Live Life Well & Reap the Rewards!
It’s entirely normal to get upset from time to time. It happens to all of us. Depression is something else entirely. It is a severe mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, isolation, fear, dread, anxiety, and intense sadness. If left untreated, depression can hamstring every conceivable facet of your life. In a worst-case scenario, it can lead to a person’s demise.
Not everybody reacts the same way to depression. For some folks, it’s a death sentence, but for many, it’s a bugbear that can be controlled with a little TLC, therapy, treatment, and important lifestyle changes. Unfortunately, at times, depression is so overpowering that it’s crippling. It takes pleasure out of the day-to-day activities that people typically enjoy, souring our mood and bringing black clouds.
Depression treatment involves more than SSRIs, SNRIs, therapy, and surgical/nonsurgical options. It’s also about making significant lifestyle changes. So naturally, you should discuss any opinions expressed in this guide in full with your licensed mental health counselor, medical practitioner, or therapist. Depression is a severe and debilitating disorder that you should not take lightly.
A new depression treatment has been popularized in recent years – Deep TMS™. This non-invasive, nonsurgical treatment regimen has shown significant results for depression, smoking addiction, and OCD. In addition, Deep TMS is a substantial upgrade over traditional TMS in terms of technology, targeting, and efficacy.
Deep TMS technology, unique to BrainsWay, enables noninvasive activation of deeper and broader brain structures than traditional figure-8 coil TMS systems, allowing the H-Coil to potentially address a wider range of neuropsychiatric conditions.
With that said, consider several important lifestyle changes you can make.
- Get Regular Exercise
You don’t have to join a gym or purchase a bunch of workout equipment, although both are excellent options if you can swing it. Regular walks are a fantastic way to ease stress and get much-needed fresh air and sunshine. If you’re feeling up to it, try running or jogging. Swimming is another excellent form of exercise for people struggling with depression. Many folks find that working out gives them a sense of accomplishment and control over their lives—two things that are often lacking when depression sets in.
- Adopt a Healthy Diet
What you put into your body directly affects how you feel both physically and mentally. For example, eating nutritious meals helps to improve your mood and increase your energy levels, while junk food does the opposite. A healthy diet for managing depression should include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. You might also want to consider taking supplements, such as omega-3s, vitamin D, and probiotics, which have been shown to be beneficial for people struggling with depression.
- Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is vital for good mental health. When you’re depressed, it’s tempting to stay in bed all day or forego sleep entirely instead of drinking or partying all night. Neither option is conducive to recovery. Instead, aim to get at least seven hours of sleep every night. Talk to your doctor about possible solutions if you can’t seem to fall asleep or stay asleep.
- Avoid Drugs and Alcohol
Substance abuse is one of the most common comorbidities (co-occurring conditions) associated with depression. While it might seem like drinking alcohol or using drugs will make you feel better in the short term, doing so will only exacerbate your symptoms in the long run. Additionally, addiction is a real possibility when substances are used as coping mechanisms for mental illness. If you’re struggling with addiction, seek professional help right away. There are many resources available to assist you on the road to recovery.
- Spend Time with Loved Ones
Isolation is one of the main symptoms of depression. When depressed, many people withdraw from friends and family members because they feel unworthy of love and attention. Spending time with your best friends and avoiding the wrong friends is crucial for maintaining your mental health. If you withdraw from social activities, try to force yourself to go out anyway. It’ll be good for you in the long run.
These are just a few lifestyle changes that can make a big difference when managing symptoms of depression. But, again, be sure to discuss any major changes with your doctor, therapist, or mental health counselor before making them.