How to Live Sustainably Through a Depression

Depression can be a paralyzer that gets in the way of your everyday life. It can cause you to shy away from daily responsibilities and social interactions. Fortunately, there are ways to live sustainably through a depression. You should talk to a doctor about medication, therapy or a combination-treatment plan, but you can also use self-help strategies to get you through the depression and keep yourself on track.

Instructions

• 1

  Simplify as many areas of your life as possible while you are living through a depression. The Mayo Clinic says you should cut down on responsibilities and obligations that are overwhelming you. You can't eliminate all of them, so prioritize and focus on the most important areas.

• 2

  Create goals based on the priorities you have identified to help you sustain your focus. This will help you remember where you need to put your energy. If you start to get sidetracked or sucked back into thoughts that overwhelm you, immediately stop yourself. Regroup by asking yourself, "How can I get out of this unhealthy pattern, and what can I do to redirect my energy to my goals?"

• 3

  Structure your life as much as possible while you are working through your depression. Structure will help you stay focused without having to think about it. The Mayo Clinic says you should make a list of tasks and activities for the day based on your goals and priorities. If you start to feel overwhelmed, paralyzed or drawn in another direction, use the list to redirect yourself.

• 4

  Use relaxation and stress-management techniques every day to sustain you through your depression. Work them into your daily list, so you do not neglect this important area. The Mayo Clinic says you can use various methods such as relaxation, meditation, yoga, tai chi or other types of exercise. Medical News Today says that you can get benefits from as little as 15-to-30 minutes of physical activity a day.

• 5

  Eat properly and get enough sleep. You need to be in good physical condition to fight depression. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can raise your chances of living through your depression sustainably by taking care of your physical needs.