Doctors never seem to have enough time to suggest self help for depression. They will never tell you that although the SSRIs they are prescribing for you will raise your serotonin levels and consequently your mood, there are other side effects which will kick in and affect your whole lifestyle negatively, if you are not careful. Why is this? They never tell you that serotonin which is a brain chemical also controls our appetite, digestion, our reaction to pain and how clearly we can think ! That is why there are such a lot of side effects which range from a loss of sex drive to problems with weight, not to mention sleep. But natural help for depression is within everybody's grasp.

Self help for depression may seem like an unrealistic objective when you have absolutely no interest in anyone or anything outside the black hole you find yourself in. That is why you need to have someone who will call you every day. It can be a close friend or family member . That is my first self help for depression tip. A tiny first step in keeping a supportive relationship alive and well.

The second self help for depression tip is to make a list of all the things that you liked or even still like doing and which give you pleasure. This can range from food, music, a movie, a hot bath, a long walk or even playing with a dog or cat. If you can aim to do one or two of these things every day, that is a great start.

The third self help for depression tip is not to underestimate the power of exercise. Scientists now are absolutely certain that any from of exercise has such a beneficial effect on our mood (and also on our body) that it can sometimes even replace anti-depressants. If you are stressed out or just totally down, exercise can really lift your mood and get those endorphins going which in turn raise your serotonin levels. It is no accident that endorphins are called 'happy chemicals'.Brisk walking for thirty minutes a few times a week can do the trick if you have no will power to face the gym and all that goes with it.

Muffins , chocolate and ice cream all are called 'comfort food' and not without good reason. Only problem is that they are refined carbohydrates and while they will lift your mood and help you to feel better, the problem is that they will cause a mood swing as your blood sugar level will not remain steady. That can worsen the situation so the best thing to do is to aim for up to four light meals or snacks a day as getting hungry can cause irritability.

My fourth self help for depression tip is to go for all the mood enhancers you can get. They include the complex carbohydrates such as bananas, whole grain bread , rice , pasta and oatmeal. Make sure you have enough leafy greens, chicken and eggs to stock up on Vitamin B. You do not even have to go on a diet as all you need is to have a few of those things to hand or in your food cupboard .

Finally you may need some to take a herbal remedy to help you restore your inner balance and serenity which will also assist you in your quest for natural help for depression.