Depression is a medical condition that affects more than 16 million adults in the U.S. Major depressive disorder, if treated effectively, can be controlled with people living an enjoyable life. Continue to see how to cope with the disease healthily.
Coping with Depression
First and foremost, it’s crucial to get professional help in dealing with major depression. Aside from that, there are several ways to cope, which includes using medication, psychotherapy, and exercise. See healthy ways to cope with this chronic yet treatable condition.
Healthy Ways to Treat Depression
Depression treatment is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. Each individual is different and needs unique treatment options that work for them. However, there are a variety of coping mechanisms to help people with depression, aside from psychiatric help. These include:
- Exercising – An hour or two a week is sufficient in reducing the effects of depression. A major Norwegian study showed those who didn’t exercise had a 44 percent increased risk of developing depression.
- A Healthy Diet – Consuming fewer carbohydrates and sugar helps people with depression, along with eating foods with omega-3 fatty acids or supplementing with them.
- Managing Stress – While it’s impossible to eliminate all stress, it’s possible to reduce it or move away from places or situations that increase it. Work, school, social media, politics, family, and health issues all exacerbate stress. Consider changing your lifestyle to incorporate more positivity in your life. Owning a pet helps manage stress since they offer unconditional love and lower blood pressure.
- Yoga and Mediation – These methods calm your breathing and slow your heartbeat, allowing you to reduce both depression and anxiety effectively. Mindfulness (being aware of your body and mind in the moment) enables people to stay in the present, instead of worrying about the future.
- Getting Plenty of Sleep – Restorative or deep sleep is crucial in coping with depression since not getting enough can make it worse. Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Children and teens need more.
- Psychotherapy – Talking with someone, either in a group or individual setting, has shown very helpful with depression. Jessica J. Ruiz, the chief psychologist, and director of Behavioral Health Associates of Broward Counseling Centers of Goodman JFS in Broward County, Florida, says: “Cognitive therapy helps people understand how our thoughts and behaviors affect our emotional and psychological experiences, develop coping skills for challenging situations, and change problematic thinking patterns that impact mood.”
- Antidepressant Medication – The “gold standard” for depression are SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) medications, such as Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, Zoloft, and Celexa. Generally safe and effective, these medications can be helpful, given the right dosage. It does take time for them to work and there are side effects people should be made aware of, but they’re usually mild and leave with continued use.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation – This type of treatment is considered when medication doesn’t work. It involves a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate targeted areas of the brain. It helps with chronic pain sufferers and depression, coupled with post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. TMS uses electromagnetic pulses to alter brain activities – to excite or inhibit activity in a particular area of the brain that will modulate or reverse symptoms of a specific disorder.
Call Ardu Recovery Center for Depression Help
If you or a loved one is struggling with depression, we can help. Our caring staff is knowledgeable about these disorders and can be part of your support system for getting help. Please call and allow us to treat your depression so that you can enjoy life once again.
