If you’re depressed, you know that things can be difficult for you to do, even simple everyday things. If you are trying to find some way to get on with your life without being paralyzed from depression, here are some tips that can help you handling your depression.
7 Tips For Handling Your Depression
1. Take up a hobby. You can always start doing something new. When you start a new hobby, you can distract yourself from the upsetting thoughts you have. A hobby can give you something to do that you enjoy, and you can excite yourself by learning a new task that takes up some mental time for you. Think about taking up a physical hobby such as swimming or hiking, but even peaceful activities like knitting and painting would work well.
2. Laugh every day. There is a saying that laughter is great medicine, and there is some truth to that. It is important to always find a reason to smile or laugh. You might watch a movie that you find funny, or watch a comic doing standup. You might even play with your pet. Anything that causes you to smile can make your depression feel better.
3. Take some supplements. Supplements such as SAM-e and St. Johns Wort have been said to alleviate depression. Check with your doctor before taking any supplements though; supplements can still interact with other medication you are taking so be mindful of that.
4. Go out in the sunshine. It is important to leave the house every day if you are depressed. This is a good idea because you change your scenery, which can distract you from the internal noise you are dealing with. Sunlight can also provide you with vitamin D; that is important because vitamin D deficiency can sometimes cause depressive symptoms.
5. Create goals for yourself. Give yourself something to look forward to. Be gentle with yourself and try not to give yourself unrealistic expectations, but set reachable goals. Then, give yourself time to celebrate when you reach those goals.
6. Start exercising. This can seem like a herculean task for anyone who is depressed, but exercise really will help you. Start out slow if you need to; go on a walk or go on a bike ride. Work up to an hour 3 or 4 times a week. You will start to feel a little better when you exercise, so it is imperative to try to exercise even if you really don’t want to.
7. See a doctor if you need to. Don’t try to handle this alone if you don’t feel that you are getting any better. A doctor can help you come up with solutions that may make you feel better.
It is not easy to have depression. However, you can manage this disease if you commit to conquering it. Use the tips in this article and find out more about how you can better handling your depression. Then you can start to enjoy life again and rediscover your happiness and vigor of old.