Depressed? Here Is Some Advice That May Help
If you feel that you may have become depressed or are unable to get out of a perpetually bad or sad mood, this article will try to give you some tips on how you can deal with your situation and maybe, put yourself in a better state of mind.
Don't just accept depressive thinking. If you are suffering from negative self-talk then consider whether you would be equally negative if you were thinking about another person instead. If you say no, then you're being unfair to yourself. How can you fix the problem?
If you are opposed to taking prescription medications for depression, try St. John's Wort. This natural, herbal remedy for depression can be very effective. It works in much the same way as Prozac by increasing the availability of mid-brain serotonin. This helps elevate your mood and alleviate your feelings of sorrow.
Examine your life. If you are unhappy because you feel like you are being walked on, focus on becoming more assertive. If you find yourself assuming people are thinking badly of you, remind yourself that you are not a mind-reader and that you have no basis for that belief. Keep it light and humorous, as you cannot battle negative thoughts with more negativity.
Have realistic expectations. Often depressed people fixate on some unrealistic goal that they believe will cure their depression. For some it is money, for others it may be longing for an idealistic Mr. or Miss. "Right" to spend the rest of their life with. While having a goal is good, keep it realistic. Instead of being unhappy with your current job and longing to win the lottery, take college courses or a vocational program to increase your income potential. If you are lonely, get out and get involved with activities you enjoy. Even if you don't meet someone, you will have fun; and if you do meet someone, they are much more likely to have similar interests to you unlike a random stranger in a bar.
Go on a long walk to enjoy nature. Sometimes a change of scenery can help us appreciate life. Watch the animals leading their lives. Pay attention to the small details and try to find the beauty in nature. Breathe in the fresh air, relax, and let your mind wander as you walk.
A beneficial tip for anyone facing depression is to intentionally take a break from feelings of anger or sadness in order to stop and consider all of the positive things in your life. By taking stock of the good things with which you have been blessed, you can shift the focus away from your troubles and lift yourself out of your depression - at least temporarily.
Never apply the crazy label to yourself. First of all it is completely inaccurate but secondly it will only cause you to fall further and further into a state of despair. Avoid giving yourself any labels at all and try your best to just focus on being the best you possibly read more can.
Smile at yourself in the mirror even if you are feeling depressed. The simple act of smiling can actually make you feel happier. You can also try laughing hysterically in a ridiculously fake laugh. After a while, that fake smile or fake laugh might turn into a real one once you start to feel silly enough about what you are doing.
See your doctor. Not only is depression a real disease on its own, it can also be a symptom of other underlying illnesses. Only your doctor will be able to tell you what type of depression you are suffering from or if your symptoms are caused by another ailment. In addition, while many forms of depression can be treated without medication, it can also be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain necessitating the use of medication for effective treatment.
If you are feeling depressed during the day try to stop what you are doing and go for a quick walk in the sun. Sunlight helps your body to release some chemicals that actually make you feel much happier. This is also true for people who are naturally depressed.
A great tip that can help you beat depression, is to simply realize that depression doesn't last forever. It only lasts for a period of time. If you remind yourself of this, you can look through the fog to see the light. You have to realize that things will get better.
When you depression is getting the best of you, think of how much worse it can be. There are people in the world who are homeless or without food. Thinking of how worse your situation can be will make you grateful for what you have, thus reducing your depression symptoms.
Focus on positive friends and family when battling depression. Being around those who are upbeat will prevent you from feeling depressed. Being around positive people can boost your mood and lift your spirits.
A great tip that can help you get out of your depression is to start forgiving people who have wronged you. Carrying around grudges and ill will only fuels negativity. Learn to let it all go and move on. You might find yourself feeling better in no time.
As you can see from the advice in the article above it is better to get started with some good advice and deal with the problems of depression than to pretend you are too busy to get started now. Using these common sense ideas can help to make you feel proud that you are moving in the right direction.
YOUR HEALTH: Stimulate your depression
Treatments include counseling, medications, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS, to stimulate the mood-regulating parts of the brain.
"Not all patients respond to the medication or to the neuromodulation," explained Dr. Francisco Romo-Nava, a physician scientist at the University of Cincinnati's Lindner Center of HOPE.
Dr. Romo-Nava and his colleagues are studying a new way to treat mental health disorders.
The neuroscientists are testing a device that delivers stimulation to a patient's spine.
Dr. Romo-Nava says the stimulation will improve the feedback in the central nervous system that is sometimes disrupted when a person has a psychiatric disorder.
For now, patients undergo spinal stimulation for 20 minutes, three times a week, for eight weeks.
"The kind of stimulation that we use is very well tolerated," he explained.
"The most frequent description is like a tingling sensation
Researchers say this stimulation therapy could be the first step to developing better treatment for some patients.
Dr. Romo-Nava was granted a patent for the stimulation method that utilizes transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
He says his research team is trying to determine how often, and how long, patients should undergo the stimulation for the best results.
Between 80% and 90% of people with depression respond well to treatment, and almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.
A new form of magnetic brain stimulation relieved symptoms of severe depression in 90% of participants in a study conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
The researchers are conducting a larger, double-blinded trial in which half the participants are receiving fake treatment and are optimistic it will prove to be similarly effective in treating people whose condition hasn't improved with medication, talk therapy, or other forms of electromagnetic stimulation.