7 Tips for Overcoming Depression

Depression can remove you from your life. It steals your happiness and the love you feel for hobbies and interests. Depression robs you of your relationships and places a strain on your job. The good news is that you were not created to live depressed. There are ways you can beat depression. Overcoming depression is possible. Start by trying a few of the suggestions listed below.

What is depression?

Depression is a persistent sadness. Unlike the occasional sadness and disappointment one may feel, someone struggling with depression may not know why they feel that way. It could be that they are processing grief, have experienced a life change, have a brain chemical imbalance, or are genetically predisposed toward depression.

Seeking help from a counselor may be precisely what you need to get to the root of your depression. A counselor can teach you psychological techniques and skills. Overcoming depression starts with making a few lifestyle changes.

7 Tips for Overcoming Depression

The following are tips for lifestyle tweaks you can start today for overcoming depression. Try each one and take note of how you feel. You may need to practice one daily for a few weeks to notice a significant difference. Some activities may make you feel better right away.

If you want more ideas, consider asking a counselor for suggestions. Lifestyle adjustments are often the easiest and least expensive ways to beat depression in the long run. Often, focusing on getting healthy from the inside out relieves depression symptoms.

Go outside

In the busy, hectic world of technological devices, we often need to remember to go outside and enjoy nature. Getting sunshine and vitamin D can boost our mood. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for mood, cognition, and memory. Sunshine triggers serotonin in the brain. Try eating lunch outside or walking around the block a few days a week.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and stimulants

Certain foods and substances affect the central nervous system and can exacerbate depression. Cut back on stimulants such as caffeine, processed foods, fast foods, and added sugars. Limit alcohol use to occasional drinks. Choose natural sweeteners instead of artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, which can block serotonin production.

Prioritize sleep

Depression can impact the quality of your sleep, yet getting enough restful sleep is paramount in reducing chronic stress and lifting depression. Try creating a nighttime routine to send a signal to your brain that it is time for bed. Turn off devices, including television, at least an hour or two before bed.

Take a walk

Exercise releases endorphins that make you happier and on top of the world. Daily activity also strengthens bones, improves the cardiorespiratory system, improves body image and confidence, and reduces stress. Try walking thirty minutes a day, five days a week, to reach the recommended one-hundred fifty minutes per week of daily exercise for heart health.

Try goal setting

Focusing on your future plans can help to pull you out of depression. By setting goals and implementing tasks to reach milestones, you learn to celebrate accomplishments. You can focus on present tasks that draw you closer to your goals. List ten goals in different areas of your life, and then choose two that you want to focus on first. Next, list the steps and tasks you need to take to reach those goals.

Find a good book

If worries have your mind tied into knots, and you love to read, ask for recommendations in a genre you like. Depression can take our interest away from enjoyable activities. Finding a great book to immerse yourself in takes your mind off problems and allows your creativity and imagination to flow.

Care for a pet

Caring for a pet is different than caring for another human. There is something calming and comforting about caring for an animal. Pets also display unconditional love and companionship. Consider adopting a pet from a local shelter based on your lifestyle and situation. For example, if you work longer hours, consider a cat. If you work from home, a dog may be your perfect companion.

Find a Christian counselor to help

A Christian counselor will take a faith-based approach to help you with overcoming depression. After the initial assessment, your counselor will walk you through techniques and skills you can try. It will be like having mini homework sessions each week. As you try a new method, behavior, or way of thinking, you will report the experience to your counselor at your next session to discuss what worked and what did not.

Your counselor will become your biggest cheerleader in overcoming depression. Contact us today to get started.