Depression is a common disorder, with over 264 million children, women and men around the world suffering from this psychiatric problem, says World Health Organization (WHO). This means, about 4.3 percent of the world suffers from various types of depression and related problems. Here, the study will discuss several things that have meaningful impact on depression.
There’re nine different type of depression related problems that afflict us human. Therefore, the best way to handle depression is by consulting a good psychiatrist who would put you on the right medications.
While medicines are extremely important, there’re certain activities that you can do now to make a meaningful impact to overcome depression. These are some simple activities like reading and many more that you could do anytime during the day or even in your spare time.
Here’re some of these activities
Things to Do for Meaningful Impact on Depression
That mental health and physical wellness have a close link was discovered as far as 1,000 years ago by Ibn Sina or Avicenna, a Persian physician and scientist. Therefore, victims of depression also suffer from poor physical health. If you’re afflicted by depression, try these simple things that have a meaningful impact on your mental well-being.
Most of these activities I mention are suitable for people of all ages.
Switch Off Your TV
Yes, the first thing to do for having a meaningful impact on depression is to switch off your TV. You might find this a preposterous or even ludicrous proposition. Whether it’s sports, movies, music or serials you love watching, it’s high time to bid adios to them all, at least for some time.
Research proves beyond doubt that watching TV, moderately or as binge viewer has an adverse impact on the brain. Generally, the scenes you watch trigger changes in brain chemistry. It leads to an increase in Dopamine, a brain hormone. This can lead to imbalance to other brain chemicals that culminate as severe mood swings.
Furthermore, people tend to identify with a character in the movie or serial or a sports tournament. And their emotions swing as the character goes through ups and downs in life and so does our moods. This can prove dangerous since such moods can severely aggravate depression.
TV also causes disconnect with the real life. Watching TV for prolonged hours can impair interactions with others and cause an already depressed person to distance themselves from family and friends.
While an hour of watching healthy, educative shows is helpful for depression, most other things we see on TV, including news, tends to worsen it.
Register to Learn Yoga
One of the things a depression victim can do right now is sign-up at the nearest training center that teaches Yoga. This ancient Indian science that promotes physical wellbeing is also known to promote overall mental health while alleviating depression.
By itself, Yoga doesn’t work magic. Instead, it tends to improve blood circulation to all parts of the body, including brain and skin. As a result, people that practice Yoga experience an overall sense of wellbeing, which superbly counters depression. Furthermore, certain Yoga postures help the body to rid itself of toxins including metabolites of anti-depression medications.
Yoga works to reduce heartbeat and blood pressure, regulate breathing and normalizes appetite. Research by the Harvard University and other institutions prove that Yoga is highly effective to buffer and eliminate negative impact of depression to quite a large extent.
Change Your Food Habits
That an intrinsic link exists between food habits and depression is something that all scientists and psychiatrists agree upon. Therefore, one of the things to do right now to make a meaningful impact on depression is changing your food habits.
Research proves, foods such as probiotics including yoghurt, proteins, multivitamin and multi-mineral supplements containing Selenium and Zinc as well as B-Complex and other vitamins, Omega-3 oil rich foods help relieve at least some symptoms of depression and lead to overall mental wellness.
At the same time, alcohol, caffeine and refined food including fast food can prove detrimental to depression victims that’re prone to obesity. In fact, most cases of depression go on binge drinking or become food addicts.
Put Brakes on Social Media
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media is part of our daily activities. Over 80 percent Americans have an account on one or more of these social media platforms. Prudent use of social media is indeed healthy and takes away some degree of loneliness or feeling disconnected with the world.
Unfortunately, spending longer time on social media is known to cause depression and anxiety. These begin with symptoms such as inability to focus and self-denigration, eventually building up as depression.
Most social media users tend to compare their lives with those on their Friends or Connection networks. The result is an unhealthy sense of competition and overall disenchantment with own life.
Persons suffering from depression therefore can do much better by taking a break from social media activities or putting brakes altogether on its use.
Start Grooming Yourself
And finally, one of the simplest things you can do to negate depression to quite some extent is by self-grooming. As a matter of fact, most people that’re experiencing depression tend to neglect personal grooming. This occur due to overall loss of interest in routine and daily activities or even as a part of the more serious- propensity to self-harm.
The easiest way to circumvent depressive thoughts is by indulging in lot of self-grooming. This could include a good haircut, manicure and pedicure, shave and adequate attention to personal hygiene by taking baths and showers.
Dressing well and presenting oneself well-groomed works to boost self-confidence, removes unknown phobias and imparts a general, all-round sense of wellbeing that’s an effective antidote for any depression. With some practice, self-grooming becomes part of the lifestyle and is an effective deterrent against depression.
In Conclusion
Depression affects a large percentage of the global population. There’re at least nine different forms of depression that arise from various factors and manifest as mild to moderate symptoms. While medical therapy can help combat part of such depressive disorders, some of the above ideas are also known to help.
Hey Guys! My name is Richard Andrew. I am a contributor to the Strategy Watch. I have finished my graduation with a major in Economics. My interest areas are Economics, Financial Analysis, Stock Analysis, and Business Strategy.