In today's society, whenever someone says they are experiencing depression, they are usually advised by a professional to take an antidepressant. Unfortunately, oftentimes antidepressants simply do not work for many who suffer from depression. Those dealing with mild to moderate depression can most likely get better results with alternative treatments than with antidepressants.

Alternative treatment for depression is any treatment that is not medication. Some examples of alternative treatment for depression are exercise, aromatherapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture. These are well known for their healing benefits but many do not consider these treatments for depression. Most professionals consider medication and psychotherapy or psychological counseling to be the proper treatment for depression. It is true that studies have shown this to be the most effective form of treatment for depression. However, there have been very limited studies measuring the benefits of alternative therapies.

Those who have tried these alternative methods of treatment have found them to be helpful, and in many cases the depression has been alleviated or even cured. There have been studies measuring the effectiveness of walking on treating depression. Many were surprised to find that walking 30 minutes every day for two or three weeks had just as effective results alleviating depression as did medication and psychotherapy. In fact, many psychotherapists are instructing their depressed patients to begin a walking regimen as part of a treatment plan.

The main reason antidepressants are not successful at treating the depression for many people is due to the side effects. Many people with mild to moderate depression have said they would rather deal with the depression than the side effects, which can range from mild to severe. Some of the side effects can even be life threatening, and one must be careful when taking antidepressants to ensure the medication does not interfere with other medications the person might be taking.

Alternative treatments, on the other hand, have no side effects and can even make the patient feel better immediately. Walking can have an immediate effect because the exercise of walking releases endorphins which give a person a slight lift in mood which lasts for several hours afterward. Massage therapy also has an immediate effect as massage relaxes the patient, and the human touch gives an immediate benefit to a depressed patient.

For obvious reasons, these alternative treatments are not recommended for those who are experiencing severe depression or are feeling suicidal and/or homicidal. But for those who are experiencing mild to moderate depression, alternative treatments can be very beneficial toward alleviating and even curing depression.

About the Author

Visit http://www.livehealthyandlong.com/mentalhealth.html for more information about alternative forms of treatment for depression. Ruth Hendrickson holds an M.A. in counseling psychology and is an online author and internet marketer.