How to deal with depression? Here are out top 10 ways for to tackle depression.

Firstly, let’s take a look at - what is depression? And why has this topic gained attention in recent times?

Depression can be classified as a mood disorder. It can be described as a feeling of sadness, loss, or anger that interferes with a person’s day to day activities.

A recent study also shows that many people are currently undergoing depression. Especially since the pandemic started, due to various reasons.

According to a research study conducted by America’s Center for disease control and prevention from 2013 to 2016, almost 8.1% of America’s adults aged over 20 and above had depression in any given two weeks’ time frame, which shows the intensity of this disorder among adults.

People experience depression in many ways. It may impact your day to day work resulting in loss of time and lower productivity. It can also affect the relationships you have, and it can cause some severe health conditions such as arthritis, asthma, Cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer, and so on. It is essential to realize that feeling down is expected, at some points in your life, and it is a part of life. However, if you are feeling down or hopeless regularly, you could be dealing with depression, and you should seek professional mental health or medical attention.

Before we jump into some suggestions on how you can pull yourself out of depression, let us look at what can be triggering this condition.

What are the causes of depression?

Some of the common causes are...

1. Family History - Those who have a family history for depression are at higher risk of developing depression.

2. Drug use - A history of drugs or alcohol misuse can affect the chances of developing a mental disorder.

3. Medical Conditions - Certain medical conditions may put you at high risk of depression, such as chronic illness, certain medicines, allergy/cold medicines, Chronic pain, Insomnia, etc.

4. Early Childhood trauma - Some bad experiences you had in childhood may affect or lead to fear, and you may start reacting oddly during stressful situations.

5. A stressful event such as a loss of a loved one, economic problems, relationship trouble, career problems, insecurities, or even a divorce.

There isn’t a single test that can be conducted to identify depression accurately. But your medical practitioner can make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and medical evaluation. In most of the cases, they will ask a series of questions about your moods, appetite, sleep pattern, activity level, and so on.

Don’t ignore the symptoms of depression. If it is left untreated, you may develop certain complications like weight gain or weight loss, physical pain, relationship problems, social isolation, and even thoughts of suicide, self-harm in extreme cases, etc.

Let us dive into a few tips that can help you overcome depression:

· Stay connected: Staying connected with people who love or support you is essential if you recognize that you feel depressed. Also, it is important to cut out negative people in your life.

· Do things that you enjoy/used to enjoy: Go back to your hobbies or do something that you are passionate about, which can help you feel better and successful.

· Aim for eight hours of sleep: Having a regular sleeping schedule can help your body cope with stress and emotions. It gives a chance for your body to heal. Give your body and biological intelligence a chance to help you.

· Keep stress in check. Avoid events or work-related projects that are stressful. You have to prioritize your mental health.

· Practice relaxation techniques: Meditation and yoga make our top list.

· Exercise regularly: Did you know that a 30-minute walk can help you tremendously by secreting good feeling hormones to boost your mood?

· Eat a healthy diet, Fight your depression by not skipping any meals, minimizing sugar and refined carbs, Boosting B vitamins, and other essential vitamins.

· Take a walk on your lunch break, have your coffee outside, enjoy a good meal outdoors, or spend time gardening or other interest activities. Spending time in nature has often been linked with happiness.

· Challenge negative thinking that comes to your mind. Affirmations and uplifting self talk can help immensely.

· If you have consulted a mental health professional or a doctor. Take the medicines regularly, as prescribed by the medical practitioner. If you want more tips, you can check out various uplifting blogs on our site here: Read More #Depressed, #Anxiety, #tacklingdepression, #Overcomedepression, #Healthymind, #Stayingpositive, #Relievingstress