Oy to the World!

Today's seasonal topic: Depression.

It's nothing you have to keep quiet about.

Sometimes you get hit by it.

And it's no fun.

You get tired, irritable, anxious, ashamed, filled with despair, self-loathing, you begin to wonder if you'll ever feel engaged in life again, sometimes you even lose any sense that you're worth the air you breathe.

If you feel this bad, it's time to go to an MD ASAP and get tested for thyroid malfunction and other imbalances that could be causing your depression.

At the same time, see a psychiatrist and get evaluated.

You may need to take medication--short-term or long-term.

You may also need cognitive behavioral therapy or some other form of talk-therapy--either alone or in addition to medication.

Also the following things help:
Getting at least 45 minutes of cardio exercise everyday.
Taking yoga if you have time.
Breathing deeply and giving yourself some time to meditate everyday.
Taking walks.
Getting at least half an hour of natural light a day (even if it's overcast outside). (Always wear sunscreen!)
Getting adequate Omega 3 fatty acids from wild salmon, walnuts, dark greens.
Taking a vitamin B supplement every couple of days.
Or drinking an Odwalla Blueberry B Monster every couple of days.
Talking to friends and family about what you're going through.
Seeing friends and family in person.
Finding creative work and doing a little of it everyday.
Volunteering or helping others every week.
Identifying things that cheer you up and doing them: If you like to entertain, do it. If you like to draw or paint, do it. Don't worry about how skilled you are. Just have fun.

I've been taking Prozac for the past year. It stopped working. I felt terrible. I went to a new psychiatrist who put me on Zoloft several weeks ago and we began a course of cognitive behavioral therapy. I feel so much better.

Medication doesn't work for everyone, it's true.

And neither does meditation.

But something will help.

You just need to explore.

And be patient with yourself.

And kind.

So seek help if you need it. Now. Don't stop until you feel better. It's okay. Everyone needs help sometimes. Now go.