Depression is a state where you’re constantly sad, anxious or restless. It’s not even just sadness. The feelings are very mixed.
Things that were interesting to you earlier are no longer enjoyable. You’re always in a state of reduced interest in everything you come across.
There is a myriad of reasons for this to happen. And knowing the reasons behind your feeling can help you figure out how to overcome depression.
It can be due to loneliness, loss of a loved one, or some kind of difficult setback in life. There can be many other reasons, of course, but covering them all is beyond the scope of this article.
Most of these methods not only will help you on your way to beating depression, but they will also work for many other psychological problems.
So if you want to know how to stop an anxiety attack or how to decompress after a hard day of work and lead a more balanced life, read on!
1.) Go Outside and Exercise
Some scientists believe that the increased cases of depression in our industrialized society are a result of our sedentary lifestyle.
For many people, their day involves sitting in an office building bathed in synthetic lighting for several hours, then coming home in the evening to plop themselves on the couch.
But for our primitive ancestors, life was spent outside in the sunlight being active. The human body thrives on this lifestyle.
While for many it’s difficult to find time in the day to run a mile, just a thirty-minute walk in the sunlight, three times a week can greatly improve your spirits.
The exercise from walking will produce endorphins in your brain, thus elevating your mood.
So take the dog for a walk, if you are diabetic then gear up with your diabetic socks and shoes or find a fun activity to do outside, and you will certainly see an improvement.
2.) Sleep
A good night’s sleep can do wonders to make your troubles seem insignificant, but unfortunately, insomnia and depression often go hand in hand. When your nighttime habits are good, you will surely get the best sleep.
Following a bedtime routine can help establish good sleeping habits. Make sure the room is quiet, with no distractions like television or radio.
Try engaging in quiet, calming activities, like a long bath or reading a book. Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine at night. Better sleep greatly reduces the effects of depression and helps stabilize your mood.
3.) Socialize
While depression often makes you want to isolate yourself from friends and family, human contact is very important to establish feelings of love and support from those around you.
Simply having a coffee or a walk in the park with a friend can help distract you from your dark thoughts and feelings, and let you know someone out there cares for you.
Human beings are social animals and need face to face contact (not just online chatting) to maintain a stable mental state.
4.) Quell Ruminations
Depression very often finds the sufferer lost in negative thoughts and feelings that seem overwhelming and endless. Stop the cycle of negativity and think happy thoughts.
This is more difficult than it sounds to many people who know depression, but it is possible to train yourself not to dwell on the negative.
When you find yourself with sad feelings and negativity thoughts, stop yourself from ruminating, and try to engage yourself in an absorbing activity, preferably outside.
5.) Change your Diet
Your diet is responsible for many things, including your mood. Eat food high in Omega 3, like nuts and, as well as foods containing ginger or chili.
This will give you more energy. Foods high in fat and sugar, on the other hand, do not promote stable blood sugar and will leave you feeling low and sluggish.
Researchers have also noted, fruits and vegetables high in iron and vitamin E can also help fight depression.
With all the processed foods a modern man eats in his often lonely, sedentary lifestyle, it’s no wonder some people are feeling its effects.
Another great method to overcome stress is magic mushrooms. Humans have been consuming magic mushrooms for thousands of years for various reasons. Edible magic mushrooms are not just for having a good time, they have the potential to help us understand the workings of the mind and heal psychological disorders
While in your current state you may think taking a walk or eating some vegetables can’t possibly help cure your low mood, if you start to integrate these habits into your life, you will surely see a marked improvement.
Depression Can Be Treated…
Depression can lead to serious troubles in your personal as well as professional life. Depression can be treated, this is the best news involved here. And there are a number of things you do all on your own.
First of all, you need to get to the root of what is actually the problem. You need to find out the reasoning behind the doom and gloom feelings.
In many cases, it’s due to the loss of a loved one or some other major loss in one’s life. In that case, it will settle down as time goes by and the pain from the loss lessens.
However, in rare cases, it might be triggered by a chemical imbalance. If this is so, you need to consult your doctor and possibly seek guidance from a therapist or take antidepressants.
But the use of any medication should only be prescribed by a competent medical professional.
Simple Ideas for Fighting Depression
There are a few ways through which you can treat mild depression on your own as you sit and meditate on your easy rise cushion.
They might be a bit tough to try out at first, especially when you’re in a depressed state. However, if you do work at it, the job becomes much easier after a while.
First, you need to get yourself out of the house. You could go for a stroll, visit a friend, go to a park or even check out a museum.
I’m sure you get the idea here. Getting outside of our own gloomy surroundings tends to bring us all out of the down mood and start living again. Seek out a family member or friends to accompany you if that would help get you going.
Dyna holds a degree in health and fitness, has worked as a health instructor for over a decade at some very prominent health related organization and basically a writer by heart.
It is a very informative article with detailed explanations.