Help to Stop Feeling Depressed
6 Tips to Help Stop Depression
If you feel down and have gloomy thoughts such as, everything is too much trouble, or what is the point of it all, it is essential to shake yourself out of the downer and not to allow the negative thoughts to fester and reach the stage of serious depression.
If being in control of your emotions sounds good, then take charge of your life with following tips.
Obviously if, you believe your life is not worth living, or if you think you are at risk or have a serious mental health problem, don't hesitate to seek professional medical assistance or tell someone close to you to help you find medical care.
While the following suggestions are not going to solve life's problems, they can break the negative thought patterns and help you see the light again.
1. Emotional Roller Coaster
Understanding that some days you feel unstoppable, other days helpless and most of the time you float in-between these two positive and negative emotions, will put your feelings into perspective.
Knowing it is a natural emotion and will pass can make you feel more in control. In the long run you are not going to remember what you did or didn't do but, what will always matter, is the present moment and enjoying every second of life with which you are blessed. Accept life in its entirety, don't have unreasonable expectations, stop thinking about what should be and take what is.
Expect nothing and every marvellous thing that comes you way will be tremendous.
2. Positive and Negative thoughts are highly Contagious.
Negative people can be toxic and make you feel the same way. Search out positive people and try to emulate the way they see the world and you too may find their happy outlook seeps into your head. Don't just sit there and let lethargy consume you - force yourself to get out, whether it's to the gym, or for a walk, and when you get back put on your favourite music and enthusiastically move to the rhythm. It is your responsibility to make yourself happy.
3. Interact with Animals and Nature.
Animals don't think of their own tiny problems as humans do. A sparrow doesn't sulk because it isn't a falcon, pigeons don't fret because another got to the crumb first, they just continue looking for the next. Animals live in the present and show their love to their human companions unconditionally. Observing, stroking and interacting with them will help you get over your problems.
Jim Carey, a Depressive, The Power of Intention and Visualization
4. Be Kind to Yourself.
When you fail at something, it is hard to remember everything else you did right. Take the time to think about your successes, your strengths and build yourself up.
This process will give you the self-confidence to work out what went wrong, what can be done differently to achieve success in the future.
Focus on what you can do to make things better, unless you assume responsibility for what's wrong in your life you will always be at the mercy of other people or circumstances and blame them for your problems.
5. Gratitude for all that you have.
It is human nature to measure ourselves against those ahead of us on the upward climb. If you think you need more money, new clothes or better relationships to make you happy, remember if you had everything that was supposed to make you happy life will still throw curved balls. Your car would still break down, your heel will still break, you will still pull a calf muscle, and if you really concentrate you'll always find something to be miserable about.
Counter wanting more by relaxing more. Think about everything good in your life that you have already and compare your problems to those less fortunate, the things that are making you depressed will more than likely not seem as serious.
Appreciate the sky everyday on your way to work, appreciate every sensation that touches you.
What is chronic Depression and its symptoms
6. Change is as Good as a Holiday.
When you are down, it can get to the point where you start to associate your problems with everything around you. Change your environment so it is not a constant reminder of your problems.
Even ordinary changes, such as moving the furniture around, adding a new lamp or picture, or bring some plants into your environment can totally change the ambiance of a room.
Don't let your daily routine become monotonous and depressing. If you can change it, even if it is temporary, such as taking a day off to do something you would never usually do, or to try something different.
Breaking your routine and changing your environment occasionally will make you happier and more productive.
The ideas below may help if you are experiencing a temporary down:
The best way to stop feeling depressed is to take action:
- What is your biggest problem
- How can you solve it
When you want to lose weight, adjust your eating habits and start exercising,If you're unhappy with your job, start looking for a new one or improve your education to take a different route.
If someone is not treating you well, tell them to shape up or ship out.
If money is a problem, work out what leads to your poor money decisions and ways to circumvent them. Understanding yourself and the way you handle money will enable you to adopt practices that are better for your bank account.
Once you have decided to move forward you may start to feel better. Action will occupy your thoughts and give you something look forward to. Once the changes start happening, you will build enthusiasm and positive thinking will become easier.
Bear in mind that bad things will happen to you, you will have your highs and lows and lots of in betweens, that same as everyone else! It is your reactions to these happenings which creates your happiness, and it's your choice not to let the bad things overtake your life.
Further Help with Depression
- Help with Worry and Anxiety
Self-Help strategies for Relief of Anxiety and Worry. Simple guidelines to help you take control of your worry and anxiety. - Walking Away from Depression
- Spotting Depression - Effective Talking Therapies
Help to recover from depression through different therapies. Spotting the symptoms in Women and in Men - warning signs that someone needs help.
Comments
AUTHORthomasmuldoon You are so right, just doing something different will lead you somewhere else. Thank you for visiting.
whenever you feel depressed - 'do' something different. Thinking about where you've been and where you want to go only makes things worse. Do something different - even if it's only changing your outfit. Action (any action) always leads you somewhere...
- AUTHOR
Once again, with just your comment, you've imprinted a picturesque drawing on my mind...... so relaxing and comforting the vision of your home. Thank you so much for the generous comments and I too wish you health, happiness and an unending supply of enough!
Well you are an hubawesome and life affirming writer my CyberShelley of most sensational .
I suffer at times from situational depression which includes stress and anxiety (welcome to the human race) and I will most definitely use your words and thoughts here as a helpful reference guide.
I am sending to you and your family warm wishes for 2013 and continued health, happiness and prosperity from my little cottage right across the road from lake erie time ontario canada 1:19am cold outside but playing hot jazz inside ....
Great tips for anyone suffering from this problem. Depression can be the hardest thing to get over and this will help greatly. Sharing!
- AUTHOR
vespawoolf, Thank you for stopping by, I also think the changing your surroundings is a quick way for a fresh start.
These are great points! I especially think it's important to seek out positive people and not compare yourself to those who seem to have it better. Also not to expect too much and enjoy every moment. I really like the idea of changing around your surroundings for a new start. Thanks so much!
- AUTHOR
shiningirishevyes, Glad to hear from you. My thoughts were with you and yours during Sandy's rampage. I am so grateful for your indepth, heartfelt comments. Animals are wonderful in the way they sense your unhappiness and how close they stay with you to share the pain.
elle64, I have a friend who is bi polar and has been hospitalised. His wife tells me that its hard not to be pulled into the black hole of depression with him, and she finds it hard to crawl out and wait out the cycle. A few tips like these may be helpful to the people standing by and watching a clinical depression, that only medical attention can help. Hopefully those people like you, who have to stand by and watch, have the love and support from friends and family. Thank you for stopping by and sharing.
My husband suffers from depression- and was at psyciatric ward over the summer. I just think it is easier said than done, and it is so hard to stand on the outside and look in, and see someone suffer. Good advice though.
You are so right about the many helpful tips you provide - especially pets! They will snap you out of the doldrums and tire you to exhaustion so those terrible depressive sleep patterns go away as well. I vividly recall sitting on the couch crying after losing a loved one when my dog enter the room. She sat in front of me, moved closer, closer...then when that didn't work she stuffed her nose in my face and continued to do so until I acknowledged her. She made it impossible to reach the dangerous depths of depression.
- AUTHOR
DDE, Hello again, and so great to have you visit! Thank you for your comments. Stay strong friend.
Some days can be okay, fine to the worst of days, and the most negative thoughts can come to mind but one has to control these thoughts. An excellent write my friend
- AUTHOR
Hello billybuc, thank you for visiting and for giving weight to my suggestions.
Been there, done that, and your suggestions are right on! Great points made, and a must read for anyone with depression.
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