Sometimes, when the force of gravity has tripled itself, sleep flies out of the window, hunger becomes a negligible entity, and loneliness hovers around like a cloud, you know that your energy has throttled back to nil. And the depression has gone to such an extent, that it becomes impossible for you to get over and find yourself again. You took countless medications to fight the deadened space, but all in vain. Your responses become even more slowed-down, and you plead for help, but only in your mind. These might make up for a few signs of depression, but to get over these symptoms, is no child's play. When the state of oblivion drags you under, you know the only way to recover is to go up and not look down. Just the fact that you're in need for more and more drugs to treat your depression, is a matter worth mulling over. When no antidepressants seem to work, it's wiser to switch to alternatives, and explore the possibilities and limitations of them. What's the worst? Even if they don't work, they wouldn't aggravate your situation. What's the best? Soon, you'll be a happier and healthier person, enjoying life to the fullest, and never wanting to get stuck in the rut again. For those times when everything has seemed to be a failure, here is your chance to get back to life by trying something other than those mundane antidepressants, that are medically proven to be beneficial. Here's an opportunity for you to get over the gloomy hopelessness that your life took on. Best Alternatives to Antidepressants Not all antidepressants work - many do work, but with them, come their many side-effects that are equally depressing. While your anxiety level noticeably decreases, you might experience an increase in your weight. With it might also arise a loss in appetite, menstrual problems, excessive sweating at many instances, and insomnia. The safest bet? Natural options. They are therapies that target only the depression symptoms, and have no side-effects at all. However, just because something has 'natural' lettered all over it, doesn't mean it's totally safe. It's recommended you talk to your health care provider prior to going in for any of the following antidepressant techniques. With that said, here are the best natural antidepressant alternatives, that have shown remarkable effects on depression patients. Therapy: Today, nothing is as effective an antidepressant as changing the chemistry of your brain. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal and Solution Focused Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy (CST), Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy, and Ariculotherapy, are a few common therapies brought into use for treating patients and alleviating their depression symptoms. Having a word with the therapist can help you cope up with all those factors that have made your life a mess, and left you in a groove. Another therapy is the Light Therapy, in which the patient is exposed to bright light that regulates the body clock. This does the necessary chemical changes in the brain, and helps in improving the sleeping patterns of a patient. Exercise: There's a good reason to take up exercise as a natural antidepressant, as your changing body not only instills confidence in you, but helps you get out of the gloominess for good. Not to forget, exercise has its myriad health benefits, like regulating body temperature, weight loss, improving mood, and treating insomnia. A beautiful body enhances your confidence and helps you redefine your life, both physically and mentally. Exercise also increases the metabolism rate, and burns calories with much more ease. Hence, even if your previous antidepressant was a failure, you can surely rely on exercise and its benefits, to get over depression. Nutritional Supplements: So what if you lost your appetite? Your body does require energy even when idle. Hence, every time you feel like you should take in something, instead of eating just about anything and everything, gorge upon food rich in vitamins (B12 particularly), minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. Foods rich in these instill positivity in you and energize you from within. Include vegetables and fruits into your diet, and give up on alcohol and smoking totally, as these do nothing but ruin your immunity system totally. Instead, consume healthy foods, and drinks such as fruit juices and shakes. Meditation and Acupuncture: The benefits of yoga, meditation, and acupuncture have been long recognized. If no antidepressant pills have shown their effects on you, these could, collaboratively, be extremely beneficial for you to gain your concentration back, and let go of negative thoughts. You could simply close your eyes in a relatively quiet area, and breathe in and out. This will help you get back your focus, and leave depression behind. On the other hand, acupuncture is globally recognized to treat illnesses and control depression symptoms. It is an effective remedy to target all problems associated with depression, such as anxiety, insomnia, and nausea. While all depression medications might prove to be immensely effective, not all come without their set of side effects. If you're up for the miracles of mother nature, the above-instanced natural alternatives can help you overcome the depression that has hovered over you for a while, of course, without any fallouts. Make sure you have a word with your health care practitioner before taking up any of them.