Do you feel depression or anxiety coming over you like a thick heavy blanket?

There are things you can do naturally to help alleviate some of these feelings.

Depression and anxiety sufferers are often prescribed medications that don’t work for every one and may come with a slew of undesirable side effects.

The three following natural approaches are not to be done instead of seeking professional help or medication but they may be combined. When in doubt ask.

Listen in or read on below so you can help ease some of your feelings of anxiety or depression.

Eat Healthy Real Unprocessed Foods

This may or may not come as a surprise … but different foods can significantly impact your mood and seriously worsen anxiety and depression symptoms. Please don’t tune out on this one.

Sugar, artificial sweeteners and processed food tops the list.

We tend to crave high carbohydrate foods when we are anxious or depressed. These foods will release serotonin the feel-good hormone. Serotonin is a natural opioid which acts similarly in the brain to opium.

It’s no wonder we crave these foods!!

But the high carbohydrate foods will put you on that crazy craving roller coaster. You feel good, you crash, you eat more high carbohydrate foods and the cycle continues… until you decide to get off the ride.

Unfortunately, this can then lead to other diseases.

If you are not already, work up into eating real unprocessed foods with plenty of healthy protein and healthy fats. Let your carbohydrates be mostly veggies and fruits.

If you need help with this please reach out. Helping people move to healthier eating habits is one of my specialties.

Physical activity

Moving your body gives you a burst of energy, helps you sleep better, builds your confidence and happiness. It will boost your feel-good hormones. In this case definitely a plus!

Pick an exercise or movement that you like. It really doesn’t matter what it is.

If you can get outside even better. Soak up some of that Vitamin D. It is also very helpful for depression and anxiety. Vitamin D is something you should get tested for the next time you have blood work done. It is so important for your overall health.

If the thought of exercising overwhelms you just walk to the mailbox and back. Maybe increase the distance a little each day.

Or one of my favorites and I swear it is hard not to feel more joyful after doing this. Is to skip. Yep, skip! Just like you did in pre-school.

I know few people that aren’t smiling or laughing after skipping (or trying to).

Skip to the bathroom or across your home. It will make you smile or even laugh. It’s OK to laugh at yourself. You get extra points for that!

Add skipping in whenever you need an injection of joy ;)

Find Support

If you are really struggling with depression or anxiety please don’t sit quietly and ignore it or refuse to reach out to someone because you don’t want to bother them.

Please know I’m always here for you!! I have helped many with depression and anxiety.

Make sure you have a support team that will come around you and just listen or be present for you.

Sometimes just feeling heard can be huge!

Your support team could be family, friends, a coach and/or a therapist.

You do matter! I care about you!

I would love to know your thoughts or if this was helpful for you.

Let me know in the comments below or shoot me an

email - sheri@empoweredhealthcoaching.com I would love to hear.

Live life empowered!

Here's a free guide which may also help you with more tips to ease your anxiety or depression and a special free offer: 7 Easy Mindfulness Practices to Ease Your Stress

Sheri Johnson is a certified Transformational Holistic Health, Wellness and Life Coach in the Central Florida area. She believes everyone deserves an amazing healthy, balanced life, full of energy and feeling fantastic! When you get back on track in life and feel like yourself again then you can easily step into who you truly want to be, living out your purpose, passion and what you were called here to do.

If you are ready to decrease stress and overwhelm while creating balance in your body, mind and spirit then please check out her website and book a free breakthrough session with her.