7 Tips to Deal with Depression and Sadness
By Keith J Myers
Without mental health, there is no health. Over the past few years, more and more people are suffering from depression. Roughly 1-5 Americans suffer from major depression at some point in their lives. Depression is different from only feeling unhappy; it can be debilitating.
The root of unhappiness can be from not getting the job you always wanted or being rejected by someone you loved. Depression, on the other hand, is very pervasive, and it feels like you’re trapped in a black tunnel with no light.
When you’re depressed, all hope is gone, and rather than enjoy the things you used to do; they become more like chores. People who are depressed can’t just snap out of it, not even winning a lottery can make them feel better. Hence, it’s never okay to tell someone who is depressed just to pull themselves together.
Though it’s not easy to overcome depression and sadness, there are ways we can initiate to help us get closer to the goal.
1. Avoid Negative Talk
Someone who is stuck in depression or sadness tends to feel like everything is not working out for them. This idea is then propelled further by negative talk, and so you continue to see the world negatively. You blame yourself whenever things go wrong, and you put it down to luck whenever they go right.
Depression and sadness tend to reinforce feelings of worthlessness and self-doubt. To get yourself slowly out of this state, you need to monitor these negative talks and get a hold of them before they consume you. Whenever you start to think negatively, remind yourself that you’re feeling like a depressed person and not a healthy, happy person.
Hence, when you’re feeling low, avoid taking your thoughts too seriously. It’s okay to acknowledge these thoughts but keep your perspective not to believe them.
2. Practice Mindfulness
When you’re depressed, you tend to mull over everything that is going wrong in your life, which leads to unnecessary worrying about other negative possibilities you expect to happen in the future. Unfortunately, this only reinforces your misery rather than helps you manage or overcome depression.
By being mindful, you divert your attention to what is happening in the present moment. Your brain is full of thoughts, which makes focusing on the present seem unnatural; however, the more you practice mindfulness, the easier it gets to focus on what happens now.
Practice engaging your senses like taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound at the moment, and you will find that you have less time to worry.
3. Connect with Friends and Family
Though the last thing you want to do is hang out with family and friends when you’re feeling depressed, it can be one of the most rewarding activities. Though isolating yourself from others seems like a good idea, force yourself to go out, and it will have a positive effect on your mood.
4. Listen to Upbeat Music
There is a reason they say ‘music is good for the soul‘, because it is. You can create a more positive vibe and instantly change an atmosphere with an upbeat tune. Happy, upbeat music alters your brain chemistry to improve your mood.
5. Distract Yourself
Do whatever it takes to distract yourself from escaping your thoughts. Read a book, finish a puzzle, go for a walk, or play with a pet, do whatever it takes to keep your mind from overthinking because your thoughts are your enemies when you’re depressed.
6. Exercise
Exercise helps you overcome depression by releasing endorphins that help improve your natural immunity and mood. Exercise will lift your moods, boost your self-esteem, as well as lower your blood pressure, and protect you against heart disease.
7. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep and mood are connected; hence sleeping while depressed can be difficult. However, the lack of enough sleep causes stress and irritability. Any form of sleep deprivation, even partial, will significantly affect your mood.
For your well-being, take the necessary steps to help you get adequate sleep to help improve your mood. The quality of your sleep will affect how you wake up, your productivity, mental sharpness, creativity, emotional balance, physical vitality, and weight.
Quality sleep will deliver massive benefits with so little effort, all you need to do is do whatever it takes to help you sleep like exercising, having a routine before bedtime.
Author Bio
Keith J Myers is the Founder & Editor in Chief of the Hempire. He has overseen and directed the editorial growth and skill of this website since 2012. Before creating the Hempire, Keith was a writer and editor who covered topics in CBD, health, science, and wellness
His personal commitment to helping people naturally and safely improve their health has driven the Hempire to commit to quality and consumer transparency.
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect all or some of our beliefs and policy. Any links on this page does not necessarily mean they have been endorsed by Defying Mental Illness.
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