What You Did Not Already Know About Depression
What You Did Not Already Know About Depression
Do you or someone you know suffer from depression? Hopefully not, but the odds are good that all of us will be touched by depression at some point in our lives. There are things you can do to help. This article is intended to provide some tips for dealing with this serious problem.
Change your negative patterns of thinking and focus on positive thinking. If negative thoughts about yourself have crept into your head, think about whether or not you would actually say that to someone else. If you wouldn't, then you are being too hard on yourself. Attempt to reframe thoughts of this nature. Transform them into constructive, realistic statements that assist you in solving the problem.
A warm bath can be a soothing experience if you're feeling depressed. A nice soak with a beloved book or a favorite album on the stereo will elevate your spirits. Use a higher temperature of water in the bath if possible, as hotter water relaxes your muscles more.
If you know what's making you depressed, you have to work on changing things around in your life. For example, if you think you're out of shape you can fix it. Develop an exercise plan that will get you moving again.
To help you conquer your depression it is vital that you learn to develop a positive attitude and change the way you think. Research has shown that negative thinking plays a huge role in depression. Depressed people minimize their successes and accomplishments and, instead, focus on their failures and sorrows. The key to happiness is loving life in the face of suffering.
Turn off the TV, especially the news. The media is notorious for focusing on all the bad in the world, only relying on happy stories when they have extra time they need fluffed out. Take a break from the ills in the world that you can do nothing about; they will only bring your mood further down.
Get the proper amount of sleep each night. Many adults can live off of only a few hours of sleep, but people dealing with depression need to sleep for the recommended amount of about nine hours each night. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day so you do not mess up your internal sleep clock.
See your doctor. Not only is depression a real disease on its own, it can also be a symptom of other underlying illnesses. Only your doctor will be able to tell you what type of depression you are suffering from or if your symptoms are caused by another ailment. In addition, while many forms of depression can be treated without medication, it can also be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain necessitating the use of medication for effective treatment.
For too long, our society has stigmatized mood disorders, and people have gone without treatment. Increasingly we can discuss these matters openly. With that change comes the opportunity to learn from each others' experiences and use advice, such as that found in this article, to make the lives of depression sufferers and their loved ones a little easier.