Ways Of Coping With Depression

Depression is something that a lot of people go through particularly when experiencing a tragic or traumatic event in their life. Oftentimes, when the trigger passes, the person recovers and is able to go back to their regular routine.

Coping Strategies for Depression

However, if this feeling of extreme sadness persists for no apparent reason, they may be dealing with a serious psychological disorder and will have to seek professional help for coping with depression.

Are You Dealing with Depression or Just Feeling Down?

There are several symptoms that can help distinguish normal sadness from full-blown depression, however, the signs may be quite difficult to notice. Therefore, if you suspect that you may be suffering from some form of depression, or some other mental or psychological issue for that matter, it would be most advisable to consult with a doctor right away in order to get an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment.

 

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Signs and Symptoms of Depression

  • A feeling of losing control of your life.
  • A feeling of being insignificant to the rest of the world.
  • Thinking that you are unimportant to the people around you.
  • Inability to make simple decisions.
  • Lack of interest in activities you used to find enjoyable.
  • Constant embarrassment.
  • Chronic bouts of crying.
  • Avoiding social interactions as much as possible.
  • Lack of interest in one’s health.
  • Boredom with previously enjoyed hobbies.
  • Being antisocial.
  • Preference for isolation.
  • Refusal to interact with family members.
  • A feeling of being misunderstood.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Irregular sleeping patterns.
  • Overall lack of energy

If you find yourself experiencing even a couple of these listed symptoms for a period of 2 weeks or more, then it can be a sign that you are suffering from some form of clinical depression. As you can see, while this disorder is psychological in nature, it can also affect the physical and social aspects of your life as well, especially when left untreated.

Coping Strategies for Depression and Anxiety

While some of the strategies cannot replace the care of a doctor or the relief of some natural depression supplements, these steps are ones you can begin right away.

  • The first step in coping with depression is to make sure you spend some time every single day doing something fun. Laughter helps to loosen the tight bands of stress in the body and can help you relax. Whatever it is that you find joy in doing, seek that out.
  • When you have situations or people in your life who trigger your depression or anxiety, then you should avoid them if you can. Surround yourself with people who see the positive side of life and can laugh about the irritations rather than people who get down about them. Spend time with ‘glass half full’ kind of people.
  • It’s true that if you’re in the company of people who are down and full of negativity, it won’t be long before that negativity transfers to you. The same works with being around people who have a zest for life-you’ll pick up on their zest and it can help to calm anxiety.
  • One of the best coping strategies for depression is to exercise every day. Exercise promotes the release of endorphins. Endorphins have been called the body’s way of combating pain. They’re chemicals that can reduce pain within the body. So as you exercise, your body releases this chemical and you feel better.

Exercising outdoors, especially walking, can help to calm fear and stress and it improves how you view yourself as well. You’ll gain muscle tone, lose inches and your self esteem will rise. Low self-esteem is a common factor in people who struggle with anxiety.

Exercise doesn’t have to mean joining an expensive gym or working out with weights. You can simply take a walk around your neighborhood.

For a lot of people, exercise isn’t something they enjoy the thought of doing. But you can turn any activity into a form of exercise. Decide what it is you enjoy doing and add it to your schedule as if you were making an appointment.

Consider it mental therapy that relieves your mind of stress. Some coping strategies for depression are simple to enact. Get enough sleep. Being tired and overwhelmed can lead to anxiety. When you feel tired and overwhelmed, sometimes the best thing you can do for your body is to take a good night’s sleep or nap. Your body heals while resting.

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About Jennifer Johnson

I suffered with social anxiety and stress for years. I discovered what my triggers were and learned to control them. Hopefully some of the natural anxiety relief techniques I have tried, will also be your solution.

Comments

  1. I have learned of some good techniques for dealing with depression. I am not saying that these things work for everyone, but they help me.

    One of the most important things I think you can do when dealing with depression is build a strong support system around yourself. Having family members and friends who understand what you are going through and can be there for you when you are really down is critical to dealing with depression effectively. I have seen people who suffer from depression, but when they have strong support systems, they nearly always do better than those who do not.

    Another thing that I recommend is to try to force yourself to get out and around people. I have found that being around people who are happy and upbeat can be infectious. Then there is also the fact that just seeing people happy is often reassuring.

    I also always try to convince people who are dealing with depression to keep up appearances. By that, I mean for them to make sure that they are generally taking pride in their appearance and keeping their dignity intact. This helps, because it makes them feel like a normal, functioning person who is acting in keeping with the way that other normal people do. It may sound strange, but I have often found that if you look the part, you feel and act the part.

    These have been some of the good exercises for dealing with depression that I have experienced in my lifetime. I am not saying that these things will work for everyone, but it never hurts to try them, and it could be the answer to your prayers. Whether you are the person who has the depression or are just trying to help a loved one get through it, it never hurts to try some of these things.

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