“Depression is the inability to construct a future”
Depression drains your energy and makes it difficult to do what you need to do in order to feel better.
The key to recovering from depression is doing things that make you happy. Below are a few helpful tips that will guide you on a successful road to recovery:
#1 Develop Supportive Relationships:
Turn to family and friends. Inform then on what you are going through therefore you will have support from those who matter most to you.
Remain socialized. Oftentimes when someone is depressed, they will withdraw themselves from the rest of the world. However, if you go out with friends and do enjoyable things, it will bring happiness to you.
Join a support group for depression. Being around others who are dealing with the same thing as you can be comforting. Finding a support group where you can discuss feelings and know you are not being judged can essentially help you during the recovery phase.
#2 Take Care of Yourself:
Get eight hours of sleep. Depression typically involves sleep problems. Whether you’re sleeping too little or too much, your mood suffers.
Get fresh air on a daily basis. Lack of sunlight can make depression worse. Make sure you step outside every day even if it is for just a 15 minute walk.
Practice relaxation techniques. There are a number of gyms that offer yoga and other relaxation techniques. This will help reduce any anxiety you may be feeling.
#3 Exercise Regularly: Exercising is the least expensive cure for depression. Studies show that regular exercise can be as effective as antidepressant medication at increasing energy levels and decreasing feelings of fatigue.
#4 Eat Healthy:
Don’t skip meals. Going too long between meals can make you feel irritable and tired, so aim to eat something at least every three to four hours.
Minimize sugar and carbs. You may crave sugary snacks, backed good, or comfort foods such as pasta or french fries, but these “feel-good” foods quickly lead to a crash in mood and energy.
Focus on complex carbohydrates. Foods such as baked potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, oatmeal, and whole grain breads can boost serotonin levels without a crash.
Try super-foods rich in nutrients that can boost mood, such as bananas, brown rice, and spinach.
#5 Know when to get Additional Help: If you notice that your level of depression has begun to increase yet again, it is important that you seek additional help. Remain in therapy and/or on medication until you can fully cope with depression.
GenPsych, P.C., provider of top quality outpatient psychiatric and substance abuse services, stresses the importance of a healthy lifestyle. GenPsych offers a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program which is a structured therapeutic treatment that emphasizes balance between acceptance and change. DBT helps reduce impulsive behaviors, such as suicidality, self-harm, substance abuse, eating disordered behavior, aggression, isolation, rumination, dissociation, anxiety, depression and panic attacks.
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