10 tips to overcome Depression and Migraine

Photographer: Salvatore Vuono

Once in awhile, Depression and headaches are normal in your life. But when they happen too often, then you need to take care of the problem. Many situations, such as an illness, loss of a job or a relationship gone wrong, may affect your psychological health. What indicates a healthy mind, body and spirit is how quickly you bounce back from depression and migraine headaches. So here are some tips that have helped me in my life and I hope that they will help you to a fast recovery.

1. Limit your television time. The radiation from T.V affects your brain and television in excess has been linked to depression. Basically limit your time when you use all technologies – PC, Cell Phone and etc.

2. Don’t just go to a gym or a closed space to exercise. Get out doors and go for a long walk, preferably somewhere with lots of trees. The walking, the fresh air and the sun or the clouds (yes, the clouds!) increase the serotonin in your brain and help make you feel better.

3. Don’t read or watch the News 24/7. Sometimes all the bad news can sour your mood. I should know. I'm a human rights activist.

4. Change your diet. Toxins in foods cause Migraine and depression.

Vegetarian: I once sat at a lecture given by Charlotte Gerson and she told us how both she and her father got rid of their migraines permanently by avoiding animal products and yes, that includes milk, eggs, cheese and yogurt. Also, if you can afford it, eat only organic or if you have a garden, plant your own food. Pesticides and toxins stay in your system and cause havoc on your body. But if organic food is too expensive for you, then wash your fruits and veggies in ½ cup vinegar and ½ cup water, leave it there for about 15 minutes and dry.

Carnivore: If you can’t live without animal products, then you must eat only organic. Also, do your own research or subscribe to Dr. Mercola’s newsletters who will teach you all there’s to know about animal products. Non-organic meats and products come from animals which are injected with antibiotics and are given garbage food to feed on to make them plumb and suitable for Corporations to make fat profits.

Also, Stay away from caffeine, sodas, diet sugar, fried foods and junk food. They have a tremendous negative impact on depression and migraine headaches because they’re filled with toxins. Better to learn to like herbal tea and to replace junk food with organic raisons, dates and fruits.

5. Get at least 6-8 hours of sleep. Your brain cannot function properly without adequate amount of sleep. If possible, it’s better to always go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time. 

6. Keep your colon clean by juicing. Drink 8 oz vegetable juice, 8 oz carrot juice and 8 oz fruit juice everyday. It is really important to have regular bowl movement everyday so that your body can get rid of all the toxins that enter your body from the air, water and food. FDA & EPA do not have your best interest at heart. They work for corporations!

7. Avoid drugs and go for natural supplements. My favorite websites for learning about what’s good for you are DR Mercola’s, Natural Health News and Gerson (With Gerson, you need to be a patient or buy their books/dvds or attend their seminars but it is well worth your money.)

8. Meditate – Meditation is really hard for many because they cannot sit still. Some people have told me that when they shut their eyes, all they can think of is their problems. So, here’s a trick, let the problem come to your head, take several deep breaths and let it out and then say, I will deal with you after I’m done with my meditation and then let it go. Keep doing this with each problem that comes to your mind until your mind goes blank. If this still doesn’t work for you, then put on a mellow classical music, lay down and cover your eyes with an eye mask, take in a few deep breaths, and allow the music to relax you for 5-10 minutes.

9. Keep a journal and write down your feelings about the person who dumped you, the bills that are piling up on your desk, the pain you have in your legs or whatever else you want to write about. You may even want to write a letter to that person you’re so angry at just to get your feelings out. You can always discard it later or perhaps decide to send it – whichever works for you. 

10. Make good friends. I have a handful of great friends and a loving family. When I fall into depression, I don’t want to call anyone. But my family and friends are persistent like me and somehow figure out a way to find me. As they push me and I grumble and respond in irritating tones, I eventually come out of my shell and chat which always makes me feel much better.

Why can’t the French get fat?

There’s an obsession among researchers, scientists and doctors as to why the French eat all they want and never gain weight. Some think that it has to do with the food they eat. Let me enlighten everyone on the French ways. They do not eat all that they want. And it has nothing to do with the food they eat or the fact that they walk everywhere. Don’t get me wrong; those are all very helpful when one wants to lose weight but there are only a handful of people in the world with quick metabolisms who can eat like a horse and never gain an ounce. And the chance of being that person is as high as being hit by a meteoroid.

Now that I got that out of the way, let’s get to the nitty-gritty. Not all French people are thin. There are many fat French but they’re not as fat as say people in America. With that said, Paris does have the largest skinny population because Parisian abhor being fat. I lived in Paris as a student. When I left my Los Angeles home, I was a size 6 but after living in Paris and enjoying their wonderful cheese, wine, pastries and chocolate, I returned to LA a year later as size 10. My mother asked me what happened? I said, I guess I like French food a bit too much.

Now, here’s the secret as to why so many Parisians are skinny. It’s because they don’t eat much. Many have a cup of coffee for breakfast, salad for lunch – and no I don’t mean the kind of salads where one piles up eggs, nuts, beans, and o-so-thick dressings – but rather the kind of salad that’s made up of a bowl of lettuce and a drizzle of vinaigrette. Then for dinner, they have about 3oz of meat, a tiny potato, 12 pieces of string beans, and a 6 oz glass of wine. Many don’t snack and skip dessert – they only have it on special occasions such as birthdays. Okay, so may be I exaggerated a bit but the skinny Parisians don’t eat much.

Of course the ones who aren’t rail thin eat more and walk everywhere, so they don’t look as large as some of us sedentary Americans who work longer hours and only get two measly weeks of vacation time. But I will guarantee you this, if you eat all that you want in Paris, Germany or on the moon, you will gain weight. So, here it is in a nutshell – forget about all the studies and take it from someone who has lived the French life. Eat too much and be fat, eat too little and be a stick. There’s no easy way around it. Moderation in food and exercise is the only key to stay at a healthy weight. I hope this article will help solve the French mystery.