Barry’s 5 Anti-Depression Suggestions

 

 

Ok, we all sometimes have a "case of the Mondays," where you're just sooooo not in the mood for your everyday life and the weight of the world is on your shoulders, killing your neck and giving you a headache in the process. The last thing you want to do is exercise, however, the best way to feel better when you're feeling down is to get your heart rate up!

Of course, there is a big difference between just being down and depression. While you should always consult your doctor on serious matters including depression, here are a few Barry's Bootcamp suggestions to combating the blues – no matter who you are.

The main things we want to do are to maintain healthy levels of serotonin (the feel-good neurotransmitter) and release endorphins (the pain-killer neurotransmitter), as well as adopt an optimistic outlook on life.

So, here are my 5 anti-depressants. Take at least two and call me in the morning. That's an order!

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  • You are what you eat: Oh, is this true! So why would you want to put anything into your body that you wouldn't want to be?
  • Our body cannot produce tryptophan which is converted into serotonin, so eating foods rich in this amino acid is your best bet!

    Here are several foods containing great amounts of tryptopha; chicken, sardines, turkey, salmon, fresh tuna, nuts, sunflower seeds, bananas, pineapple, tofu, spinach, chicken, asparagus and cottage cheese may help you feel good.

    1. Work it out: exercise not only is good for your physical health, but also for your mental health. After all, it makes you feel like you've accomplished a goal, makes you sleep better and can boost self esteem.

    According to the Mayo Clinic website, there is a correlation between exercise and depression:

                Some evidence suggests that exercise raises the levels of certain mood-enhanc ing neurotransmitters in the brain. Exercise may also boost feel-good endorphins, release muscle tension, help you sleep better, and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It also increases body temperature, which may have calming effects. All of these changes in your mind and body can improve such symptoms as sadness, anxiety, irritability, stress, fatigue, anger, self-doubt and hopelessness.

    Also, read my blog about keeping an energy high going all day; http://community.barrysbootcamp.com/Post/Energy-High/033F1FFFF009D11EF000800BBAEA6

    So, don't waste any more time in bed – go for a walk outside and take a look at the big beautiful world around you, or at least do your Barry's Bootcamp inside with a soothing aromatherapy candle and then a relaxing bath. Oh Colon, take us away!

     

    1. Get by with a little help with your friends: it is amazing what our support system can do for us; our loved ones, our friends, even our dogs (seriously, they can pick up on when we're feeling down), and there is a whole community of people who need each other's support and give it freely. That community is the Barry's Bootcamp Community page on barrysbootcamp.com.

    Anyone can sign up, even if you do not own a Barry's Bootcamp system (and why don't you, ahem?), and join others in discussing the triumphs and tribulations in reaching their fitness goals. Commiserate with the lucky few who only need to lose a little weight but find it hard to keep up the motivation. Celebrate with the fast food junkie who has never worked out and cannot even read the scale as he takes the first steps toward changing his life. Be inspired by the mother of seven who after her baby died decided to get in shape so she could live to see her other kids graduate college.

    Our community page is made up of an extraordinary group of people who understand that life is precious and we owe it to ourselves to make the most of it.

    Stop by today and feel better about tomorrow.

     

    1. Just breathe: you've been told this all your life. Take a deep breath. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, you can't help but feel more relaxed, more centered.

    Well, there is definitely truth to proper breathing in all exercising; especially yoga (read my blog about breathing http://community.mybarrysbootcamp.com/Post/Just-Breathe/033F1FFFF009D11EF000800BA22F8). And there is also definitely truth in combating depression with breathing.

    Here are a few b reathing exercises to try

    • At any time: Inhale for a count of 5, exhale for a count of 5. repeat 5 times.
    • In a stressful moment: Inhale for a count of 10. Exhale for a count of 5. Repeat 3 times.
    • In a moment of anger: Take 10 deep breaths, allowing inhale/exhale to happen naturally.
    • To loosen up: Inhale an dexhale evenly while stretching: let head hang from neck, stretch arms over head and behind back. Stand and stretch side to side and then twist at the waist. Bend knee and grab toes from behind the back-stretching the thighs, followed by hamstring stretches. Finally, shake out each part of the body.
    • Yawn- it will happen naturally during breathing - allowing for even more oxygen to travel to the brain.

     

    1. Don't Worry Be Happy: Ok, it's hard to be happy all the time, but taking time to be happy is key.

    While there are a gazillion self-help books, methods and support groups, you only need one to get you going on a happy path of self discovery and contentment. It will take some time to narrow down what kind of book is right for you, but start with this:

    • Make a list of 5 things you want to change in your life – anything from financial security to finding love to becoming more confident. List these 1 to 5 with 1 being most important. Now take your top two and write three bullet points of exactly what you want regarding the issue. For instance; #1 Find a new job. Your bullet points can be: why do you keep getting the same kind of jobs, finding the courage to start a new business, is going back to school the right choice. Now that you know the questions that need solutions you can research books that offer the answers.
    • Anyone can benefit from simple creative exploration – you will be surprised how much you can discover about yourself when you open your creative mind's eye. A great hands on book is The Artist's Way Workbook – bestselling author Julia Cameron takes you on a journey into your untapped unconscious –releasing your true life's ambition and purpose through writing every morning, taking yourself on artist's dates and weekly tasks. Do this 12 week program along with your Barry's Bootcamp routine and see how good your body and soul look at the end.
    • Make a list as long as it needs to be of all the good things in your life and another of all the bad. See which list is longer. Either way, post the good list where you can see it and take the bad list and start finding solutions so you can start crossing them off.
    • Remember that bad things happen and we often do not have much control over them, which is why it is so important to focus on the things we can control and make positive changes. You'll be amazed how other things start to evolve and "fix themselves" when you're consciously fixing other things. Get in shape and your finances may, too. After all, if you're feeling better you're probably working better and then that promotion is yours!

     

    Oh, most important than all else on this list – get some good sleep! It is proven that we need to dream for our physical, mental and especially emotional health. Plus, if you have a problem that needs a solution, "sleeping on it" is your best way to find the answer – the opposite of brainstorming, it is brain calming – allowing your unconscious to tap in and give the true answer.