With winter right around the corner, now is a good time to start some new behaviors to help ward off depression. Depression is often misunderstood as simply being extremely sad, but the fact is depression is a condition with serious emotional effects.
According to the centers for disease control and prevention, it is estimated that one out of every 10 adults in the united states experience some form of depression at least once in their lifetime.
It can be challenging to cope with the symptoms of depression and it isn’t typically something that you should attempt to deal with on your own. However, with the assistance of professional therapy and in some cases, medication, it is possible to learn to how to effectively deal with the symptoms. Improving your coping skills is a vital part of the process to handle depression, so along with professional treatment, the following tips can help you get a handle your depression.
Get Active
Depression can make it difficult to go out with friends and family, but it is important to stay active. When you socialize and do normal activities that you enjoy, it helps to prevent loneliness and isolation, which can worsen the depression. Find new ways to interact with other people, for example if you enjoy reading, join a local book club or join a local depression support group.
Avoid Sleeping During the Day
Depression has many symptoms and each person has their own specific symptoms as well as ways of displaying depression. For example, while it is common for many people with depression to want to stay in bed all day, others with depression may become excessively anxious. It is important for your health to get plenty of sleep, but do not stay in bed all day. Go to bed early, get a solid eight hours of sleep and get out of bed in the morning. It is often helpful to schedule appointments or plan your activities mid-morning to ensure you get out of bed.
Diet and Exercise
Exercise and a proper diet can help you alleviate the symptoms associated with depression. When you exercise on a regular basis, it helps to raise your energy levels and alleviate the symptoms of depression. If you do not want to join a health club, walking, swimming or riding a bike are excellent forms of exercise. It is also important to eat a healthy diet. Try to include a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. These types of foods are excellent for boosting your immune system and your energy. It is best to avoid drugs and alcohol, as they will only increase the symptoms of depression.
Depression is an overwhelming and stressful mental illness that can completely consume your life, if you are not diligent in taking the appropriate steps to cope with the illness. Without the appropriate treatment and care, depression can increase the symptoms of physical illnesses such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. With treatment, including talking with a therapist and getting on a routine schedule, it is possible to completely overcome the symptoms of depression. It is important to believe in yourself and give yourself daily encouragement to help cope with the symptoms of depression.
At Inspire Malibu, we treat any co-occurring disorder such as depression and bipolar disorders. For more information, please give us a call. We know how to help!
