10 Tips To Reduce Depression
10 tips to reduce depression
Depression can be crippling, devastating. It can cause a person to withdraw from everyone he loves and stop doing activities that he once enjoyed. It can cause a deep despair and social isolation that is overwhelming. Victims of depression encounter memory problems, sleep disruption or a need to sleep excessively, a sense of hopelessness and an inability to join the rest of the world. Depression afflicts an estimated 19 million Americans, and they cant just snap out of it.
There are ways to ease some symptoms of depression, but sometimes medication therapy is necessary for the patient to fully enjoy a symptom-free life. However, there are some tips you can try if you have the blues.
1. Speak with Someone
Marriage counselors, church patriarchs, school counselors, and life coaches can be very helpful. If you do not feel comfortable speaking with a counselor, talk to a close friend or write in a journal.
2. Exercise
A brisk walk or a good workout can do wonders for your mood. As you exercise and raise your heart rate, your body releases endorphins which improve your mood. Youve heard of the runners high? Well, that is why.
3. Eat Fresh
Start a garden. Raise some chickens (for the eggs). Buy organic products? Eat plenty of fiber (fruits and vegetables) in order to cleanse your body from toxins and preservatives and junk from processed foods. Make sure that you consume colorful fruits and vegetables. When you are healthy, you feel more vibrant and full of energy!
4. Avoid Sugar
If your depression is connected with anxiety, you will no doubt try to eat way too much sugar. This is the worse thing that you could do. Why? Because sugar can actually increase your anxiety. Unlike glyconutrients sugars, regular table sugar will make you even more tired after the sugar high, not to mention the other health detriments related to sugar and tooth decay and the immune system.
5. Cut Caffeine
Caffeine brings you up - then drops you like a rock. It can increase your anxiety and distress and contribute to your depression as well. Drink more water, sodas and even fruit drinks have sugar and preservatives that can drag you down and make you feel worse.
6. Avoid Nicotine
Nicotine is a stimulant so it will help me when I am depressed, right? No. It acts in the body much like caffeine. It can make you feel better for a short while, but in the long run, will only increase your depression. The stimulant in nicotine can increase your anxiety. Long term smoking will cause more upper respiratory health conditions and more free radicals in the body, causing the immune system to be weak, allowing for feelings of depression. Some people also feel depressed because they cannot quit smoking.
7. Meditation Helps
Meditation has been used for thousands of years to help with depression. There are ways to medite, including conscious breathing methods and creative thoughts.
8. Sleep
Sleep deprivation can cause depression and anxiety. Too much sleep can also contribute to depression and anxiety. The average adult needs between six and nine hours of sleep a night. Each individual has different needs, but this is a good guideline.
9. Lighten Up
Sitting or working in the dark will add to your depression. Natural light is better than artificial light too. So open the windows and shutters and replace small lights and light bulbs with bigger and brighter ones.
10. Adopt a Pet
If you possibly can, get a dog or cat. Companion animals provide great help to anyone suffering from depression. Studies have shown that by just stroking an animal can lower your blood pressure and calm you. So go visit your local humane society or pet store. Don't have space for a goat or a horse? Maybe a dog, cat, ferret, gerbil, hamster, goldfish, or even a hermit crab?
Spencer Hunt is a wellness consultant who has used glyconutritionals to help clients with Alzheimers, diabetes, Lupus, or to just have more energy
http://www.ifoundhealth.com. He has even worked with people with cancers such as Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer, and Skin Cancer (Non-melanoma).
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