Depression is more than simply feeling sad. It also influences your quality of life as well as your functionality. It can strain your relationships with the people around you, too. Read on for some clever ways to overcome depression and boost your quality of life today.
Don’t get caught in a loop of negativity connected with symptoms of depression. Bringing up the same negative feelings over and over again will just lead to deeper depression. Try your best to think positively, and surround yourself with people who try to get you thinking positively rather than indulging your negative thoughts.
If you have depression at a sub-clinical level, you may wish to consider over-the-counter treatments. Two simple products you may want to try are grape juice or St. St. Johns Wart has been shown to help the mental state of those who take it. This is also a much more economical approach to depression than conventional prescriptions.
Writing in your journal every day can be a very good way to begin getting a handle on your depression. Write out your thoughts at the beginning and end of each day. When you do this, you are enlisting the help of your subconscious mind to sort out your worries and problems while you sleep.
Mediation helps you deal with depression and the associated symptoms. It has been medically proven that meditation not only relaxes you and puts you in a better mood, but it can also lower blood pressure.
If you suffer from holiday depression, either because of loss or because your family lives far away, consider throwing a party for other friends in the same situation. Chances are pretty good you have a neighbor or co-worker who also lacks nearby family with whom they can celebrate, and you will all feel better for getting together instead of sitting alone.
If you have been prescribed medication by your doctor but do not feel completely comfortable with it, be sure to discuss this with him or her. He may be able to help you find a better medication or he may even be able to sooth your worries by explaining what it does.
Keeping a personal journal can be a very effective method of trying to cope with your depression. A daily journal gives you a safe place to vent your frustrations and explore your feelings, safe from prying eyes and unwanted questions. As you reflect back on your journal over time, you can chart your progress, track your status emotionally and pick up patterns of behavior or possible triggers for problem issues.
While the research on aromatherapy is inconclusive, no researcher will deny the power of scent. Having a few pleasant-smelling candles burning throughout the house can help you to feel better very easily. One of the best scents for evoking pleasant thoughts is vanilla, although any scent that you like will work.
Depression is tough in a number of ways, and a lack of understanding and support can be devastating. Using these tips, you can retake power over your life to get your depression under control, even without a solid support network. If you have the determination and put the effort into it, you should be seeing happier days sooner rather than later.