If you're dealing with depression, create a positive social circle. The more people you have in your life to support you, the better off you'll be when you are feeling down. In addition, having people who expect you to do things with them prevents you from staying home and wallowing.
Don't allow yourself to stay stuck in negative thoughts. If negative thoughts about yourself have crept into your head, think about whether or not you would actually say that to someone else. If not, you may be being too hard on yourself. Do your best to reframe thoughts such as these by coming up with ideas on how to address the problem.
Remember to keep a positive attitude. Studies show that people who are depressed often minimize their talents and accomplishments, instead focusing on the negative aspects of their life. Take a page out of the classic children's novel Pollyanna" and make a game out of positivity. In the novel, Pollyanna forces herself to find something good about every situation, no matter how small it may seem.
Get out of the house and socialize. Get involved in activities outside the home and meet people. Even calling on friends and family can help. Let them know about your struggles with depression, and ask for their help. Have them call you out when you start displaying negativity, and to praise or compliment you when you act positively.
Go back to activities you used to enjoy, even if you don't feel like it. Going through the motions of a fun activity, such as painting or playing a sport, can help you feel more energetic. You might find that are truly enjoying the activity after all, once you get started.
Make sure to get plenty of exercise on a daily basis. Get at least half an hour of light to moderate exercise daily to augment any depression treatment. Exercise can even replace antidepressants. Park your car far away from the store, take the stairs instead of an elevator, are some things you can do each day to get a bit of exercise.
For those suffering from depression, try to practice relaxation techniques. If you use these techniques everyday, you may find your depression symptoms reduced and in general, you will feel more relaxed. You could practice yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation. Have a friend do these things with you.
When faced with depression surround yourself with activities and things that you enjoy doing. This will take your mind off what is troubling you and help you focus on the positive things in life.
Make sure you are getting enough Vitamin B in your diet if you suffer from depression. Having a deficiency of Vitamin B can cause depression symptoms to act up. Foods like leafy greens, beans, eggs, and chicken have Vitamin B. Also, there are supplements that you can take that contain this vitamin.
Diet can affect depression. Certain foods do not give you the energy you need and influence your weight or skin in a negative way, making it hard for you to like yourself. Keep a healthy diet and stay away from fatty foods.
Reaching out to help other people can be a wonderfully effective way to overcome the challenges of depression that you may be facing yourself. With depression, there is often a tendency to focus inward and shut out the outside world. Making the effort to look past your own pain and help another person will remind you of the power you have to improve a life and influence activities in your own world. Look for opportunities to volunteer your services in your community and know that you will be expanding your opportunities to bring joy to yourself and those you reach out to help.
Drink a lot of water if you are feeling depressed. The body can survive for weeks without food, but without water our body and brain will begin to shut down. It is almost impossible to be happy when your body is dehydrated because your brain is not working properly. Try to drink filtered water when possible because many cities water have chemicals in them, and we do not know how this affects our brain.
The best tip anyone could offer to someone who is depressed is to not make any big or rash decisions. Often times when we are depressed we make irrational decisions based on emotions not knowledge which often makes things worse. As such sit idly on those big decisions till you feel better.
Lighten your personal load. Everyone has responsibilities that are necessary to life, however often people add much more than they need to. When your schedule is packed to the brim, it can leave you exhausted and unable to enjoy even the activities you actually enjoy. Take a hard look at your schedule and drop what is not absolutely necessary. You will breathe a little easier and can focus on conquering your depression.
Now you are much more prepared when it comes to treating your depression. It may be scary, but with these tips in mind and help from your doctor, you can do it! Hopefully, these tips gave you some advice that will help you start changing your mental health for the better.
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