natural depression treatment. They ground you and give
you a sense of accomplishment.
If
you're not up to full-time school or work, that’s fine. Think about
part-time. If that seems like too much, consider volunteer work.
7. Challenge
negative thoughts. In your fight against depression, a lot
of the work is mental -- changing how you think. When you're
depressed, you leap to the worst possible conclusions.
The
next time you're feeling terrible about yourself, use logic as a
natural depression treatment. You might feel like no one likes you,
but is there real evidence for that? You might feel like
the most worthless person on the planet, but is that really likely?
It takes practice, but in time you can beat back those negative
thoughts before they get out of control.
8. Check
with your doctor before using supplements. "There's
promising evidence for certain supplements for depression," Cook
says. Those include fish oil, folic acid, and SAMe. But more research
needs to be done before we'll know for sure. Always check with your
doctor before starting any supplement, especially if you’re already
taking medications.
9. Do
something new. When you’re depressed, you’re in a
rut. Push yourself to do something different. Go to a museum. Pick up
a used book and read it on a park bench. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
Take a language class.
"When
we challenge ourselves to do something different, there are chemical
changes in the brain," Cook says. "Trying something new
alters the levels of [the brain chemical] dopamine, which is
associated with pleasure, enjoyment, and learning."
10. Try
to have fun. If you’re depressed, make time for things you
enjoy. What if nothing seems fun anymore? "That's just a symptom
of depression," Cook says. You have to keep trying anyway.
As
strange as it might sound, you have to work at having fun. Plan
things you used to enjoy, even if they feel like a chore. Keep going
to the movies. Keep going out with friends for dinner.
When
you're depressed, you can lose the knack for enjoying life, Cook
says. You have to relearn how to do it. In time, fun things really
will feel fun again.
I hope that this information is and has
been helpful to someone out there. Take care and enjoy that dog of
yours.
