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Listen, you can take doctor-prescribed pharmaceuticals and in many instances they do an amazing job of helping people. However, long-term, continued use of these drugs can cause a myriad of issues including suicidal ideations, cancer, lack of energy, autoimmune conditions, dementia, and a complete erosion of the body’s hormonal system. Mental illness takes years to culminate. As a result, there are no quick fixes. Please, try committing to these aforementioned proven solutions.

Vitamins. The majority of people who suffer from anxiety, depression, and insomnia, also have low levels of magnesium, the hormone vitamin D3, and Omega fatty acids. Magnesium and vitamin D3 aid in energy production, relaxation, muscle repair, regulation of blood pressure, bone strength, mood, and support the immune system. When your body isn’t getting adequate amounts of these nutrients your system cannot properly self-regulate, and biochemical imbalances occur more frequently and are prolonged. Taking magnesium and vitamin D3 supplements, along with getting more sunlight, has directly been proven to improve anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Nutrition. I don’t care if you’re vegan, vegetarian, carnivore, or if you follow a paleo, keto, whole foods, raw foods diet etc. All that matters is that you’re getting the cleanest, least processed foods, with the lowest amount of additives, sugar, and preservatives into your body. Period. It really is that simple. Your body is mostly made of bacteria. Most of that bacteria reside in your gut. Those bacteria, called gut microbiome, have the biggest impact on your mood, immune system, and energy. You have more serotonin (the happiness hormone) and melatonin (relaxation and sleep) in your gut than you do in your brain. This means your happiness and ability to sleep are directly correlated to what you are putting in your body as nourishment. Highly processed foods, oils, and sugars are PROVEN to create more of the bad gut bacteria which lower your serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin receptors. Meaning that your bad food choices can and will make you more depressed, anxious, restless, and susceptible to illness.

Exercise. Break a sweat. If you have ever worked out on a day you really didn’t feel like working out you know this to be true: once you finish, you feel orgasmic and accomplished. The endorphins you get from being physically active, and the hormetic response you give your body helps regulate your hormonal system and blood flow to your brain. Even just ten minutes of exercise daily has proven to be more effective than taking any of the leading anxiety pharmaceuticals.

And lastly, mindfulness. It is physically impossible to be in a state of depression while simultaneously being present and grateful. Meditation, mindfulness, gratitude, being of service, affirmations, paying it forward, and breathwork are all scientifically proven to change your mental state from the sympathetic autonomic (fight or flight) to the healing and relaxing parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system. By changing your mental state, you lower inflammation in your body and promote healing and homeostasis.

We are losing a generation of people to mental health problems. We need to do everything in our power to put mental wellness at the forefront of our minds. You deserve to know what it feels like not to be at war with yourself.

#Knowyourworth