The Strategies
Enjoy this experpt from the book Strategies for Happiness: How to Achieve Your Happiness Potential. To get the full story, Click here to order a copy today!
Body Balance
It is important to balance all aspects of life. When we are in balance, mentally as well as physically, we are in the best position to fully enjoy ourselves. It doesn't take very much to throw off the balance, so it's important to do whatever it takes to make sure we maintain it.
As much as I believe that happiness is our choice, there are times when our bodies make it difficult to make that choice.
Sometimes, I am not feeling my usual positive self and I can't figure out why. I'm using the happiness strategies, and yet, I still feel bad. I have come to realize that sometimes there is something going on at a physical level and therefore needs a physical approach.
The body is a storehouse of chemicals. When the body is out of alignment and not performing to the best of its ability, your chemical balance gets out of whack and you feel the results. This may lead to feeling depressed and out of sorts.
A chemical imbalance is a physical thing, though it can be exacerbated by improper thinking. Beliefs have the ability to change our balance for better or worse.
There was a short period when I was seeing a psychiatrist for depression. I always knew that even though I was struggling, eventually I would come out of it, but it was a scary time. Fortunately, I have never sunk so deep that I would have considered suicide, though I understand why some people might want to. If I ever found myself feeling that way day after day, month after month, with no hope I would ever get out of it, it would be easy to see why people would want to end the pain.
When pain is so intense, it's hard to think straight, making it difficult to really work through the problem. A chemical imbalance is something you might not be able to just talk yourself out of. Things are so heavy and so hard to deal with, that it's difficult to make the proper choices that lead to happiness. Our bodies are tired of fighting and trying to do the right thing. It can be exhausting to work towards that which is best for us and so much easier to just give in, be angry and feel sorry for ourselves. There are times we just need some help to pull ourselves out of the pit.
There are so many experts in our life, and all of them are eager to tell us how to live. Sometimes, their advice is just what we need to hear, while other times, it may not be in our best interest. Some of these individuals may have experience and knowledge, or they may only think they do. While some experts should be respected as they are often learned people with much to share with the world, others we may need to take with a grain of salt.
There is a certain celebrity who thinks he has the truth. He proclaims there is no such thing as a chemical imbalance, that drugs have no part in our life and that psychiatry is wrong. He considers himself an expert, so we should do as he says. I don't think so.
In the end, we still have to take responsibility and find out what works for us – which treatment we are willing to participate in. It's a good idea to listen to what the experts have to say, though we are still the ones that need to make the final decision. When we learn to stand on our own two feet and determine the direction of our lives, there is less chance we will be swept away by the words of some so-called experts.
When the balance is out, how can it be corrected? The best way is through proper diet and exercise and doing what you can to produce the best possible mental attitude. The experts may suggest treatments such as surgery, therapy, or even drugs. Remember, that no matter what the choices or options the experts give you, the final decision is still up to you.
I would never tell someone they should not do so. Though I am not a big fan of antidepressants, who am I to tell others what to do? Antidepressants may be just what they need to overcome their situation.
If this is something you are considering, you need to research and find out if the benefits of taking such drugs outweigh the possible problems. If you are so depressed you cannot think straight, maybe it's worth it to experience some of side effects, just until you get back on your feet.
I think that many people misunderstand what antidepressants do. They are not happy pills. They do not make you feel good. You don't get a high from them, like a narcotic. What they do is make you feel normal. They balance your state of mind, so that you can then think straight. Then you have the ability to work on your problems. When you are in the depths of depression, you can't think straight, and it's hard to see any hope. You are so full of pain, feeling helpless, or useless, that you don't want to even try. Everything seems so hopeless, so what is the point?
These drugs may help you to get your emotions leveled out, so you are then able to function normally. Though they may help, they are only a tool for clearing your head enabling you make the choices and decisions to get out of the situation that is causing you pain.
The real cure is to get your body healthy and your mind balanced to make those choices. If nothing seems to work, and you are worn out from your depression, then maybe antidepressants may help. If you make the decision to give this kind of prescription a try, you do not need to feel ashamed.
However, before you go that route, you may want to consider some natural alternatives. One such alternative is a supplement called SAMe. It's a natural antidepressant that helped me through one of my darkest times. It's natural, healthy, works fast, and has few or no side effects. SAMe is short for S-adenosyl-L-methionine. This is a chemical that is found naturally in our body. We experience problems if the levels are low. It plays an important part in the chemical processes of your body.
SAMe is involved in methyl-donor conversion, which means it is used in all sorts of chemical processes in your body. Sometimes, either because of age, stress or other factors, the levels of SAMe in the body become low, affecting your health and sense of well-being.
Another supplement that I've found very useful is called L-Theanine, an extract of Green Tea. It works by changing your brain wave pattern, which induces relaxation and calm. Again, it is not a happy pill, but just helps you to be clear, focused and calm. It is non-addictive and has no side effects.
I am not a doctor, so I am not telling you to use either prescription drugs or natural supplements. It's up to you to research, ask questions of the experts, examine the pros and cons, and find what works best for you, as well as doing whatever it takes to ensure your body is in optimal health.
The experts are important and have many valuable tools and advice to give us such as eating right, exercising and drinking plenty of water. No matter what they say, in the end, you are still the one who is in control of your life. Don't shun the advice of the experts, but always make up your own mind as to what is good for you.