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3 Little Things That Help With Depression
We’re finally starting to talk about mental health, and depression has been in the spotlight for a while now. It’s for good reasons; so many people struggle with various forms of depression every year, and we’re constantly finding more ways to help that goes beyond mere medication.
It’s not that medication doesn’t work, though, because it certainly does for many people – but we’d still like to find little ways to help ourselves and tackle the problem with our own good minds.
Here are a few brilliant ways to make sure you wake up with a bit of extra spark even on the days you don’t feel like tackling anything at all. It’s not to say that it will solve all your problems, but it will help you a bit on the day.
#1 Standing up straight
Let’s get one thing clear first; if you suffer from depression, you’ll probably not get the kind of help you’d like from drinking herbal tea or smiling to yourself in front of the mirror each morning.
That’s great self-care, though, and it will be great habits for those who are not clinically depressed or anxious. Consider talking to a clinic that offers teen depression treatment if you haven’t done this yet, or have a chat with your doctor as soon as possible.
Still, combined with professional help, you can do small things to give you a sense of control and achievement. Or trick yourself into having it, such as by standing up straight and looking confident. According to a study from New Zealand, having a good posture will help to alleviate the symptoms of depression.
So stop smiling at yourself in the mirror; just straighten up, push your shoulders back, and they say that you’ll feel slightly more motivated. It’s worth a shot, right?
#2 Sleeping in
Finally, a tip that makes us feel better straight away. If you’ve been struggling with depression, it can definitely be hard to get up in the morning sometimes. You’ll need a good amount of sleep, though, so try to prioritize it by setting a bedtime schedule.
Implement a good routine before you go to bed – perhaps by drinking some of that herbal tea everyone keeps talking about, have a bath, and go to bed in good time. That way, you know you’ve had enough hours when you wake up, and you should feel slightly more ready to face the day.
#3 Getting active
This is a big one to help you with depression, and you’ve probably already discussed it with your doctor. Being active will not only release some of those much-needed endorphins, but it will also give you a major sense of achievement – as well as helping you to a good night’s sleep.
The trick is to do a little every day. It can be so hard to face an hour-long workout when you’re not even sure if you’re able to show up for that dinner party in the evening but if you’re able to jog for just ten minutes, you’ve already done a lot for your health.
Do ten minutes today and increase it to fifteen minutes the next time. That little boost will brighten your mood, and if it’s been long since your last workout, you might even notice some muscle soreness afterward. It really doesn’t take much at all; your goal should be to master a quick workout as often as possible rather than a long one once in a while.
There are, of course, many other things that may or may not help with depression such as getting enough sunlight and spending time with those you care about. Do one step at a time, and congratulate yourself if you manage to do a quick workout – it’s more than many people manage to do.
