Depression is a terrible illness that not only affects your mood, but lifestyle as well. It can make you feel sad, less hungry, and very lethargic. In the United States alone, over 17 million people often fight with depressive problems.
While it can be very difficult to overcome, it’s possible to do so. Even when you’re struggling with depression, there are a few ways you can work to stay positive. Below are some helpful tips you can consider using to help keep your mind and body active even when you feel depressed.
What Causes Depression?
Depression can be caused by various things. For some, it could be a genetic problem or chemical imbalance. For others, it could be due to a tragic life event or medications one might be taking.
Scientists believe that depression is caused mainly by strange nerve cell connections in the brain. After doing a study that mapped the brain with PET and SPECT scans, they found that certain regions in the brain can affect one’s mood. This is especially so in the hippocampus which is located near the front of the brain near the ear
Common Side Effects of Depression
There are many different types of side effects that depression can cause.
- Excessive hunger or loss of appetite
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Weight gain or loss
- Lack of concentration
- Irritability
- Social isolation
While the side effects depend on your cause of depression, these are some of the main signs that you might be struggling with this mental health problem.
Ways to Stay Positive
There are a handful of ways you can work to stay positive, even when struggling with depression. Below you’ll find some ways you can consider trying out to help you.
Stop Negativity
While it might seem easy to do and say, stopping negativity can be difficult. However, by trying to stay positive and only surrounding yourself with helpful and happy things, you can work to keep your mind productive.
This can be you simply trying to remove negative thoughts from your mind. You can also boost yourself up by saying motivational phrases:
- I am unique.
- I matter.
- I am smart.
- I am strong.
You also can try listening to motivational speeches or songs to help you. The beginning can be difficult, but being motivational to yourself can help you to stay and feel positive.
Try to Do a Nice Gesture for Someone
Doing something nice for someone can surprisingly help to make you feel better. In fact, researchers at Oxford and Bournemouth Universities conducted studies that proved that doing small acts of kindness really did make one feel better.
Because of this, you can work to stay positive by doing acts of kindness. This could range from buying someone a meal to just giving someone a smile.
Meditate
It can be very difficult to stay positive with the hustle and bustle of the world around us. Meditating, however, can help to slow things down. To meditate, you can sit in a quiet room on the floor or a pillow, close your eyes, and start to take slow, deep breaths. You can then focus on your breathing and how it moves through your body.
You can also play some meditation music while doing so. This can range from peaceful streams running to Tibetan singing bowls.
Listen to Uplifting Music
Music has been proven to help those with depression stay positive. Many different forms of music help to increase dopamine levels, which affects the brain’s receptor of reward/motivational behavior and pain.
You’ll find various types of music you can use to help with this:
- Classical music
- Jazz
- Rock
Music can help to calm the body while also removing negative thoughts because your brain is focused on the song.
Add Fruit to Your Diet
Depression can hurt your brain, both mentally and physically. Fruit can help to prevent physical damage to it thanks to the high levels of antioxidants and vitamins. These fruits are also very sweet which can make them a nice treat. Some to consider adding to your diet are:
- Apricots
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Grapefruit
- Kiwi
- Oranges
- Strawberries
In addition to their high levels of antioxidants and vitamins, they also work to help give your body more energy. This could help you to feel more positive and energetic.
Use Antidepressants
If you find you have severe depression, antidepressants might be a way to help your mood. This medication works to balance out the neurotransmitters in your brain. This eventually can lead to many symptoms disappearing, such as restlessness and loss of appetite. Antidepressants can work to give you a much-need boost and help you to be more positive down the road. There are numerous types of antidepressants available, so if one doesn’t work, there are plenty of other options.
However, keep in mind that antidepressants should be a last resort due to the side effects they have. For instance, you might experience:
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
Because of this, it’s important to talk this over with your doctor or try a natural alternative first.
Exercise Daily
Exercising can help to keep your body active while also releasing any stress. In fact, many studies have shown positive effects exercise has on the body. It can release endorphins which can help to calm depressive symptoms.
You can try simple exercises, like walking or running, or more intense cardio workouts. By creating a habit of getting up and moving, you can help yourself to stay positive and get your mind off of your worries.
Depression is a terrible illness that affects many. However, thankfully, there are a few ways you can completely destroy it from your life. If you’re looking for ways to stay positive, even if you’re struggling with depression, definitely keep the tips mentioned above in mind. They can help to bring more positivity to your life so you can get back to doing and enjoying things that you love.
Dr. Brent Wells, founded Better Health Chiropractor Wasilla, a company designed to help relieve you of pain through chiropractic work and massage therapy. This practice is meant to help provide patients with pain relief through natural means.
Image courtesy of Nijwam Swargiary.
