Natural Mood Boosters for Possible Mild Depression

St johns wort helped me a lot, it takes a couple of weeks though, and you have to take it 3 times a day

Exercise has been proven to be as effective as anti-depressants for mild depression. 3x a week, and that's it.

Sun light (or S.A.D lights) - can help boost your mood.
Try to get outside for 15-30 min every day.
The sunlight helps your skin produce more vitamin D which can help fend off the winter blues.
Exercise - that time outside can be a walk or hike.
It's been said that cod liver oil 'promotes positive mood and well-being'.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/15490485/ns/today-today_hea...

Vitamin D helps. Not the pill kind, but getting in the sun. Take a walk, go to a park, sit outside and read, or have a drink. Exercise helps, as well. It's a natural mood lifter.

Vigorous short bursts of exercise are a mood lifter. Run in place for about 5 minutes... works wonders :)

I think what's important is not only to add foods that boost your mood but also be sure and eliminate foods that might be contributing to the mild depression. I have found that by virtually eliminating sugar from my diet, there is a HUGE difference in how much better I feel . Also, I very seldom drink alcohol as that can be a major depressant for me. Other items I limit, caffeine (1/2 cup a day) and other dramatically insulin raising foods such as white flour, fructose and dairy. I haven't taken these out of my diet completely, but I have begun to curb them more and more.. and when I do eat these specific foods, I notice a big difference in my mood and how I feel..

You may want to keep a food journal and see how you feel before you eat something and thereafter.

Lastly, I do take Krill Oil. It's suppose to be good for brain health.. Although, I used to be really big on it and while I do think it has its merits.. I have noticed that when I missed taking it for about a week, I didn't feel that much differently..

good luck to you

I just started taking Lumiday - no prescription needed. You can get it at GNC or online. Go to: www.lumiday.com/trial/?p=304 and get a FREE 2-week supply to try it. That's what I did. I didn't want to spend the money on something that wasn't going to help. It's kinda pricey but I have noticed a marked improvement. It has St. John's Wort in it - so don't duplicate that. It has Vitamins D3,B1,B3,B5,B6,B9,B12 and HTP, Rhodiola Rosea Extract, St. Johns, L-Theanine and Ashwagandha Root. I had taken a couple of these by themselves so it was nice to find something that had it all in it. Of course it doesn't cure everything (but what does?!) but it definitely helped me. They also make a Luminite to take at bedtime, but I haven't tried that.

Of course, I swear by exercise and being outside in the fresh air. Fortunately in So. Cal. I can walk year-round. Yoga is always a good one, too.

It's worth a try . . . hope things improve for you . . . keep us posted!

Find your natural dopamines.

My dopamines are getting a GOOD hotel room when I can afford it (taking my laptop, pizza and snacks there, washing and deep conditioning my hair while there) and not leaving until checkout.

Or another dopamine is taking a long drive to/from the outlet mall in San Marcos, TX (2 hour drive) and just thinking (no radio, no companions).

Or working in my yard planting new plants that I got from Home Depot. Working with the mud and water takes me back to my childhood days when my mama and I did it in her backyard.

Or going to a thrift store with $50 and coming back home to wash, iron, repair, repaint the numerous finds (usually a lot from $50).

exercise and being outdoors always do it for me. also spending "down time" with my family. love it. i always say that it "recharges my batteries".

tomorrow for Thanksgiving we are taking our annual "family walk in the woods". i CAN'T WAIT!

If you can take a Zumba class, go for it. I've never enjoyed exercise so much. I look forward to it. And exercise generates endorphines. Getting out is good for you. It's kind of an upward spiral :)

I don't struggle with depression. But I will tell you what makes me feel really good.

Going for a weekly power walk with close girlfriends. Conversation,connecting and laughing while getting out in the fresh air and in the sunshine just can't help but lift your soul.

Find exercise you love..and do it often. I personally love...love...love ZUMBA. I attend classes 3-4 times a week. Seriously it is so fun. The hour flies by!!

Eat healthy and drink lots of water. What we put into our bodies affects our body,mind and spirit. Take inventory on what you are consuming..and make healthy food choices.

Also sex is a great mood lifter for me. Connecting with my husband on that level and feeling desired by him makes me feel strong and empowered.

Talk to your doctor about your depression..even if it is mild he/she should know. Tell him/her upfront you don't want meds and that you are looking into holistic forms of remedy..but that bloodwork wouldn't hurt.

Take care..hope you get the help you need!!

if there were a medicine that would give us the benefit of excercise we would be lining up to buy it. Its simple and its free and its the best thing that you can do for your mood.

Caffeine and chocolate help M. sometimes. But the only thing that works every single time is exercise. No need to sweat hours in gym, but even a walk helps. Just go outside , listen to some upbeat music on your ipod while you walk/run. You will feel more energetic and your day will go much better if you make it part of your daily routine. Tried and tested :) Also remember to eat healthy and drink lots n lots of water.

Depression is anger turned inward. For most women, we are not allowed to feel/express anger and therefore we tend to stuff it. So, look for the signs that you are angry but not expressing it. Usually our anger shows up sideways through road rage or short tempers with our children or something like that.

Once you can start seeing that you do have some unexpressed anger there are many great ways to express it fully and safely. One is puking on paper. Get a large sketchbook and just pour out all the nasty things running through your head on paper. Also, screaming in the car is a great one. Just really let go. Don't allow yourself to sensor what you are saying or expressing. We too often get caught up in the "nice girl" programming and that will inhibit our ability to express our pent-up anger fully.

Look up maca root. It can help boost mood by regulating your hormones, if that is one of your issues.

Avoiding sugars and eating your leafy greens should help as well!

I suggest %100 usda certified organic ganoderma, also known as reishi or lingzhi, it is a superfood and rare mushroom. It is filled with antioxidants and phytonutrients,and is a non-stimulant, will not interfere with meds. Ganoderma is the number one adaptogen in the world, I describe as having your personalized healthy medicinal cabinet because it feeds your imbalances..which varies among each of us. I know several people with testimonies for many illnesses including depression. You may write me for websites and more information .

Vitamin D supplements really help! You don't want to overdo it, so talk to your dr. or nurse about how much is ok. I take a daily vitamin supplement which has 400iu and an additional supplement with 1,000iu and it seems to work really well. Good luck!

St. John's Wort

http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/st-johns-wort

Hope you find something that works for you!