What You Need To Know In Combating Depression

By Sandra Ward


Along with all the other very bad things that depression does to you, maybe the worst is that it saps your drive and your energy leaving little hope of improvement. This makes it even harder to do the things needed to help yourself feels better. Without question, combating depression is hard but it can be done. Here are just a few suggestions that may well help you escape this trap and feel better about life.

The common advice to combat despair is threefold: (1) get out of bed, even when you don't feel like; (2) spend time with people you love, even though you just want to lay down and pull the covers over your head; and (3) exercise, even though you never worked out in a day in your life.

All of us have goals. Some are very large and some are rather small. Dealing with depression makes reaching any goals difficult and that can be depressing in itself. Try making your goals smaller and more readily achievable. Even activities as simple as washing the dishes or cleaning the apartment count. Write these small goals down on paper and then check them off as they are done. You may be surprised at how good even these smaller victories feel.

Therefore, it is difficult to get the vitamins that the body needs from diet alone. Also, exposure to the sun provides a boost to some vitamins that help improve your mood. In the winter you do not get near the amount of exposure to the sun as during the summer.

If your sadness is being caused by your constant judging of your own actions you really need to stop. I can't think of a single human being who has ever been "perfect" in every way. I am certainly not, and I am reasonably sure you aren't either. Part of wisdom is accepting yourself as you are and not punishing yourself because of what you are not. This certainly doesn't mean that you should not try to improve the person you are. It does mean that you must not punish yourself for the stumbles that happen along the way.

If your depression is severe and debilitating, a social function you should consider is a support group. Sometimes run by a therapist and other times part of a community outreach program, these groups do wonders in supporting each other when the need is most critical. Not sure if your location has anything like this? A simple online search will let you know what is available in your area. And even if there isn't anything local, there are online groups you can join as well.

Sometimes we take ourselves for granted, and we forget to put ourselves on the "to do" list. In moments of despair, we tend to forget all the good we have achieved. Write yourself a letter (1) as a reminder that you are important; and (2) to outline what you have accomplished throughout your life.

You do not have to tackle the condition all at once. In fact, the advice outlined above may only have a slight effect on your mood for a brief period of time. Nevertheless, baby steps are steps in the right direction. It has a way of creeping in and not letting go. It is only with a conscious effort that you can resume a life of normalcy.




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