Just pretend you know someone who is coping with depression. Well you may not actually have to pretend, because it is likely in your group of 6 friends or family, 1 is or has suffered symptoms such as depression or anxiety in the last few weeks. If it is you and you’re feeling that you maybe have negative thoughts, then you are not alone. There are many people who feel just like you.
When you can realise that you are not alone and that there are people out there that can help you. Then you can look at how to boost your mood. Although we all have negative thoughts at times. How we cope can be down to our lifestyle choices, which means we might need to look at whether we exercise our mind or our diet to see what our food contains, such as fatty acids.
There has been a lot of research around the “food and mood” theory, which means eating healthy and exercising is important when coping with depression. Feeling like you are part of a family or in our pre-evolutional days when we may have been more primal, fitting in is still important.
Another way to start dealing with depression is talk to someone. Share your thoughts and how you feel, because you may find that even a small conversation can make you feel good. Spending time talking to someone and setting some realistic goals may also improve your mood.
Call me on 07984 493798 and let us find out how I can help you.
What is it like when you are coping with depression?
Remember that having negative thoughts is common and that many people are just like you. Sooner or later you will begin to feel better, if you are kind to yourself. What would it be like if you found someone to talk to? How would you feel if some short and long term realistic goals to feeling better were set.
Setting goals and having a vision to work to, allows us to form new positive thoughts and is good for our brain. Our brain can adapt to our new habits throughout our whole life, if we look after it. Repeatedly forming new habits, such as learning a language or new sport allows our brain to create new neural pathways. This is good for us and you can work on this.
Unfortunately repeatedly being in a state of coping with depression causes a shrinkage of the hippocampus, which is responsible for the management of forming new memories. The result of this could be a loss of emotional and behavioural function of the brain. This may then lead to isolating ourselves from our previous lifestyle, as it affects our mental health.
In some instances people turn to alcohol, drugs and other addictive substances to deal with the negative thoughts they have. Initially this may improve your mood. However excessive use of these substances has a negative effect on the dopamine our brain needs to produce to give us pleasure.
There is no easy fix, but trying to find someone to talk to and share how you’re feeling is a start to coping with depression. Together you can find a coping strategy or goal.
How can you help someone coping with depression
If you don’t feel like there are any positive events in your life, which improve your mood. Then coping with depression may feel like a mountain to climb.
What would it be like if you started to work on your mental health in a positive way and sought some help. There are many things you can do, which should help ease your depression and anxiety. Even if you only did a little bit every day. If you want to boost your mood and start a road to recovery try some of the following;
- Set yourself a realistic and achievable goal. If this is to be kind to yourself at least once a day, then this is a start. Set a goal to tackle any addictions.
- Look at an exercise regime This does not have to be a marathon, but should include eating a healthy diet, such as avoiding foods containing fatty acids.
- Find beauty in the world you live in. Get outside and look at green spaces and nature. It has been scientifically proven that exposure to them eases anxiety and stress levels in those studied.
- Look at how you can be kind to your mind. Try practising mindfulness or experiencing some NLP techniques.
- Stay in contact with your family and friends. Have people around you that are not toxic to you and create positive memories.
No one said coping with depression was easy
Gaining the confidence to tackle this head on, maybe the start of the end to you coping with depression. Finding a support network, which might include a recovery coach should help. You should try enrolling in a fitness programme. In exercise you will release endorphins, which are a feel good factor. If you join a group you have access to a support network, which can ease isolation.
There is no magic cure for depression. Talking to someone like a coach for life may open up avenues you had never thought of. They use techniques to take you out of the past and look forward to a future, but not over analysing your present. This should give you a positive approach to life.
Whatever brought about this situation can be challenged into leading a better life. We can form a new pattern of behaviour and set goals for a bright future. A recovery coach will find activities that produce dopamine and not ones that are bad for you.
If you have had enough of coping with depression, then email or give me a call on 07984 493798
