Depression Archives - Clear Heart Counseling

Depression is one of those mental health conditions that can severely impact one’s quality of life. While each person suffering from it notes different symptoms, overcoming it is almost universally a challenge. However, with the right approach, you can start to see a change in how this illness impacts your life.

Below are some of the tips you can implement when it comes to dealing with depression. Keep these suggestions in mind while moving forward with a treatment plan. They are all changes you can start applying right now.

1) List and Face Your Fears

Try writing out a list of some of the fears you have and face them head on. Few people do, and that is one of the reasons their depression starts to take over.

Don’t try to do this too quickly though. You want to start listing these underlying fears and handling them one by one. Take your time. This process is how you are going to get healthier in the long-run.

2) Start Exercising

Become active. Leading a lethargic lifestyle is a major no-no. You want to get moving because it helps stay healthy both physically and mentally, and ensures the body feels in prime condition year-round.

You don’t have to train like an athlete but even something as simple as biking for 20 minutes a day is an excellent start, and much more than most people do. You may be surprised to what degree exercise can alleviate depression symptoms.

3) Keep in Touch With Family or Friends

A common decision made by those suffering from depression is to withdraw. Doing so may only lead you further into the bad place you’re already in mentally.

Pulling away from your loved ones is a mistake you have to avoid. Look to stay in contact with those around. Talk to them. Go out with them. As time goes on, these activities are going to make a real difference.

4) Eat a Healthy Diet

What do you eat on a regular basis? This is something depression patients don’t ask as much as they should. You want to eat a healthy diet and make sure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs. Eating poorly can have significant impact on and worsen your symptoms

It is best to sit down with a nutritionist to see if a resolute diet plan can be built for your needs. In every aspect, doing so will be a major help in the long-term. For more information on proper nutrition that can help with depression go to https://www.foodforthebrain.org/.

5) Avoid Alcohol and Drugs

Are you consuming a lot of alcohol on a daily basis? Think about what you put into your body. The same applies to drugs. Both can severely impact and ruin your state of mind.

With depression, you don’t want to start using stimulants. They can cause your brain to respond to situations much differently, and not always in a good way. Though safer, the same applies to supplements or nootropics. Proceed with caution. If at all possible, avoid everything altogether unless advised otherwise by your doctor.

Depression is one of those things that is going to linger if you don’t fight back. You want to think about these tips and ensure you are considering them while building a lifelong plan to combat this debilitating mental illness.

Yes, it is not going to be easy, and you might not be able to get through all of these suggestions immediately, but it’s about chipping away one by one. The more you work on this, the better you are going to feel as time goes on. You will notice the symptoms dissipate and that is the goal at the end of the day. You just need to take that first step. For even more information on steps you can take to help manage your depression visit https://adaa.org/.

Anyone who has suffered from some form of mental health will know how bad it can be. Those who have been lucky enough not to have had any mental health issues will struggle to understand the problem. Additionally, mental health is as varied and diverse as anything can get.

Similarly, mental health-related problems can be brought on by a myriad of causes. Traumatic accidents, emotional abuse, substance abuse, congenital disabilities, genetics, and much more can be at the root of some peoples’ problems.

Mental health problems can manifest in many ways. Depression is among the most common. Worryingly, depression is thought only to be diagnosed in 25% of those who see their doctor. This means millions of people are battling depression and they may not even know it.

Depression, like many other mental health problems, is more than just one or a particular set of symptoms. Depression can result in opposites in the mood. For example, suffers can be overly happy and ecstatic (manic) and then suddenly down in the dumps and gloomy (depressed). Anger outburst disproportionate to the cause can also be a tell tale sign.

Anxiety, nervousness, feelings of guilt, social anxiety, and much more can all be symptoms of depression. This is what makes it so hard to identify in some cases. The biggest misconception is that depressed people are miserable and unhappy all the time. This simply is not the case, and the general public needs to take careful note of this.

Undiagnosed depression is thought to be the leading cause of suicide between the ages of 18 and 31 in the United States of America. Unfortunately, there seems to be a stigma associated with going on ‘the happy pills.’ This reference is a terrible misnomer if we ever did see one. They are simply not designed to make you happy.

They are intended to correct a chemical imbalance in the brain that affects neurotransmitters. When these chemicals aren’t present, your brain will not transmit messages as useful as it needs to. This results in abnormal mood patterns and brain dysfunction.

Left untreated, this type of dysfunction can cause lasting damage to the brain. But, in most cases, it is entirely reversible following treatment with antidepressants. Imagine you own a car. Everything is fine with it except the engine misfires every once in a while. You take it to the garage, and you’re told the spark plugs are dirty. Once you clean the spark plugs, does the fuel burns better and your car runs like a charm.

This car example is kind of like your brain. When you’re depressed, electrical impulses aren’t being transmitted correctly, making you sad, anxious, angry. Taking medication corrects this, restoring the spark plug/your brain to former glory.