Depression sucks. Luckily, there are a ton of things that feel like depression but aren’t.

Before concluding you’re hopelessly depressed, do these things.

Increase Vitamin D Intake

Vitamin D deficiency is probably the number one false alarm for depression. This is caused by our tendency to hide from the sun (exposure to the fiery ball is the sky produces Vitamin D in our bodies).

Vitamin D is essential for all kinds of bodily functions, and mental health is on the list.

You can solve the problem by

1. Getting about an hour of direct sunlight every day
2. Supplementing Vitamin D

For the second option, aim for supplementing 1,000 IU of Vitamin D daily in either pill or liquid form. You can take more than this, but there are debates on how much is healthy.

Cut Sugar and Flour

Overconsumption of sugar and flour equals a decrease in mental health. Cutting it out might not be a one-fix solution to depression but there’s no doubt it will help.

Cut out sugar and flour for just one week and see what happens to your mental health. If you aren’t up to cutting entirely, commit to not eating any junk food or fast food for one week.

Document your mental alertness, energy level, and depression on the day before and on the last day you complete this, and use the data as evidence to decide whether it’s worth continuing.

Consume Fish Oil

Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a building block in optimal brain chemistry. Without enough omega-3s, you tend to not transmit nerve signals properly. When your brain isn’t running properly, you can feel depressed or anxious.

Taking fish oil will make you more focused, alert, and driven. On top of that, it’ll improve your hair’s health, so you’ll be looking good and feeling good.

When looking for fish oil supplements, always remember it’s the omega-3s that count. This article should help with figuring it exact daily doses.

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Depression is solvable by making sure your body is chemically balanced. Your brain can’t function properly if it’s not being fed what it needs to be.

After doing all these things, you may still feel isolated, depressed, and anxious at times but with a new mental clarity and health, you’ll be more equipped to overcome it.