I have heard many different theories about how living a healthy life can help beat depression without the use of medication. I am just too stubborn to change my diet or add exercise right now. I have implemented other ways that make me feel better without medicine, but like I said in my last post, I still have to take my medication. There are simple things that one can do to feel better and then there are bigger changes one can make.
The Simple Ways
Live Your Life for YOU
A Huffington Post article found here describes how depression can happen when you are living your life for other people. When trying to please others like our parents, spouse, or friends, one can start to feel trapped which can lead to depression and anxiety. If you are a people pleaser like myself then you know how hard it is to feel like you've disappointed someone you love. But the truth is that I can't make everyone happy. No matter what I do someone will find a reason to be upset with me for it. That's just how life is. It's one of the hardest things I'm learning to accept.
A Huffington Post article found here describes how depression can happen when you are living your life for other people. When trying to please others like our parents, spouse, or friends, one can start to feel trapped which can lead to depression and anxiety. If you are a people pleaser like myself then you know how hard it is to feel like you've disappointed someone you love. But the truth is that I can't make everyone happy. No matter what I do someone will find a reason to be upset with me for it. That's just how life is. It's one of the hardest things I'm learning to accept.
STOP Comparing Yourself
The Huffington Post article says sometimes we compare ourselves to others as a way to motivate ourselves to work harder, but in the end it just makes us feel like we aren't good enough and never will be. I know that for myself I am always wanting to be the best, be number one, the winner and when I'm not I feel worse than dirt. I have learned over the years that everybody is fighting their own battles and their own demons and the grass isn't always greener on the other side. This is another lesson that is hard for myself to accept, but I am slowly working on it. When I find myself comparing my life to someone else's I immediately stop and remind myself of all that I've accomplished. We are all on different paths and one isn't any better than another.
Here is an article from The Positivity Blog that lists 3 ways to stop comparing yourself and start empowering yourself: http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2014/09/03/comparison-trap/
The Huffington Post article says sometimes we compare ourselves to others as a way to motivate ourselves to work harder, but in the end it just makes us feel like we aren't good enough and never will be. I know that for myself I am always wanting to be the best, be number one, the winner and when I'm not I feel worse than dirt. I have learned over the years that everybody is fighting their own battles and their own demons and the grass isn't always greener on the other side. This is another lesson that is hard for myself to accept, but I am slowly working on it. When I find myself comparing my life to someone else's I immediately stop and remind myself of all that I've accomplished. We are all on different paths and one isn't any better than another.
Here is an article from The Positivity Blog that lists 3 ways to stop comparing yourself and start empowering yourself: http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2014/09/03/comparison-trap/
Be Kind
A blog post on MindBodyGreen.com lists ten ways to beat depression with being kind to yourself listed as number one. Depression is all about hating yourself and focusing all your anger on yourself instead of others. When I get angry I always take it out on myself because I feel like I'm the one who deserves it. This is when self-harm can develop. Isn't that a weird concept? Being so angry that you are willing to cause yourself physical pain? Why? Why do we hate ourselves so much? Why are we so cruel to ourselves? Learning to love yourself is not easy, but therapy can help and talking to others can help. It's important that we learn to forgive ourselves and love ourselves for the perfectly imperfect humans that we are.
A blog post on MindBodyGreen.com lists ten ways to beat depression with being kind to yourself listed as number one. Depression is all about hating yourself and focusing all your anger on yourself instead of others. When I get angry I always take it out on myself because I feel like I'm the one who deserves it. This is when self-harm can develop. Isn't that a weird concept? Being so angry that you are willing to cause yourself physical pain? Why? Why do we hate ourselves so much? Why are we so cruel to ourselves? Learning to love yourself is not easy, but therapy can help and talking to others can help. It's important that we learn to forgive ourselves and love ourselves for the perfectly imperfect humans that we are.
Bigger Changes
Change Your Diet
Healthyplace.com says that the first step to a healthy mental state is to rule out any underlying causes for example a bad diet. Too much fatty foods can cause many physical problems with the body not even related to your mental state. Another article found here suggests eliminating fried foods, gluten, alcohol, caffeine, and a meat based diet to improve the brains chemical balance. Many people who are depressed are highly attracted to sugar and caffeine for the high it gives by stimulating serotonin levels, which boosts your mood for a short period of time. The problem with sugar is the crash after the high. When you crash your blood sugar level drops love causing fatigue, irritability and anxiety. I have one of the worst diets ever. All I eat is everything that's bad for me and nothing that is good. I'm sure that if I ate better I would feel better. I just don't have time to eat healthy with graduation just around the corner. I have too much to focus on rather than my health. This is not how I should think but I can't help it. I keep promising myself that I will learn to eat right once I graduate, but I'm usually all talk and no action.
