Feeling Depressed? 10 Things You Can Try Before Calling Your Doctor

Just as you don’t have to call your physician for every little ache, pain, and sniffle, you don’t have to run to your doctor because you’re feeling a little depressed. Of course, if you’re severely depressed or are considering harming yourself, call your doctor right away.

Take a quick survey of your life. You might have a good reason to feel depressed. Therapy and a daily pill won’t miraculously alter your life automatically, but they might put you in a better position to rebuild your life.

Then again, you might be able to get yourself back on track with a little work.

Consider trying these strategies to address your depression:

1. Take care of your body.

When your body is poorly taken care of, your mind suffers as well. One of the best things you can do when you’re feeling depressed is to put some emphasis on your body. Eight hours of sleep, healthy food, and a reasonable dose of exercise can do wonders for your mood.

2. Spruce up your environment.

Feeling under the weather psychologically? It’s time to declutter. Buy a plant. Hang some artwork that you love. Pick up your bedroom and make your bed.

3. Get outside.

Fresh air and sunshine can be just what you need when your mood is poor. Go for a long walk and just enjoy being outside. Listen to the birds or your favorite music. Get out of your head for an hour.

4. Play a game.

It could be a board game, lawn game, or video game. Play a game and have some fun. If you can do it with someone else, that’s even better. Who doesn’t like a good game?

5. Create something.

Paint a picture. Build a deck on your house. Hang a shelf in the garage. Make a website. Bedazzle your jeans. Create a scrapbook. Create something and notice how it impacts your mood.

6. Use affirmations.

Fill your mind and attention with positive thoughts and ideas by using affirmations. Make a list of 10 positive things you can say to yourself and repeat them as much as you can. Whenever a negative thought appears, try using your affirmations and see what happens.

7. Stay busy.

This one is tough, because you likely want to sit around and do nothing, but that’s likely to make you feel even worse. Use your time wisely by giving some of the other tips on the list a try.

8. Interact with others.

Avoid spending all of your time alone. At the very least, find someone online to chat with. Ideally, find someone you can see in the flesh and have a conversation with them.

9. Remember your accomplishments.

Give yourself something positive to think about by remembering all the great things you’ve done. Relive that little league homerun, graduating, or finishing your first road race.

10. Make a reasonable plan for the future and begin working on it.

Depression leads to getting stuck. One of the best ways to get unstuck is to create a vision for the future and begin working toward that. It might give your mood a great boost.

Depression should be taken seriously, but that doesn’t mean that every bout of depression requires professional medical care.

There are things you can try before calling your physician. Again, if you’re really under the weather or have thoughts of hurting yourself, ensure that you see your doctor.

Natural Ways to Counter Depression

Depression can come from many sources. Sometimes, the blues are brought on by a tragic event, such as the death of a loved one or losing your first love. At other times, however, these emotions seem to come without any reason at all.

If you're suffering from feelings of depression, it may be due to an imbalance within your body.

While serious cases of depression require medical help, there are some simple solutions that you can try on your own that often provide immediate relief from the sadness.

Try these depression strategies to begin experiencing the life of joy you were born to live:

1. Change your diet.

Eating healthy is good for your body, but it can also be good for your emotions. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables keep your blood sugar level stable and healthy. Eating fish regularly provides your body with essential fats and protein that can help to boost your mood.

* Processed foods and simple sugars may contribute to feelings of depression. In addition, these foods contribute to an overall poor health that makes the battle for your mind and emotions more difficult.

* Drink plenty of water. Eat smaller meals, and eat more often to properly fuel your body for the challenges you face in life. And consider taking a multivitamin supplement to ensure that you're getting all the vitamins and minerals that your body needs to create within you the emotional health you deserve to experience.

2. Exercise.

One of the quickest ways to lift your mood is with exercise. A regular exercise routine will increase your overall health, self-confidence, and feelings of happiness. Keep it simple and start small. You don't have to run a marathon on the first day of your exercise program.

* Get out of the house and go for a walk. Or find an aerobics class that you'll enjoy in your hometown. Set small, manageable goals for exercise and remember that the point is to get moving on a regular basis, not to accomplish every exercise goal you have in the first few days of your program.

3. Get enough rest.

The optimum amount of sleep a person needs each night varies from person to person. If you feel sluggish around mid-afternoon or anytime during your day, you may not be getting enough sleep. Short-changing yourself on sleep is a surefire way to increase feelings of sadness in your life.

* If you're feeling blue and tired, try to increase the amount of sleep you're getting at night. Often, giving your body enough rest will cause you to feel better about yourself and your circumstances in a few short days.

4. Find the silver lining.

When you're sad, it's hard to find the positive in the things that are going on around you. But the more you practice gratitude and notice the positive things around you, the faster you begin to experience feelings of joy that replace the sadness.

* Ask yourself empowering questions that begin to change your perspective. What are you happy about? What could you be happy about if you wanted to be happy? Who do you love and who loves you? What are you excited about? What could you be excited about?

* When you face defeat, ask yourself, "What can I learn from this? What's great about this? How can I use this?" Questions like these change your focus and cause your mind to find answers that empower you.

These steps are simple, but they can have a profound impact on the sadness you're experiencing.

You deserve to live a life that's filled with joy and self-confidence.

Begin to use these strategies today to move yourself in the direction of the happier life you deserve!

Learn more about your health online when you read the rest of our information here about: depression guide and also download the free health report available there!

Warren Tattersall has been a full time nutritional consultant for over 35 years and works with people all over the world to help them improve their health, increase their personal energy levels and to use supplements to assist with diet related health issues.

Just send him a note on the form here - Contact Us - to request a personal no obligation one-on-one consultation with Warren

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