You can be happy one day to being depressed, and it seems to happen in no time at all. Depression can be triggered quickly. Whether or not you allow depression to rule your life, is entirely up to you. Here are some tips to help you keep depression from overwhelming you.
One way to deal with depression is to “fake it till you make it”. This means to act, walk, talk, and eat as if you were not depressed. If nothing else, faking it will mean that other things in your life are not neglected while you are depressed. At best, the behaviors will help re-route your brain and actually help cure your depression.
Have realistic expectations. Often depressed people fixate on some unrealistic goal that they believe will cure their depression. For some it is money, for others it may be longing for an idealistic Mr. or Miss. “Right” to spend the rest of their life with. While having a goal is good, keep it realistic. Instead of being unhappy with your current job and longing to win the lottery, take college courses or a vocational program to increase your income potential. If you are lonely, get out and get involved with activities you enjoy. Even if you don’t meet someone, you will have fun; and if you do meet someone, they are much more likely to have similar interests to you unlike a random stranger in a bar.
Getting an appropriate amount of sleep is also another great way to battle depression. Clinical studies have very reliably shown that both those who over sleep and those that under sleep are more prone to experience clinical depression. If you can, you should have a set sleep schedule which allows for seven or eight hours of sleep.
While hearing music can help you if you suffer with depression, making it can really do a world of good! This holds true for any art form. When you are involved in the creative process you can deal with troubling issues easier.
Drink plenty of water. Everyone knows that plenty of water is essential to body health, however, it is also crucial to mental health. Having a good and positive attitude is physically more difficult when you are dehydrated. Dehydration can cause your brain to begin to shut down, causing even a normally happy person to become down.
It is important not to take your frustrations out on those around you when you have depression. Many times, people are just so unhappy that they bring others around them down as well by the way they treat them. Instead, let your loved ones know how much you appreicate their support.
Come up with a positive phrase that you can repeat to yourself whenever you start to feel depressed. You need to combat the negative thoughts by drowning them out with positive thoughts. Even if you do not believe your mantra, it will still help. You need to avoid letting the negative feelings take over. Say your phrase throughout the day, and eventually your mind will start to think it is true.
If you are mildly depressed or think that you “have the blues” the worst thing you can do is sit at home and think about it. Get out there and have some fun. Find a group to join or a new activity that seems interesting to you.
Do not allow depression to control you. Time is precious don’t waste it feeling gloomy and alone. Right after going through this advice, you need to make sure you put these things to good use so you can get through your depression right away.