How to Relieve Depression

What is depression? Some describe it as a black curtain of despair that comes over them. The individual may feel tired or irritable all the time or he or she may feel like they have no energy and can’t concentrate. If you feel down for more than two weeks and it is interfering with your life, you may be depressed. Here are some ways you can help to relieve depression.

Things You'll Need

• - Healthy Foods, such as fruits and vegetables
• - Inspirational music or books on tape
• - Water
• - Journal

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Instructions

• 1

  Eat healthy foods. If you are feeling depressed, do not turn to sugar and junk food – they only make the condition worse. If you don’t feel like cooking anything healthy, eat fruits and vegetables, whether they are sliced or whole. Eating organic foods can also help. Avoid black tea and alcohol. Use herbs in your cooking when possible. Eat more wheat germ, which is an energizing food.

• 2

  Turn your television off. Don’t watch the television and don’t read the newspapers for a little while, because most of what you hear and read is not “good” news. When you are feeling depressed, it is not helpful to read about the devastating problems of the world, which you can do nothing about.

• 3

  Drink lots of water. Your body can survive for weeks without food but only a few days without water. If your body becomes dehydrated, both your body and brain will start to shut down. A rule of thumb to follow for drinking water is to drink half your body weight in water (i.e. if you weigh 150 pounds, you would drink 75 ounces of water a day). If your body becomes dehydrated, it will be impossible for you to get your spirits up and boost your energy level. Drink lots of water!

• 4

  Write in a journal. When you are feeling depressed, it is helpful for you to think of the blessings you do have and to write them down. A great place to record them is in your journal. Think of the family and friends you have and how much they love you. Not only can you use your journal to write down the blessings in your life, but you can use it as a way to vent, if you feel uncomfortable talking to someone about it. It is recommended that you spend about twenty to thirty minutes a day writing in your journal.

• 5

  Take a shower! Get into a warm shower and gradually make the shower hotter. Then decrease the temperature to a tolerable level. The cold water helps to stimulate the nerves that are close to the surface of the skin. Do not use the cold water if you are menstruating, premenstrual, or pregnant.

• 6

  Go for a walk! Sometimes a change of scene helps a lot. Get outdoors and enjoy the sunlight and fresh air.

• 7

  Pamper yourself! Whether you get a massage, a manicure, or dress up, be sure to pamper yourself! You'll feel better if you take care of yourself. Put on a nice outfit and do what you can to help make yourself feel attractive. Get a friend, family member, or massage therapist to give you a massage. Add five drops of rose oil to almond oil or your regular massage oil when getting the massage. Go out and get yourself a manicure or pedicure! Don't be afraid to pamper yourself, even if you are feeling depressed!

• 8

  Get up and dance! Turn on some happy and uplifting music and dance! Move your body and get the blood flowing through your body and to your brain. Turn on music that brings back happy memories. Stretch your body. In this case, dance your cares away!

• 9

  Serve others! Often times, we forget ourselves when we are busy helping those around us. Write down goals for people you want to help or things you want to accomplish during the upcoming week! Keeping yourself busy will help deter you from focusing on the things that cause you to be unhappy. By serving others, not only will you be helping somebody else, you’ll be helping yourself!

• 10

  Listen to motivating tapes and cds. Self-talk is not what you need to help yourself at this point in your life, otherwise you wouldn’t be as down and out as you are. Listen to uplifting and motivating tapes and cds. Try to surround yourself with music and people that inspire and uplift you!

• 11

  If you find these steps don’t help to relieve the depression, contact you health care provider. He or she may need to prescribe medication to help with the depression.

• 12

  Remember that you are not alone! Know that you are not the first person to combat depression in your life! Also know that there are ways to treat depression. Lean on your family for support. They love you and want to help you through this time in your life. Finally, don’t ever give up! You came to this world for a reason and you play an important role in this ever growing world!