Depression linked to Parkinson's disease: Natural mood lifters to beat the blues

I quit Paxil antidepressant and lost depression, 100 pounds and health problems. Off the drugs and happier! 

Marilisa Sachteleben

Spring is here, so say birds, flowers, sunshine. Yet you sit depressed, wondering what all the fuss is about. Depression is no joke. It can have disastrous effects on physical as well as mental health. Live Science says a new study says depression is linked to Parkinson's Disease. Clinically depressed people are 60 percent more likely to develop Parkinson's disease later.

Scary stuff. But so are antidepressants. I used to take Paxil for PTSD, anxiety and panic attacks. It made me lose a stillborn baby. The depression didn't get better. It wasn't till I got OFF the drugs and started healing my life naturally that I got well. If you can't see the light for the clouds, try this A-Z list of natural mood lifters to beat the blues.

A is for attitude adjustment. Negativity quenches happiness. Seek out healthy sources of joy.

B is for blissings. The spelling error is intentional. "Blissing" happens when you name, count and appreciate blessings. 

C is for change. Have a change of heart. Get a positive new outlook. Maybe swap out a negative environment or relationship for a better one. This can literally unblock the sun.

D is for directed inaction. Before changing something pause a moment. Co-Anon (an off-shoot of Alanon) says wisely, "don't just do something, sit there." Think before doing impulsive, hurtful things. Look before you leap to avoid pitfalls and depression.

E is for exercise. Get moving, preferably outside. You'll have more energy and feel healthy-tired, not just mopey-lethargic. Need suggestions? Go to the playground with kids, bike rides, walks, swimming.

F is for family and friends. Reconnect with children, grandkids, siblings, parents. Make new friends and refresh old friendships. Happy relationships send the blues packing.

G is for growth. Boredom causes depression. Snatch any chance to experience, explore and expand.

H is for Higher Power. Whoever, whatever and however you worship, connect with that source.

I is for intimacy. It doesn't have to involve the s-word, but touch is good. Touch releases feel-good endorphins that dull pain. 

J is for joy. Joy and sadness aren't opposites. Kahlil Gibran calls joy "sorrow unmasked." Like empty nest syndrome--we're sad to lose what made us happy. Embrace the source of sorrow, to re-find joy.

K is for kill time and kindness. Be kinder to yourself. And learn to waste a little. Daydream. Relax.

L is for live. In the old saying "live and let live" it's often the living part that's the hardest. Don't sit by the window watching life pass. That's the "all aboard" for depression. Go. Do. Be. Try. 

M is for preventative maintenance. We aren't machines. But we both need running repairs. Take down time. Tune up.

N is for nothing. Our to-do lists are long. Yet one thing we never do enough is.nothing. Get off the Tilt-a-Whirl and just exist awhile. 

O is for organic. Which is what we are. As such, we need nourishment for soul, mind and body to prevent burnout.

P is for purge. We spring clean our homes, why not our minds? Get rid of negative. Get the old joie de vivre out of mothballs and try it on. 

Q is for quiet. Still your mind. It's okay to let cares go awhile. They'll be there when you return.

R is for relax. Hi, I'm Mar and I'm a workaholic. And that's depressing. Do something fun, just for you, not work related. 

S is for St. John's Wort--this herb is a wunder cure against depression. S is also for smile. Okay, schmaltzy, but it works. You smile at people. They smile back. Nice.

T is for turn off TV, internet, cellphone.  Quit staring at that depressing screen. Go outside. Commune with nature. Rejuvenate.

U is for unplug. Take a technology break. Go camping, fishing, hiking out of range of your devices. 

V is for real vs. virtual and vicarious. Skip video games. Play live tennis or Scrabble. Cook. Don't just watch others. There's a mood lifter plus confidence booster! Take a Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest break and visit face to face. Get off social media and socialize in real life. 

W is for weigh. Maybe you're depressed because you're facing big choices. Weigh options. Evaluate. Determine what needs to be changed, what needs to be accepted. You might also be overweight. Carrying too many extra pounds will send that depression through the roof. Work on losing weight. You'll feel physically better and mentally successful. 

X is for cross out. Uncheck memories of hurtful actions. Scribble out meanness, yours and others'. Get away from unsafe people and toxic behavior. 

Y is for why. Why are you depressed? Use the acronym HALTS. Are you hungry, angry, lonely, tired, sick--tend to those needs to heal.

Z is for Zzzz. Sleep restores body and mood.

Can you hear the bird song now? Feel the sunshine? Not yet? Keep practicing these activities till you do! It really is that simple. For more on health visit my blogs Emotional Health Help and Health Help 4u.

http://www.examiner.com/article/depression-linked-to-parkinson-s-disease-natural-mood-lifters-to-beat-the-blues