Tools To Fight Depression

When your are depressed the last thing you want to do is physical activity, much less get out of your nice comfortable bed. Although, physical activity is one of the single best things you can do to make yourself feel better during the massive storm of depression.

Depression is a symptom of mood disorder characterized by extreme emotions of loss, sadness, hopelessness, defeat, and often rejection. Depression can also have some debilitating physical symptoms to go along with it.

• Headaches
  
• Stomachaches
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Constipation
  
• Severe nausea

Believe it or not, It is estimated that up to 35 million adults in the United States are likely to experience depression at some point during their lifetime. It is also indicated that women are more probable to experience depression than men will. If you suffer from Major depression it is reasonable to suggest it will interfere significantly with your everyday activities.

Symptoms Can Include:

• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Weight loss
• Lack of interest in everyday activities
• Melancholy
• Despondency
• Nausea
• Decreased Weight
• Dizziness

Even though there is no specific cause for Clinical Depression, it is possible it is genetic based, biochemical, environmental, and psychosocial. It is important to recognize that depression is NOT a weakness, it is not something you can magically make disappear or go away just because you want it to.

However, there are things you can do along with other treatment options to help alleviate some of your depressive symptoms. To continue living your life with help from friends, family and support groups.

Don't Just Sit There- Get up and move, no matter how difficult this may seem. Doing something physical creates energy. Energy is what is going to make you feel better.

Walk the dog, do the dishes, wash a load of laundry, brush your teeth, watch a television program, work in the garden, just do something-anything. You need to move. Just a little bit of interest in something will provoke emotion.

Take a Bath Or A Hot Shower- This will perk you up, make you feel alive. That is what you need. To feel alive, even if it is only briefly. Change your clothes, put something fresh and clean on. You will feel better knowing you are clean and look good to go outside without looking like you have been in bed for the last eight weeks.

If your a woman and wear make-up, put some on, brush or comb your hair. Get out that blow dryer, make some noise. Sometimes, with depression we do not take care of ourselves, we stay in the same clothes for weeks on end without a care to our hygiene. So pay attention to the little details. Try try try. Even for one day, just try. This goes for you men as well.

Get Out That Vacuum Sweeper- Get up and do some housework, vacuum rugs, mop the floors, open the drapes, let the sunshine in. Clean out the cupboards, the refrigerator, the pantry. Start out doing one small thing, and go from there. When you're living space is tidy and clean, you feel better. If you are living in a dump, that is how you are going to feel.

Turn Up The Jams- Crank up your favorite tunes, music has a way of soothing the soul. It can make you happy, or it can make you sad. Find something that will help you move, something you can sing along to. Motivate yourself. One, two, three, four. Something you can exercise and jump around to, or just relax and cry if you have too.

Finish Something You Started- Have you been meaning to finish that book you've been writing, well now is the time to finish it. Set a few goals to get things finished. Have you started little tasks and let them go on the way side? Pick one and finish it. You will feel good about yourself. So get cracking. Finish making your bed, it doesn't have to be huge, just one small thing to get you motivated.

When depressed these things are not going to be easy. But they are goals to work toward. You have to work at them. Along with the other options such as therapy or perhaps medications if your depression is severe, and you are unable to move forward. A Doctor or therapist will help you decide if you need other options. If you have serious depression, don't go it alone.

The idea is to take an active role in helping yourself feel something instead of just sadness and hopelessness. You need to do things to make yourself feel better, even if it is just a small gesture. At least you have tried. And you will feel good for doing that much.

If nothing works and you cannot get out of your depression or it doesn't improve you should consider seeing a professional. As I mentioned there are other options to help treat depression. These suggestions are just that. Suggestive tools to help you take a proactive role in your wellness and recovery from the grip of depression.