Depression is a severe and unfortunately, common psychological disorder. According to recent statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 264 million people all over the world are affected by depression. Still, even though depression is such a massive problem, there is a serious lack of awareness about it.
Depression is quite different from day to day mood shifts and negative emotional responses. Especially when it lasts for a long time, and has a severe intensity, it can become extremely dangerous and concerning for our health.
Depression isn't only detrimental for your physical and psychological health, but it also has a diminishing effect on your productivity at work or at school. At its worst state, depression can even lead to suicide and self-harm.
Therefore, it is essential that some steps are taken to cope with depression. Today we are going to tell you how to counter depression and decrease its intensity so that you or any other loved one who has depression can get back to their happy and lively routine
Try cognitive behavioural therapy:
The most commonly used and effective treatment for depression is cognitive behavioural therapy. In this form of therapy, depression patients are taught how to curb negative thoughts. It also helps patients cope with their depression and pinpoint the actual reason behind it.
Though there are many ways like pharmaceutical antidepressants that can be used to counter the symptoms of depression, they are only a temporary solution. They can counter the symptoms of depression, but they won't fix the actual problem. Therefore, make an appointment with a skilled therapist if you are experiencing episodes of depression.
Eliminate stress:
Stress is a severe issue, and it is one of the leading causes of depression all over the world. It is normal to feel stressed every now and then, but if you start to stay stressed all the time, it can lead to several diseases, including depression.
Therefore, if you want to cope with depression, there is no place for stress in your life. You need to employ different stress countering techniques in your daily routine. One of the best natural ways to counter stress is using cannabis.
Cannabis is known for its exceptional medical benefits, and it is even legal in the US and Canada. If you want to learn more about cannabis and its medical benefits, you should check out the Cannabismo website.
Improve your sleep quality:
Sleep deprivation is one of the leading causes of stress and eventually, depression as well. If our mind does not get enough time to relax, we can start to feel severely stressed. And as we have stated before, unchecked stress leads to depression.
Therefore, you should ensure that you are getting the prescribed amount of sleep every day. According to experts, a minimum of six to eight hours of sleep is essential for an average human being, in every 24 hours.
Moreover, studies have shown that the best time to sleep is at night. You can get the best quality of sleep between ten PM and seven AM.
Follow a healthy diet plan:
Our diet is impactful on almost every aspect of our physical and psychological health. Studies have shown a connection between a healthy diet and mental health; in fact, nutritional psychiatry has become a quite common way for the treatment of several disorders, including depression.
Moreover, the deficiency of certain nutrients and minerals can increase the chances of depression. For instance, a study from 2012 showed that the deficiency of zinc could increase the symptoms of depression.
Furthermore, an unhealthy diet also increases stress, which is another major contributor to the development of depression, so make sure that you maintain a healthy diet, with all the essential nutrients and minerals.
Get out and enjoy nature:
Sometimes, stress and even depression are caused because of the major problems in your life. Therefore, it can be beneficial to get out of your hectic routine and go for a soothing walk in nature. Moreover, people affected by depression have a tough time leaving the house; therefore, a walk can be very beneficial for their treatment.
Try to enjoy the little things, like the chirping of birds, the cool breeze blowing through your hair, and the fresh air coursing through your lungs. This can have excellent effects on our mind and body.
As physical activity can also aid in treating depression, you can also go for a hike in the woods.
Create an effective support system:
If you are trying to fight depression, you must have a support system. For some people, their family and friends can provide the required support, but for a better effect, you should visit a depression support group.
You will be able to meet different people that have the same problems as you. These people can understand depression better than anybody else. Moreover, support groups also have recovered depression patients, who can give you the motivation required to beat your depression as well.
Learn more about depression:
Knowledge is power. Learning about your condition can also have several medical benefits when it comes to the treatment of your depression. Understanding the chemical changes that happen in your mind when you are depressed allows you to distant the disorder from your actual feelings. You are able to understand that the way you are feeling is only because of the chemical imbalance in your body, and this allows you to cope with the sadness, anger and lack of self-worth
Therefore, read some posts and articles about depression and its treatments.
Spend more time with your loved ones:
Spending time with your loved ones and family members can be quite beneficial when it comes to the treatment of depression. They can give you the required emotional support, and you can share your problems with them as well.
Simply talking to a friend can be beneficial in countering momentary and mild depression, but in severe cases, visiting a trained therapist is the best course of action.
Lastly, I understand that most of these ways to counter depression are easier said than done. Depression can have a very adverse effect on a person's life; in fact, in some cases, it can even get difficult to leave the bed. But if you make some effort and try to follow the tips in this post, you will be able to get satisfactory relief from depression.
Isreal olabanji a dental assistant and public health professionals and has years of experience in assisting the dentist with all sorts of dental issues.
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