11 Ways to Fight Depression

11 Ways to Fight Depression
Learn some tried and true methods to lessen the effects of Depression.

I once told someone I was suffering from depression. Their rapid response was “What do you have to be depressed about?” …Hence my unwillingness to speak to them any further about the subject. I could have educated them, but being depressed at the time, I didn’t feel like it.

I’ve come to learn so much over the years about combating Depression. I once read a book entitled “Beyond Prozac.” It encouraged me to go out and enjoy some sunshine every day; soaking up the benefits of vitamin D.

  1.      Sunlight is very important.

                Why do you think someone invented sun lamps, which have the
                same kind of rays you receive from the sun itself? These sunlamps are
                not for tanning. They are for taking away the Winter Blues when you are
                up north and cannot get very much sunlight. They are for providing you
                with sunlight, although artificial, when you are home-bound and cannot
                go outside in the fresh air. They are excellent for people who suffer
                from depression.

  2.      Drinking alcohol is another “no, no”.
                It has been proven in many studies to make depression worse. It can
                also be two to three times as bad if you are taking medications for
                your depression

  3.      Exercise
                (yes, I said exercise) produces endorphines in your body which help
                you to “feel good” and work out the stress that may be a contributing
                factor. The problem I sometimes have is I’m too depressed to exercise.
                One excuse is as good as another when you just don’t want to
                exercise. Forcing yourself is one answer. You will thank yourself once
                you do so. Exercising with a friend is another answer.

  4.      Reach out.
              Somehow, reach out to someone. Join a support group. Join a 
              community website that supports that hobby of yours. Visit a friend.
              They may need the visit as badly as you do.

  5.      Write, anytime, anywhere.
              If you are worried that someone will read your writing, keep it in a safe
              place. If you want someone to read your writing, join a writing website
              which allows you to house all of your of writing, plus get tips on how to
              improve your writing.

  6.      Go to the movies.
              Nothing is better than the full screen experience of a movie theatre.
              You feel like you are right in the middle of everything. Meet a friend there
              if you like, or borrow someone kids and go watch a kid flick with them.

  7.      Read a book; learn something.
                Transport yourself to another land or make up a land you can transport
                yourself to. You have to wait so many places these days, having a book
                in hand makes that waiting less annoying.

  8.      Take a bubble bath.
              Light some candles. This is something you can do for you. The time of
              day doesn’t matter, just that you do it.

  9.      Go swimming, jump in a lake, walk in a stream.
              Enjoy the great outdoors. Visit the zoo; talk a walk in a park. Not
              everything costs money, you know.

  10.      Get a good night’s sleep is very important.
                Not too much sleep mind you; just enough, like eight hours, so your
                body can revitalize itself.

  11.      And finally, eat properly.
              Your body needs nourishment. I don’t care if you’re skinny, fat or
              somewhere in-between. Breakfast really is the most important meal of
              the day. That is because it starts up your metabolism to start burning
              all those calories, and fuel your body. Why do you think Weight
              Watchers is so successful? The reason for this is because people
              loose weight and they eat healthy. There’s no better way to go.

This is not a cure-all; however it is something to try. These activities have been recommended by many doctors and counselors. It is something that will help you dig yourself of that deep dark abyss we call depression.