It's good to talk if you are feeling depressed
Low mood and depression is a common problem. We know it's good to talk, we know that we should exercise and eat a healthy diet.
But what causes depression? Sometimes everything can be perfect in our world and we still feel down. This can make it difficult to talk because we may feel bad for feeling depressed without an obvious reason. But we often have good reason to be feeling depressed: Hormonal imbalance, thyroid problems, lack of sleep, stress, diet, an imbalance of our brain chemicals.
How we think, and feel and behave every day is dependent on the balance of chemicals in our brain. When these chemicals are at optimum level and in the right balance in relation to each other, we will feel good, happy, and have a positive outlook on life.
If we are depressed because we are stressed, have financial difficulties, loss, separation or bereavement, how we deal with the situation will be made worse if our brain chemicals are out of balance. We may have to learn coping skills as well as making dietary and lifestyle changes.
Signs of unbalanced brain chemistry include addictive behaviour, sugar craving, low pain threshold, poor sleep, inability to concentrate, hyperactivity, low mood, irritability, anxiety, poor memory, feeling of not being connected with others, fatigue, and lack of motivation.
When I think about brain chemicals I think about the wiring in the house. If you were wiring a four way switch you would need to know where the wires go so that the messages would be received at the other end. You might be able to do it yourself if you're handy at DIY but if not you would call a professional.
So how is it that when it comes to our mental health so many of us are reluctant to go to a professional or talk to someone. Sometimes we might need some help with our wiring. And there's no shame in calling in the professionals when we need them.
Eat a diet rich in eggs, soy foods, spirulina, fish, cheese, pumpkin and sesame seeds, beans and pulses, oily fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. Reduce all processed foods, especially sugar and alcohol. Next week I'll tell you about supplements to help you improve your mood. In the meantime if you're feeling down please talk to someone.