Water and Depression, Stress and Anxiety

Stress, depression and anxiety are three very different conditions. However, many people experience a combination of these three. Sometimes the stress can lead to the other two, for example. There are many things that can be done to heal these emotionally tolling conditions, including removing stressors from our lives, taking medications, resting, exercising, meditation and yoga and more. However, did you know that water can also help?

The three of these disorders are mood disorders, perhaps stemming from the brain. Studies link depression to dehydration because 85% of brain tissue is water. Dehydration causes energy generation in the brain to decrease. So, lack of water can be the culprit in any of these disorders really. However, like in many other medical areas, contaminated water can also cause health problems. It is a known that lead in water can cause damage to nervous systems, with depression being one of the most common results of lead-filled water. A reverse osmosis filter is one the best ways to ensure that you are drinking safe water. Now, let's move on to more ways water can help.

There are several types of anxiety disorders, the most common being general anxiety disorder (GAD). Beverages with caffeine can increase anxiety. Replacing soda, tea and coffee with water is a good place to start. According to a holistic health website, water is a great "anxiety quencher." When the body is dehydrated, in can actually induce anxiety and nervousness. According to the aforementioned site, when we are dehydrated our cells feel it at the molecular level and communicate this to the subconscious as an underline subtle anxiety or threat to survival. The key is to rebalance this deficit of fluids is to drink eight glasses of fresh water a day. Water alone may not cure GAD and other related disorders, but it can sure calm those nerves! As a side note, there are many herbal supplements, such as PureCalm, that can be added to water to calm nerves as well.

Depression is another mood disorder than cause someone to feel sad, helpless and hopeless for an extended period of time. There are many different levels and types of depression, and the length of time it lasts also varies greatly on the person. Treatment for depression is usually through medication aptly called antidepressants. Sometimes these pills can cause dehydration, which means they need to be taken with plenty of water. Eating healthy and exercising, like with most medical conditions, is a great way to feel and be healthy. Along with this would mean cutting out alcohol and caffeine, which can not only dehydrate, but also have adverse affects on the medication. And speaking of the drugs, one major side effect of some of the popular antidepressants is constipation. Being hydrated is crucial to comfort with this.

Aside from drinking water, hydrotherapy is a calming remedy for stress and anxiety. Taking a warm bath with an herbal supplement can do wonders for the body and soul. Sounds like a cliché, but the hot water will literally ease muscle tension- the supplements also helping And, the soothing herbs and the quiet time can just allow the mind to escape. You can literally wash those cares away!