Healthyplace.com says that the first step to a healthy mental state is to rule out any underlying causes for example a bad diet. Too much fatty foods can cause many physical problems with the body not even related to your mental state. Another article found here suggests eliminating fried foods, gluten, alcohol, caffeine, and a meat based diet to improve the brains chemical balance. Many people who are depressed are highly attracted to sugar and caffeine for the high it gives by stimulating serotonin levels, which boosts your mood for a short period of time. The problem with sugar is the crash after the high. When you crash your blood sugar level drops love causing fatigue, irritability and anxiety. I have one of the worst diets ever. All I eat is everything that's bad for me and nothing that is good. I'm sure that if I ate better I would feel better. I just don't have time to eat healthy with graduation just around the corner. I have too much to focus on rather than my health. This is not how I should think but I can't help it. I keep promising myself that I will learn to eat right once I graduate, but I'm usually all talk and no action.
Take Vitamins
Greenmedinfo.com says there is one main vitamin that assists in fighting depression. Vitamin B12 contains folic acid which is directly related to depression. The lower levels of folic acid in the blood is related to a higher level of depression. Huffington Post agrees with taking B vitamins, but adds that taking fish oil can help with symptoms as well. Both supplements have what are considered "good" fatty acids like omega-3 rather than "bad" fatty acids that are found in fast food. MindBodyGreen.com says that vitamin D is also a major way to boost your mood. Incase you didn't know, vitamin D can also be found in sunshine. By being out in the sun you start to feel better and happier. These supplements help with regulating mood and I myself need to start taking my vitamins. I buy some and then I never take them. Who knows what kind of progress I would have if I actually did take all this great advice.
Greenmedinfo.com says there is one main vitamin that assists in fighting depression. Vitamin B12 contains folic acid which is directly related to depression. The lower levels of folic acid in the blood is related to a higher level of depression. Huffington Post agrees with taking B vitamins, but adds that taking fish oil can help with symptoms as well. Both supplements have what are considered "good" fatty acids like omega-3 rather than "bad" fatty acids that are found in fast food. MindBodyGreen.com says that vitamin D is also a major way to boost your mood. Incase you didn't know, vitamin D can also be found in sunshine. By being out in the sun you start to feel better and happier. These supplements help with regulating mood and I myself need to start taking my vitamins. I buy some and then I never take them. Who knows what kind of progress I would have if I actually did take all this great advice.
Exercise
According to WebMD, physical activity releases endorphins which help reduce pain and gives a euphoric feeling. Regular exercise has been proven to reduce stress, boost self-esteem, and improve sleep. Not to mention all of the physical benefits like a stronger heart, higher energy levels, and lowers blood pressure. The World of Psychology says that the motivation to exercise is what holds most people back. When you are feeling depressed it's hard enough to get out of bed. There are ways to to get your body moving without it feeling like exercise. You can meet with a friend for a walk just around the neighborhood or take your pet for a walk. It doesn't have to be an hour long, it can be fifteen minutes as long as you get up and moving. I used to play softball competitively until college and I always felt so much better after a practice, workout, or game. Now that I have been physically lazy for four years I find myself feeling worse and I do realize that I feel better after exercising. The only problem with that is I don't have time to go to the gym right now. I used to go to the gym like twice a week, but then I cancelled my membership due to lack of time. I then decided to start working out again. I went for a couple weeks, but then I got really busy and couldn't find the time. So now I'm paying for a membership that I don't use.
According to WebMD, physical activity releases endorphins which help reduce pain and gives a euphoric feeling. Regular exercise has been proven to reduce stress, boost self-esteem, and improve sleep. Not to mention all of the physical benefits like a stronger heart, higher energy levels, and lowers blood pressure. The World of Psychology says that the motivation to exercise is what holds most people back. When you are feeling depressed it's hard enough to get out of bed. There are ways to to get your body moving without it feeling like exercise. You can meet with a friend for a walk just around the neighborhood or take your pet for a walk. It doesn't have to be an hour long, it can be fifteen minutes as long as you get up and moving. I used to play softball competitively until college and I always felt so much better after a practice, workout, or game. Now that I have been physically lazy for four years I find myself feeling worse and I do realize that I feel better after exercising. The only problem with that is I don't have time to go to the gym right now. I used to go to the gym like twice a week, but then I cancelled my membership due to lack of time. I then decided to start working out again. I went for a couple weeks, but then I got really busy and couldn't find the time. So now I'm paying for a membership that I don't use.