Wim Hof Method
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How to deal with depression

Sadness is an emotion that is a normal part of everyday life. There are numerous causes that can make us feel sad, ranging from bereavement, job loss and things that just don’t play out the way we would like them to. However, when the sad feeling persists and interferes with your ability to function normally and enjoy life, you might be suffering from a clinical depression. A clinical depression can last for a very long time, even years, and can make you feel worthless, fatigued, make you gain or lose weight, and can even cause physical pain. Overcoming a depression can be very difficult. However, there are natural ways that can help you cope with depression. Depressed people that start with the Wim Hof Method often report relief from various symptoms related to a clinical depression.

Natural ways of dealing with depression

Besides going into therapy and taking prescription drugs, there is a lot that you can do yourself to overcome depression. These natural ways of dealing with depression can help you fight negative thoughts and ultimately overcome severe sadness.

Meditation. An analysis of the results of over 18.000 scientific studies revealed that meditation is an effective tool that can aid sufferers from several mental disorders and in particular depression. Practicing meditation has a positive effect on serotonin and gamma-amino butyric acid; neurotransmitters that make you feel happy and relaxed . Furthermore, meditating reduces levels of cortisol; a hormone that has a significant negative effect on stress. Meditation can be practiced in many different ways. Related techniques like yoga and breathing exercises are widely recognized for their positive results.

Physical exercise. Physical exercise has a number of beneficial effects in dealing with depression. Foremost, it releases endorphins in your brain that make you feel good. It also stimulates the formation of new brain cells, helps you sleep better , and increases self-esteem. It is recommended to perform your physical exercise outdoors, as sunlight stimulates the production of vitamin D.

Seek support. When you are feeling depressed all the time, your first instinct might be to withdraw en refrain from meeting other people. However, social support from people who you like and who are compassionate is an important part of coping with depression. Just talking to somebody about your feelings of depression can be of great help.

Maintain a healthy diet. Food can have a profound effect on how you feel. To help you get through the day, make sure that you eat regularly, hold back on processed foods and limit your sugar intake. This will ensure that you have enough daily energy to battle your depression. Some foods are considered natural serotonin-boosters. These are the foods that are high in omega-3 acids (like fatty fish) and foods that are high in tryptophan (like turkey, tofu, or nuts).

Deal With Depression

Effects of the Wim Hof Method on depression

‘Iceman’ Wim Hof is known for his incredible achievements, which include breaking over 20 Guinness World Records related to extreme sports and extreme cold. Over the years, Wim has developed his own method to deal with what he calls ‘cold hard nature’. The Wim Hof Method has enabled him to achieve extraordinary things like climbing Mount Everest in his shorts and standing covered in ice cubes for more than an hour. Scientists have found evidence that the Wim Hof Method is very powerful and has some serious benefits for our overall health. These benefits include a stronger immune response against pathogens and a positive effect on the production of brown adipose tissue. Moreover, followers of the Wim Hof Method report numerous additional benefits such as improved focus, better sleep, less stress, and more energy. Science shows there is also a relation between people with depression and inflammation; higher amounts of inflammation in the blood is found in depressed people. The Wim Hof Method has scientifically proven to suppress inflammation. These are benefits that can be of great help to the sufferers of clinical depression.

Practice the Wim Hof Method

The best thing about the Wim Hof Method is that it can be practiced anytime and anywhere. Wim and the Hoffice have developed a Fundamentals video course that teaches you everything you need to effectively practice the Wim Hof Method. The video course is comprised of interactive video clips that feature Wim Hof and other experts, and that teach you techniques that can help you deal with challenges, stressors, and daily struggles. The Wim Hof Method is based on simple but powerful techniques that anyone can learn, including breathing, meditation, and exposure to cold. Want to know more about the method? Try it yourself by downloading our Wim Hof Method app.

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The three pillars

Breathing exercises, cold therapy, and commitment are the three pillars on which the Wim Hof Method is built. Some techniques are similar to traditional yoga and meditation techniques such as Tummo and Pranayama. When combined, the three pillars give you all the means to become a stronger, healthier, and happier individual.

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