From anxiety springs depression which, some say, is like a great black beast that dogs your footsteps every where you go. To others it is the heavy black bird hunched immovably on your shoulder. Some people cure it with sleep and others by taking a bottle of whisky beneath the table. For those who have not suffered it there is no way to describe the mood of meaningless black despair.

Minor despair or glumness of the spirit can be mitigated however. Often it is as a result of a vitamin B (particularly B6) deficiency or it may be an allergy which triggers an unhappy reaction. Some people suffer from acute depression after taking antibiotics. If you realize that what appeared to be only a bad case of down it the dumps is becoming fearsome find someone to chat to. Do not take tranquillizers for they are not the answer.

Home Remedies for Depression

A brisk walk before breakfast and meditation are both well worth making time for, and so is a warm bath at night using any one of the essential oils suggested to soothe anxiety.

* Apply cider vinegar and honey Take 1 tablespoon of vinegar in a small wineglass of warm water with a little honey, first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Good home remedy for depression

* Orange juice Drink orange juice each morning, especially if it is made fresh using the whole fruit. There is some thing particularly soothing in taking the time to make your own at breakfast each day.

* Rosemary and sage Use plenty of these herbs in cooking and drink either in a herbal tea.

* Chervil Use it in salads for it is reputed to brighten the spirit.

* Walnuts It was believed that their convoluted shape resembled, therefore must be helpful to, a poorly and fatigued brain. So eat plenty of them.

* Herbal teas Infuse 1 teaspoon of any of the following in 1 cup of boiling water: chamomile, lemon balm, catnip, vervain, valerian. Popular home remedies for depression.

* Lavender Place a lavender pillow beneath the head at night.

* Marigolds Grow pots of this bright flower on windowsill and patio. It gladdens the eye and cheers the spirit.

Few things are most discouraging than feeling sad and "down" when everyone else seems to be having great time. Whether you're simply having a few days of the blues or you've been feeling moody and under the weather for months, depression can be devastating, affecting your relationships, your job, and your life.

Feelings of depression are incredibly common. It's twice as common in women, although women are more likely than men to be able to pull themselves out of depression over time. You can't stop depression entirely. After all, life doesn't always go smoothly, and there are going to be days when you won't want to get out of bed in the morning.

Doctors have found that it's often not the depression itself that's the biggest problem but now you respond to it. By tackling depression head on - by staying active, eating right, and doing your best to keep a positive mental attitude - it's often possible to keep it under control or even prevent it entirely.

Get plenty of B vitamins. Researchers have found that people who don't get enough B vitamins, especially vitamin B12, are particularly prone to depression. This can be real problem in the elderly, since doctors estimate that about one in ten people over age sixty may have mood problems caused by low levels of this vital nutrient. The B vitamin helps your body metabolize amino acids, which can help increase the levels of the "feel-good" chemicals in the brain.

You can get a lot of B vitamins simply by eating a well-rounded, nutritious diet that includes a lot of grains, fruits, and vegetable and that is low in sugars and fats. In addition, doctors often recommend taking a B-complex multivitamin, especially if your age forty or older.

Take the herbal route. Researchers have now found that a number of herbs, such as St. John's Wort (basant), chamomile (babunah), and kava, can help change your natural chemistry, making you less prone to depression. In fact, doctors have found that St. John's Wort may be as effective as some prescription drugs for treating depression.

The easiest way to use herbs is to buy them in dried, bulk form at natural food stores and brew them up to make a tea. Herbal supplements are also very effective, although you'll want to talk to your doctor to find out what dose will be most effective for you.

Be as active as possible. Regular exercise has been shown to be one of the most powerful anti-depression remedies there are. When you exercise, your body produces large amounts of endorphins, natural chemicals that relieve your feelings of sadness and boost feelings of comfort and well-being. It doesn't take a lot of exercise to release these chemicals. Taking a walk several times a week, riding a bike, or swimming for twenty to thirty minutes may be all it takes to flood your body with these mood-lifters. Most people find that within a week or two of starting an exercise routine they feel happier and more energetic and sleep better.

Keep in touch with your friends. It's hard to be social when you're feeling down. But spending time with friends is one of the best ways to beat depression. Even if you're just meeting people after work or going to the movies, regular social interactions will help you feel like you're not alone, and this is crucial when you're trying to beat the blues.

Write it down. Keeping a journal is an excellent way to stay in touch with your feelings. It can give you a better sense of things that are dragging you down - as well as lifting you up. Sometimes just expressing your emotions will help you feel a whole lot better.

Accept compromise. Many of the people who are depressed engage in what doctors call "all-or-nothing" thinking, believing that everything must go absolutely perfectly. This type of thinking can make you feel as though you're always failing. It's important to recognize that life is almost never all-or-nothing - that there are many shades of gray in everything we do. The more you put things in context, the less likely you'll be to get depressed when things don't go entirely your way. Of course, this is easy to say but some times hard to do.

Take inventory of the medicine chest. Many of the prescription drugs, including some that are taken for high blood pressure, glaucoma, and heart problems, can cause depression in some people. When your mood just doesn't seem to be getting better, make a list of all the medications you're taking and call your doctor. There may be a chemical reason that you're feeling low, and changing medications may be all you need to improve your mood again.

Bipolar depression

Bipolar depression includes both; low and high mood swings. This type of depression may have variety or set of symptoms that may not be present in other types of depression.

Causes of depression

There are many reasons that give raise to depressions. Family history is an important factor. Researches show that genes do play an important role in passing the depression to the next generation.

Other reasons include stress and trauma. Break up or death of the beloved may cause depression. Financial problems, pressure for the sales may also end up into depression. Frequent change of job and unstable recruitment ma also lead to depression.

Symptoms of depression

There are many symptoms those differ from person to person and degree to degree of depressions. Though some of the common symptoms include.

* One can feel life as unfair and bore.

* Person may find that it is difficult to think in a positive manner.

* Sadness and miserable thoughts.

* Person may experience anxious sometimes.

* Lack of confidence.

* The sleep pattern gets disturbed. There will be more sleep or less sleep depending upon the type of depression.

* Exhaustion almost all the time with no energy is commonly seen in patient with depression.

* The restlessness is common feature for a person having depression.

* The social activity turns to be burden and therefore, a person with depression starts avoiding it.

* Depressed person feels disturbance all the time. He or she fears of failures and feel guilty most of the times.

* Smallest task becomes a huge project and it takes time to get done.

* Anger and irritability in mood is prior symptoms compare to all.

* Lack of sexual desire and feeling that as boring subject.

Treatment of depression

There are lot many anti-depressant pills are available. Ayurveda believes this to be mental disorder and there are internal as well as external therapies for depression.

Some Ayurvedic herbs like Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Mandookparni, Shatavari, Guduchi, Aamlaki, Vacha, Shankhapushpi are considered to be best drugs that can treat mental disorders. Ayurvedic therapy like Panchkarma is practiced to treat mental disorders since years and have great positive effects. Some massage on head with medicated oils is beneficial for treating mental disorders.

One of the most important treatments for depression is Yoga and meditation. Along with this, mental counseling is the best way to treat depression.