Depression can suck the life out of you. Socialising with other people, going to work, and even getting out of bed can feel like a challenge.
Being depressed can make you feel helpless. However, that shouldn’t be the case. Aside from medication and therapy, there are other things you can do to fight back.
Some natural depression treatments include changing the way you think, your lifestyle, your physical activity, and your behaviour.
Depression can easily drain your energy. It will leave you feeling fatigued and empty. This can make it hard to gather the desire or strength to seek treatment.
Luckily, there are minor steps you can take to help you feel more in control and improve your well-being. Here are some of the best ways to get rid of depression.
Drink a lot of water
Water is vital for all bodily functions. Drinking the right amount of water every day helps your body in improving the function of internal organs, get rid of toxins, and have a clear mind.
A lot of people don’t drink enough water. Instead, they fill up their bodies with alcoholic beverages, caffeinated drinks, and soft drinks. These sorts of drinks cause your body to lose water. This results in dehydration.
If you’re having a hard time drinking plain water, there are a couple of alternatives you should consider. This includes:
- Adding 1–2 tbsp. of fruit juice to water to add flavour.
- Hot or iced herbal teas such as jasmine, rooibos, hibiscus, ginger, chamomile, or mint.
- Add a slice of fresh ginger root to ice water, lime, or lemon.
- Flavoured sparkling water
- Ice water
Professionals recommend that you should drink around 2-3 quarts of liquid per day. Keeping your body healthy is one of the best ways to get rid of depression.
Also, if you want to relax outside your house while drinking water, make sure you use molded plastic outdoor furniture.
Establish a support network
Aside from therapy and medication, one of the most crucial things you can do to help fight depression is to establish strong social support.
For a couple of people, this might mean establishing stronger ties with family or friends. Knowing that you can rely on your friends and family to help you can go a long way toward fighting depression.
For some, the key is a depression support group. It might include a community group in your area. However, you can also look for an online support group.
Do not use drugs and alcohol
The use of recreational drugs and alcohol can improve the risk of depression and make symptoms worse.
A lot of individuals nowadays have both alcohol use or drug use disorder and depression. However, how the disorders affect a person isn’t always clear.
Any individual who has concerns about drug or alcohol use needs to speak to a medical professional who can help. It does not matter if they do or don’t have depression.
Understand that tomorrow will be different
The thoughts, emotions, and moods that you have today do not belong to tomorrow.
If you are having a hard time getting out of bed or doing something productive today, you should not worry. Keep in mind that you have not lost tomorrow’s chance to try again.
You should provide yourself with the grace to accept that even though a couple of days will be hard, some days will also be good. Try to look forward to the fresh start you’ll have tomorrow.
Knowing DIY tips on how to have a good outlook for tomorrow can also be extremely useful.
Wallow constructively
Suppressing your emotions and feelings might appear like a strategic method to cope with the negative effects of depression. Unfortunately, this method isn’t healthy at all.
If you are having a bad day, you should not suppress it. Let yourself feel the emotions. However, you should not stay there.
Try to consider journaling or writing what you are experiencing. Next, write about what you’re experiencing when the feelings lift.
Eat healthy foods regularly
Whenever you’re depressed, you sometimes tend to eat poorly. High-fat, salty, and sugary junk food can bring a temporary feeling of comfort.
However, these foods ultimately cause weight gain, spikes in blood sugar, and bring on bad moods.
The answer to this problem is to look for healthy foods that you like. You’ve got to ensure you have a lot of these foods on hand. Also, you have to eat these foods every single day.
Oily fish, lean meats, salads, fresh fruits, and whole-grain bread are all ideal options. Make sure you don’t have a food allergy or other adverse reactions to the food.
The key here is to look for healthy foods that you love. You should also train yourself to reach for these foods whenever you’re hungry.
Get some exercise
A lot of research on depression finds that working out is as helpful as medication for relieving moderate-mild depression.
It can be pretty difficult to exercise when you’re feeling down. Because of this, it’s ideal to start small and do something that you love. Perhaps you want to take a short walk every day, put on some music and dance, and do 10 minutes of callisthenics.
Whenever you’re working out at a gym, make sure you buy a hand sanitiser to keep yourself clean.
Endnote
It isn’t always possible to avoid depression. But there are tons of effective treatments available. A couple of lifestyle choices can also help you manage the symptoms.
Ellen Diamond, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
