There are millions of people suffering from depression in the United States that could benefit from learning how to fight depression. There are ways both medicinal, therapeutic and holistic that can help with how to fight depression. Keep reading to learn more.
Depression is a serious mental illness that can cause both emotional and physical pain to the millions of children, teens and adults that suffer from depression. There are many ways to go about learning how to fight depression, however. Generally using a combination of therapies and other medicinal approaches are often the best ways to help individuals learn how to fight depression. Unfortunately only about 20 percent of individuals suffering from depression actually ever seek professional help. Most individuals with depression may not even realize they have it or if they do, they don’t want to deal with it or talk about it. Fortunately there are other ways individuals that have depression can learn how to fight depression without necessarily having to seek professional help. However, it is also important to keep in mind that professional help combined with self-initiative are the best ways to effectively deal with depression. Most importantly, depression will not go away on it’s own. It needs to be addressed or will likely become worse. Continue reading this article to learn the most effective ways you can learn how to fight depression:
Therapy:
First, therapy or therapeutic treatments are often the most commonly used methods in treating depression. Trained therapists or psychologists will work with patients to help establish the emotional turmoil the individual is struggling with that might be causing the depression. For many, it is being unable to cope with certain life struggles or tragedies like death, divorce, poor self-esteem and other emotional issues. Learning to work through these struggles, accept them and move on is all part of treating depression.
Antidepressants and Herbal Remedies:
Some individuals will find success in treating their depression by taking depression medications or herbal remedies that are designed to help alleviate many of the troubles a depressed person struggles with like anxiety and prolonged feelings of sadness. However, these medications do not work for everyone, and cannot be taken with all other medications, so it is important to talk to your health care provider about this option to find out if it is right for you and your emotional needs.
Exercise:
Research shows that those who exercise and release those endorphins and other hormones during exercise are more likely to be happy. It is easier to fight off the stagnation of depression when the individual is working out as a distraction and is more likely to feel better about themselves. Getting regular aerobic exercise, practicing yoga or Pilates and making an active effort to work out is a great way to fight depression. Yoga and other similar workouts can help those individuals deal with stress, which can contribute to depression. Working out and feeling good through aerobics is also a great practice to engage in at least three times a week for an hour per day to help fight depression.
Proper Nutrition:
Like working out, getting proper nutrients through the foods and liquids you ingest is another way you can go about fighting depression. Getting a balanced diet also helps balance your hormones and keep your weight under control. Taking control over these two aspects of your life is a great way to learn how to fight depression.
Write It Down:
As a method of self-therapy, try writing down your feels and don’t bottle them up. Make a list of what makes you happy about your life and try to focus on the positive. This is a great way to get your sadness and other harmful feelings off your chest and analyze the situation. You might just realize things aren’t as bad as they seem. Keeping a regular journal is also a good way to ensure your thoughts are not bottled up or expressed.
Don’t Bottle Up Your Feelings:
Like with a journal, it is a good idea to get your feelings out. If writing it down doesn’t work, or if you need another outlet, find a strong support system to lean on. Talk to your family, friends or even a professional about your feelings. Sometimes all it takes is to get it off your chest to find that you will be able to better combat your feelings of depression.
Express Your Creativity:
Find ways to express yourself. You might be more creative than you realize. Examine your artistic capabilities. Try writing, singing, song-writing, instrument playing, painting, drawing, sculpting and more. There are tons of ways to express yourself artistically. Find what works for you and do it.
Focus on the Positive:
Try your hardest to focus on the positive. Try writing down all the good things about your life and focus on those. Put them down on a piece of paper and put them in a location that you will see often. When you are feeling down, read the list and remind yourself about the good things you have going in your life. Staying positive can be tough when you are suffering from depression, but trying is a good way to learn how to fight depression.
Source: kidshealth.org