5 things you can do today to improve the symptoms of depression
Depression is a condition that can alter your life in many ways. If you are suffering with depression you may have realised that it can feel like the joy has been sucked out of life. You may notice that you don’t enjoy things that you used to like before, people and conversations fail to impress, and you feel withdrawn. In this article, we share 5 things you can do to improve the symptoms of depression, so you can get back enjoying the life you deserve.
Depression: What is it and how to know if I have it?
Before learning what you can do to improve your depression, understanding more about the condition itself can be helpful. You see, on the surface, depression may seem quite similar to sadness. This is because the symptoms of depression are often closely related to those of sadness, but in reality, it is much more serious. Depression is a mental health disorder that impacts your ability to act, feel and think. It is chronic in nature, meaning the sadness is persistent which may impact your daily life.
How do you know if you are depressed?
It will likely come as no surprise to learn that depression has a multifaceted effect on the body. Whether it is emotional wellbeing, physical health or cognitive functioning, depression takes a toll on all aspects of your health. Do you think you or your loved one could be suffering from depression? Let’s take a look at the symptoms to look out for below:
Emotional symptoms
Cognitive symptoms
While these symptoms are not absolute and may indicate presence of some other health issues as well, if you experience any of the above, visiting a mental health professional for an accurate diagnosis is a practical first step to feeling better.
5 things you can do today to improve the symptoms of depression
Now that we have a clear understanding of what depression actually is, how it looks in real life, and how to detect its presence, let us share a list of five things that you can do today, to improve the symptoms of depression.
1. Get moving
2. Eliminate or cut back on substances that have a negative impact on mental health
Another helpful way to improve the symptoms of depression without medication is to reduce dependency on substances like alcohol, cigarettes and recreational drugs. It will come as no surprise that all these items are not just detrimental for your overall wellbeing, but also harm your mental health in more ways than one, with depression being one of the leading consequences.
3. Journalling and self expression
In addition to the above, many people have found journaling a helpful tool in their journey to beating depression. Journalling can help you to put words to your feelings, providing clarity of thought which can further calm your mind. Whether it is a small paragraph, just one single line or a full-blown essay, a journal is a safe space where you can freely express yourself and your emotions without being judged by anyone. However, if journaling isn’t your thing, finding alternate ways to express your emotions can also be helpful. Whether this is by talking to loved ones, exploring hobbies such as painting, dancing, cooking, or anything else which helps you express your emotions – can prove beneficial in managing symptoms of depression.
4. Reduce stress
Our fourth tip on this list is to do what you can to stress. We realise this is sometimes easier said than done. Sometimes, our body may not be able to deal with stress as effectively as we want, which may result in conditions like depression and chronic stress over time. Practicing mindful exercises (such as slow breathing and many more) calms down your mind almost instantly, giving you the much needed mental power to deal with stressful situations practically. You can also figure out your trigger points and steer away from topics that most often put you under stress. This can help you maintain better mental health in the long run.
5. Seek professional help
Our final tip is to seek professional help. While this tip may be last on our list it surely isn’t any less important than those above, because seeking help from a mental health professional to deal with severe cases of depression can literally save lives. What we mean by this is that experienced mental health professionals are trained in early diagnosis and preventive treatments for depression, which can alter the way you live your life. And if you think that you will be put on antidepressants, think again. Specialised mental health clinics now offer depression treatment without medication which has changed countless lives – minus the nasty side-effects of tablets or pills. This treatment often comes in the form of rTMS, also known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, a non-invasive and highly effective treatment for depression that gently stimulates the part of the brain that regulates the mood.
Don’t let Depression rule your life
The purpose of this article is to make you more aware of how depression can impact multiple aspects of life. Depression does not often come on overnight and nor does it go away in an instant, but there definitely are ways to deal with its symptoms effectively that are in your control. The above tips can make your daily life much easier and may even contribute to remission from depression in the long run. Remember, the only step that you need to take is to seek help from the right people at the right time. We wish you good mental health!
