Depression Is Real And It Is Time To Address It

What Is Depression?

Depression is a major depressive disorder that is real and common and it negatively affects the way you feel, think, and act. There is one thing good to know about this disease that it is curable. Depression brings sadness and you start losing interest in the things once enjoyed by you. It can attract a number of mental and physical problems and can majorly affect a person’s ability to perform at work or at home.

Some common symptoms of depression can include:

• Feeling upset/sad or depressed mood
• Loss of interest in the things once enjoyed
• Changes in your appetite
• Weight loss or gain without following any special diet
• Disturbed sleep or sleeping a lot
• Lack of energy or fatigue
• Slower movements and speech
• Feeling of unworthiness, guilty or hopelessness
• Difficulty in taking decisions or concentration
• Suicidal thoughts

How To Address Depression?

It is always hard to take the first step, but going out for a walk or dancing on your favorite numbers is something that you can do right away. Also, it can help to boost up your mood and energy for some time which is enough for you to prepare yourself for the second step, like cooking your favorite meal or getting ready to meet your close friend. You can do the heavy lifting of the depression disorder by taking such small steps and you will find yourself positive, happy, and healthy again.

1. Reach out to your closed ones and stay connected
   Getting support from your loved ones helps in overcoming depression. Do not feel exhausted with talking, ashamed of your situation or guilty because this is not you, it is just the depression. Staying connected to your family and friends can make you feel better and reaching out to people for help is not a sign of weakness.
2. Do things that make you happy
   To overcome depression, you need to do things that rejuvenate you. It is an undeniable fact that you can’t force yourself to have fun especially when you are already depressed. However, you can push yourself to perform things even if you don’t enjoy the same. It may not immediately lift your mood up, but gradually you will start feeling energetic by doing the same.
3. Keep moving
   Depression can make it difficult for you to get out of the bed, let working out keep aside. But exercise or workout is a powerful weapon to fight against depression. Research says that regular exercise can be equally effective as medications are for treating the symptoms of depression.
4. Eat healthy meals
   Whatever you eat directly impacts your feeling. You should avoid including any foods to the meal that can affect your mood and your brain, such as caffeine, alcohol, highly preserved foods, or trans fats. You have to eat healthy foods and the best supplement for workout or exercise after consulting doctor.
5. Get your daily dose of sunlight
   Getting your daily dose of sunlight can boost your serotonin levels and helps to improve your mood. You should daily expose your body to sunlight, at least for 15 minutes. Take off your sunglasses and use sunscreen, when it is required.
6. Challenge your negative thoughts
   Do you feel that your energy is drained? It happens and you can’t do much about it and this situation is known as hopelessness. Depression fuels your negative thoughts and when such thoughts strike your mind, you need to understand that these are the symptoms of depression and these can be taken care of. It would be difficult to break the shell, as it is a long process. You need to gradually replace your negative thoughts with the positive ones.

When To See A Doctor?

If you have made some positive changes in your lifestyle and still your depression is getting worse, then you should visit a doctor. Getting medical help doesn’t mean that you are weak. Sometimes depression can make you feel worthless, but remember that it can be treated and you can feel good.