You don’t necessarily need antidepressants to overcome feelings of mild depression! These natural remedies for sad, anxious feelings may help you feel better. Effectively treating depression doesn’t always require prescription medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or counseling — though those treatments can be extremely beneficial, depending on the person and the cause of the depression.

Anne Hathaway, who starred in The Devil Wears Prada, The Princess Diaries, and Get Smart, struggled with depression, sadness, and hopelessness. Here’s how she describes it:

“I went through phases in my life when I was really out of balance. It’s not so much that I was depressed; I was in despair, which is a very tricky emotion,” says Hathaway. “It’s self-loathing. It’s hopelessness. It’s worthlessness. It’s a bad, bad place to be.”

Hathaway overcame her depressed feelings — and so can you! For more detailed depression tips, click The All-Natural Cure for Depression. And, read on for eight natural remedies for sad or anxious feelings…

Natural Cures for Depression — Treating Sad, Anxious Feelings Naturally

Different people find different treatments helpful – and these natural remedies are worth experimenting with! Also, never underestimate the effects of nutrition on your emotions. Read The Best Foods to Improve Your Mood to learn how food can help cure sad feelings naturally.

1. Pull out of yourself and figure out how to impact others’ lives. Anne Hathaway describes how she overcame her feelings of sadness and depression: “Now, my life has gotten much bigger. I’ve traveled. I’ve seen true suffering. And what I was dealing with pales when compared with what is really going on out there. So then it became not ‘Woe is me’ but ‘Let me help you.’ That changed everything. I was seeing myself as a victim, but I’m in a position of power, and now I’m going to make up for lost time.”

2. Learn about herbs that treat depression naturally. In The Brain Wash, Michelle Schoffro Cook describes two natural depression medications: St John’s wort (pictured – click for more info) and ginkgo biloba. “St John’s wort is particularly effective for depression, particularly for mild to moderate symptoms without the side effects often associated with drugs,” writes Cook. St John’s wort may not be as effective for severe or double depression, but if you’re not taking any antidepressants, it may be worth a try. “Ginkgo biloba improves neurotransmitter production in the brain and helps bring oxygen-rich blood to the brain to improve functioning,” says Cook. This natural herb may also help fight feelings of despair. To learn more about this natural cure, click Source Naturals’ St. John’s Wort (pictured).

Note about natural herbs and products: Never take St John’s wort, ginkgo biloba or any natural medicine for depression if you’re taking antidepressants such as Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil or Effexor. Talk to your doctor before combining natural remedies and antidepressants. It’s important to talk to your doctor when you’re trying different cures for depressed feelings, especially if you’re taking any type of prescription medication.

3. Increase your physical activity. Exercise is difficult when you can barely get out of bed or drag yourself to work — so start slow! Go for short walks, swims, yoga classes or bike rides – the movement and oxygen may help you overcome feelings of anxiety and sadness. If you’re struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder, it’s especially important to increase your exposure to light. Read Tips for Light Therapy for Sad People for more info.

4. Avoid unnatural processed foods such as refined sugars unhealthy fats, caffeine, processed foods or fast food restaurants. Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, natural foods, proteins, and foods high in antioxidants to neutralize free radicals. “Investigate other factors that may contribute to depression, such as anemia, blood sugar imbalances, candida overgrowth, chromium, zinc and/or magnesium deficiencies, adrenal weakness, or toxic overload,” says Cook.

5. Focus on what you love to do. Paint, garden, read, write, daydream….immersing yourself in creative activities can alleviate feelings of self-despair. Expressing yourself and finding your self-identity can are natural cures for depressed feelings.

6. Watch funny movies, go to live comedy shows, tune in to your favorite funny tv sitcoms. Listen to uplifting, upbeat music. Research shows that laughter and music both change brain chemistry, which can lighten feelings of anxiety.

7. Drink plenty of water and get some sunshine. Improving your mood can include the basics of life: air, water, and the sun. Oxygen, Vitamin D, and the sights and sounds of nature can soothe your soul – and they’re all natural remedies for depression!

8. Increase your Omega-3’s, B-complex vitamins, fish oil supplements, multivitamins and minerals, and S-Adenosylmethionines (SAMe’s). Omega-3 fish oils provide incredible health benefits, besides lifting your mood! Again, talk to your doctor in case these natural remedies can interfere with antidepressants, other prescription medications, or other treatments for depression.

Cook says, “While some health practitioners dismiss the symptoms as being ‘all in [the patient's] head,’ increasing volumes of research identifying this disorder as a physiological, not psychological problem.” If your depression is a physiological problem, then curing it may involve physiological treatments (such as antidepressants or natural remedies).

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