Depression is universal today. We’ve become a nation disconnected with what our mind, body and spirit crave. I believe, because of this we have the highest rates of suicide facing young adults and children ages 10-24. As a Certified Health Coach, my thoughts are, depression begins with a lack of emotional connection, self-care, and self-esteem. It seems we unconsciously and unanimously move into a disconnected way of living.
When we’re young we have an insatiable appetite for independence. With this brings the disadvantages of an unforeseen rockslide. The rockslide includes a triangle of a fast paced lifestyle with lost identity, broken nutrition and disharmony in relationships. We can find ourselves flooded with overindulgences. As we age, this can act like a slow poison filling our veins, working in concert to keep us sick, fat and bewildered.
The rockslide escalates to depression, continued separation, feelings of inadequacy and stress within, leaving us dependent on pills. Desperation takes hold, we search for a stone to hide under, but this stone doesn’t save us from the repercussions of the rockslide anymore. Pills leave their own scar we call side-effects, impacting our quality of life and leading to self-destructive behaviors.
If this is you, after years of unhealthy habits, you may tend to gravitate back to the usual way you operate, but, it’s not that simple this time. You feel numb, scattered and out of touch with reality. Your thoughts are a critical part of your healing, but that connection has been fractured. Holding onto familiarity can never help you move forward and may limit any potential for growth. You’ve forgotten YOU have the key to your freedom and your healing. As a last resort, you send a cry out for help.
5 Practical Strategies to help a friend with depression.
First we can help a loved one learn about how the body and mind work together and how they can be affected by their daily rituals and habits. Exposure to environmental toxins and toxic foods deplete serotonin levels in the gut and brain, causing depression and disconnection. Toxins can literally destroy our way of thinking properly. What we eat and think builds the environment for healthy or it can continue to poison us. Read labels and get the toxins out. Knowing this is the first step in helping anyone put their life back together.
The second step is when we have disrupted mitochondria we have depression. Mitochondria creates the energy to run our cells. Low-frequency foods equal low mitochondria. A high sugar diet and an abundance of alcohol can disrupt our gut microbiome and our mitochondria. Get the sugar out.
The third step is understanding where your friend is in their life. What choices and decision have they made? Poor decision making is synopsis with depression. If they are obese, find help with a holistic practitioner. Most quick fixes for obesity can increase depression, such as bariatric surgery.
The fourth step is understanding that taking pills does not cure depression. Antidepressants can cause the very depressive states they are trying to cure.
The fifth step is to know your friend is holding onto trapped energy. Help them to release their energy in positive ways. Suggestions could include walking or some form of exercise.
All these steps are important in helping a friend or a family member with depression. Smart, on the ball and well researched. It’s how you can be when you love someone.
Author:
Connie Rogers is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Reiki Master, and Published Author. You can find her book, Path to a Healthy Mind & Body on Amazon here: Facebook here: www.facebook.com/bitesizepieces
Connie believes health and wellness are established with proper nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness. Connie takes a natural and holistic, common sense approach to rebuilding well-being from the ground up. As she works with each client, together they open a door that empowers them to rewrite their life, one bite size step at a time!
