Depression can have a detrimental effect on both your physical health and emotional well-being. Continue reading for a selection of tips and advice for battling depression.
A key tip in dealing with depression is to remember that you are the one in control of your own thoughts. As hard as it can be, depressed people should force themselves to think about the positive and try to actively improve the negative. It is not a positive way to look at your feelings, and it can cause negative thinking. Replace it with words like "feeling low" to talk about those feelings, and you will eventually notice more positive feelings.
Do not set yourself up to have depression. Over-analyzing your negative thoughts and feelings can have the same effect. Remain upbeat, and encourage those around you to do the same.
When you exercise, your body produces endorphins. Endorphins can enhance your mood, no matter how gloomy it may be. Therefore, the simple act of exercising is one of the best ways to battle depression. Exercise that is rigorous and energetic releases an abundance of enorphins. The endorphins make you feel better, and the exercise itself gets you in shape, which also makes you feel better.
If you are overwhelmed with depression, you may be withdrawing from everything you hold dear. You should do anything but that! You need to be around positive people and keep doing things that you enjoy.
Try to consume three meals daily if you are feeling low. Depression often causes a loss in appetite, but not eating contributes to continued depression and loss of motivation and energy. If you fail to eat enough calories throughout the day, your body won't function at peak efficiency. Nutritionally dense meals eaten regularly will keep your body feeling great even when your mind doesn't.
Look at psychological counseling to treat depression. Using medication in conjunction with therapy treatment can be helpful in dealing with depression. Studies show that in order to treat depression successfully, it is best to use both treatment methods in combination rather than using one alone. Therapy can get to the root causes of your depression, while medication can control mood swings.
When you next start to feel depression creeping up on you, try to laugh out loud. Laughter has been shown to release endorphins into the blood stream, which has a calming effect. Tell jokes with some friends, see a Greek comedy at the community theater, or go to a comedy club. Exposure to humor will take your depression, and put it away.
Call upon a friend or relative to either talk to over the phone, or better still, visit with in person and just find something to do together. Often being around people can relieve depression.
Take things piece by piece -- step by step. Depression can make it feel impossible or overwhelming to get everything done all at once. You will find it easier to make small changes, and wait until you are used to your new routine before making more changes.
Speak with a friend if you're depressed. Repressing your emotions can lead to depression. Work through those feelings in a positive way by talking about them with a supportive friend or family member. Friends are also a valuable source of advice.
Getting enough sleep every night is a great tip for coping with depression. A common symptom of depression is restlessness and insomnia, so make sure you are making every effort to get at least 6, preferably 8, hours of sleep a night. Being active throughout the day will make you more likely to sleep well at night.
Keeping beautiful flowers around can help perk you up. The bright colors and the soothing smells of the arrangements have evolved to make all living beings attracted to them. For a quick mood booster, keep fresh flowers in your own home at all times.
While the effects of depression can be daunting, it is possible to overcome the condition and lead a happy, healthy life. Educate yourself on the subject, and seek the assistance of your doctor about what treatments will put you back into a happier frame of mind. As you work to overcome your depression, you may find it helpful to rely on the insight that you have just finished reading.
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