More often than not, people think that the only way to fight depression is to take medication prescribed by psychiatrist. Well, professional mental health experts actually advise such measures only as a last resort, and if so, in conjunction with psychotherapy. A lot of cases of depression are not as severe as others, and can actually be combatted with simple lifestyle changes. By engaging in different activities, improving diet, and socializing with positive people, people with mild or severe depression can not only prevent worse symptoms, but also reverse their present symptoms too.
Take up a New Hobby
One of the best ways to fight depression is to develop a new skill or start a new activity. Especially the kind that involves physical movement, because this stimulates the release of chemicals that make you feel happier. Start going to the gym, or grab some Marshalltown tools and start on a home improvement project. Keeping yourself busy stops your restless mind from fixating on negative thoughts. Also, when you start to see the fruits of your labours, it reinforces positive feelings.
Eat Healthy
Make sure you keep to a healthy, balanced diet. This will be hard to initiate, especially if one of your symptoms involves either overeating or a lack of appetite. A good social support would make all the difference. If you have company for your meals, a friend or family member, you’ll be more likely to eat well. Many foods are known to fight off the symptoms of depression, even chocolate and coffee, which also stimulate those happy chemicals.
Keep a Journal
Keep a log of your day, even if it’s just a few sentences each night. There are free apps that can help you regularly make note of what you did, some entirely in the form of pictures and icons if you’re not keen on writing. This will help you notice patterns of negative behavior, and you’ll be able to take more positive action in similar situations in the future. By making you more self-aware, this little activity actually causes you to get less wrapped up and stuck in the vicious cycles of negative thinking.
Get out of the House
It may be hard to get out there and socialize, but you don’t need to spend time with people right away if you don’t feel like it. Just taking a walk in the park or feeding ducks by the lake can really improve your mood. It may be that all you need is a change of scenery. Moreover, getting some sunshine can literally boost your emotional state because it stimulates hormones that trigger your brain’s reward system.
These little tips may take some time to become routine, and you’ll probably find yourself on a rollercoaster in and out of them for a while. But persevere, because within a few weeks, you’ll find yourself feeling stronger and happier and healthier.