Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Before I begin this review, I would like to say that depression is a horrible, sinking and debilitating ILLNESS that ruins lives, relationships and potential. It is very difficult to explain to a non-depressed individual, and it does not resonate with them nearly as much as it should. I also direct my review towards people with moderate-severe depression, NOT mild depression. I mention these facts to convey my sense of empathy but also to give legitimacy to what I am about to say: The industry around mental illness medication has a very disgusting secret - medications and natural supplements such as these are pushed onto people with mental illness in a effort to keep them hopelessly, desperately and financially tied to something. I believe this is a horrible, manipulative and purely greedy way of increasing one's wealth at the direct cost of somebody's health and potentially, life. Medication is currently only effective in only 23% of depressed individuals. That rate is far too low. I think that the healthcare industry will never truly develop effective depression medication, because at that point, people will cease to need to their medication and will no longer buy it. This is an unpopular opinion because depressed people have it so bad to begin with, that they do not need to hear that an important glimmer of hope is much dimmer than they anticipated. I've combated depression for THREE years in a NON-MEDICATED state in an attempt to find a truly NATURAL alternative, that doesn't involve me being permanently tied to anything not naturally in my body. And by alternative, I mean a cure, not feeling okay some days and s***ty others, I mean a full blown cure which I can confidently say that I am NOT depressed. Even this supplement does not meet that qualification. I speak with all caps because I am passionate about this issue, and have been given some very good advice, and very bad advice up to this point. The following is my best advice. I took St. John's Wort for six months and did not see much improvement. I did notice, however, when I stopped taking them that my mood plummeted. I've realized that it's unreliable to find assurance of your mental state through something that you purchase; it has to be more permanent and natural. I share the following advice because I feel very obligated to do so. I am not paid by any company to share this advice and have no motives other than enabling people to live happy, balanced and natural lives. I have seen friends try medication, and I have researched medication endlessly, and its rate of success is not promising. Ultimately, I found the following routine much more effective at combating depression: 1. Omega 3 EPA - 1.5 grams per day - research Omega 3 / 6 imbalance if you have doubts 2. Sunlight therapy - 30 minutes per day, bright sunny day, sun contact with eyes EXPOSED (no sunglasses, hats, etc...). Get a light box if you don't have visible sun often. - research serotonin connection on light exposures if you have doubts 3. Exercise - 30 min/every other day, aerobic range (exercising hard enough that you cannot easily hold a conversation). Must be sweating, if you bulls*** it and don't try, it won't work and you will have wasted time and happiness. - research effect of cardiovascular exercise if you have doubts 4. Sleep quality - 8 hours minimum daily - no caffeine after 10AM. The half-life of caffeine is too long to be drinking caffeine after that point. - research effects of sleep on mood & caffeine if you have doubts 5. Cease rumination - rumination: defined as the contemplation of negative thoughts excessively, to the point where they negatively affect your mood. Once you notice it happening, you must physically alter your thought process by engaging in conversation or social activity. - this has poor research currently, but I think it is an intuitive solution 6. Social support - interaction four times with people you TRULY enjoy being around and trust. Sitting on the train doesn't count. - research effect that social support has on individuals if you have doubts (especially in tribal cultures) 7. Multivitamin, Vitamin D supplementation - not too much multivitamin or vitamin D. - research it 8. Hydration - at least 100 fl ounces daily - more physiological than psychological, but you should still research it 9. Diet - no sugar / processed foods / junk - it spikes your insulin levels and makes your body feel terrible. Eating a clean diet will be a massive improvement for your depression - this is HUGE, and the research speaks volumes 10. No drugs (even weed) or alcohol - this is a personal choice, but I have noticed that weed and alcohol cause a decrease in mood proportional 11. Meditate - you don't have to buy into the spiritual side, but there is a definite physiological effect 12. MAJOR Stressors - eliminate them as best as you can - these can include toxic relationships, poor work relations, bad habits, money concerns, etc... This is the **MOST IMPORTANT POINT** I will offer: People reading this review are people who have a genetic tendency towards depression, or are closely involved with someone who does. This means your health is a PRIORITY and that you cannot live the same disregard "normal" people do. You have to be more careful with your health, and more vigilant with your proactivity. You have to be aware, on point and striving towards better health, AT ALL TIMES. If you are not doing the above list every day, to the best of your ability, expect to be depressed.