As we come out of the holiday season, many people find themselves feeling tired, worn out, or suffering from a deep melancholy and trying desperately to pull out of it.
The demands of modern-day life can seem so overwhelming. Coming back to real life after winter break, traveling, and festivities can be challenging. We go back to work, have bills to pay, and are getting the kids back into a regular routine. It’s no wonder many people are left dealing with minor depression in a quest to “get back to normal”!
Sometimes these demands of life may elicit strong emotions within us such as worry, fear, frustration, and hopelessness. While these are normal emotions that we all occasionally deal with, we don’t want these to develop into a long-term state of being. This will not only negatively affect our emotions, but our overall state of health.
If you’re in the middle of January and still feeling mentally and physically sluggish and despairing, there’s one surprising practice that can help clear the cobwebs.
Fasting!
Fasting is a practice as old as time and is a surprisingly powerful tool in restoring and maintaining health and emotional balance. It could be the perfect strategy to get your new year off on the right foot!
Stress Eating
When animals are frightened or angered, they abstain from eating for a while. Similarly, many people find that their appetite is decreased in stressful circumstances. Worry, fear, anxiety, excitement, and anger prevent the secretion of digestive enzymes and will hinder digestion and the assimilation of nutrients. Stress eating can complicate an already hindered digestive process.
This considered, perhaps the last thing you do while feeling depressed is to eat excessively.
Fasting as a means of dealing with depression also greatly benefits one’s overall health because the digestive organs are given a rest, allowing the mind to clear at the same time that the body is cleansed.
Which Type of Fasting is Best?
There are many different types of fasting so consult with your health-care practitioner for guidance on which one would be most appropriate for you. Everyone is different and there are so many options! There are juice fasts, water fasts, intermittent fasting, partial fasts, religious fasts, and even green-smoothie fasts!
When problems seem to weigh in on us – when feeling despondent becomes an almost daily struggle, fasting can be a powerful tool. It definitely won’t hurt and could be incredibly helpful.
Always consult your health-care practitioner to see if fasting is safe for you, especially if you’ve never done one or are not sure how to fast. There are contraindications to fasting, especially if you have certain health conditions. If you suffer from a major depressive disorder, please seek out a mental health practitioner to further support your healing.
If you’d like extra support from me in reconnecting with purpose and joy, contact me for a free natural healing strategy session. I can’t wait to speak with you!
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4790398/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fasting-benefits
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and not a replacement for medical advice. Any questions or concerns regarding your specific health-care needs should be addressed to your health-care provider. The author is not a medical doctor and will not be held liable for any outcomes linked to this information. The user takes full and complete responsibility for all outcomes to yourself or any other party as a result of any information contained or linked on this blog.
