Depression can be one of the hardest times of someone’s life. Sufferers often feel misunderstood, tired and deeply unhappy. If these kinds of feelings sound familiar, you’re not alone. Millions of people suffer from depression every day. Here are a few tips about dealing with depression that might be able to help.
Make sure you’re getting about eight hours of sleep a night. People with depression tend to either sleep too little or far too much. In either case, both your mood and your health will suffer. Schedule your sleep patterns so that you’re getting just the right amount of sleep each night.
Stave off depression by developing your interests. One of the prime factors in depression is a lack of interests and activities that you enjoy. Having an outlet for your interests contributes greatly to self-esteem and happiness. Doing things you enjoy, whether it is painting, hiking, reading, or volunteering keeps your mind off of your problems and gives great satisfaction.
If you’re working on your personal issues, it can help you with your depression. Work on one thing at a time. Try to simplify your goals, perhaps turning them into short term goals. Eventually, this can help you to get to the root of your problems.
Make sure to get a sufficient amount of sleep if you suffer from depression. Sleeping too little or too much can effect your mood and the way that you think. Try to set a certain time to go to sleep every night and try to wake up at the same time everyday.
If you are opposed to taking prescription medications for depression, try St. John’s Wort. This natural, herbal remedy for depression can be very effective. It works in much the same way as Prozac by increasing the availability of mid-brain serotonin. This helps elevate your mood and alleviate your feelings of sorrow.
Your first step to fighting depression should be to stop speaking the word “depression” altogether. The words “depressed” and “depression” have much baggage in connection with feelings of hopelessness. Instead of depressed, when you are not feeling well, think of it like you are just in a bad mood. Simply concentrate on happier things, rather than dwelling on fighting depression.
Beware, although alcohol can feel like your best friend when you are fighting depression it actually may just be your enabler. If you feel yourself drawn to alcohol in your hardest moments – then you should avoid it completely! Alcohol and depression are very close cousins and love to team up on the unsuspecting!
When you are experiencing a moment where the depression is less grave you should take out a notebook, diary or journal. In this book you should write a list of the things, memories, people and places that you love the most. When you are feeling exceptionally sad take out this list and read it.
It is important that you not diagnose yourself with depression, even if you have many of the symptoms of it. You may have another, even more severe, condition. Of course, you may also just be experience a period of low mood, which is all too common these days. Only a medical professional can diagnosis you with depression and give you medications or other treatments to help you feel better. Make sure you choose to see a professional who spends time with you asking many questions before giving a diagnosis.
A great way to deal with depression is to make sure that you do not lose track of your social life. This is extremely important because if you do not have a social life, you may lose touch with the people who are in the best situation to help you with your problems.
Stay away from caffeine if you are experiencing severe depression. There is evidence to suggest that excessive caffeine intake can exacerbate depression. If you enjoy having a nice cup of coffee or a can of soda during the day, it might be best to switch to decaf.
Turn to family or friends who have suffered from depression, if you are suffering from it yourself. Many times, talking with someone who has or has had depression in your past can help you feel better, since they know where you are coming from. Also, they may have ideas on what you can do to control your depression.
Maintain social activities that you previously enjoyed, currently enjoy, or may not know much about. This can take your mind off of depressing matters that can send you back into your depression in a way that is worse than before. You should surround yourself with social activities that are nurturing and can help stimulate your mind.
Use these tips as the first steps on your journey to recovery. Depression can be a terrible feeling, but as time passes you will find that you are starting to feel a little better. Take your time and don’t force yourself to act happy if you aren’t. Everything is unfolding in perfect time, including you.
