No power under the blue sky can keep you from being all cherry and in extreme merriment. And even if you talk of the powers beyond the blue sky, which is, the Almighty, then give me one reason, good enough to justify why would anyone want to sink his creations into the abyss of something as dark as ‘depression‘. Now many of you would counterpart me over the fact that there also exists the evil powers too beyond the blue skies which can be a hindrance to our ever longed happiness. And there I’d fire back with the ‘perspective‘ vision of the whole story.

Its always the perspective that would differentiate a person who is ever gloomy and detached from his surroundings, from the one who has always been upfront, optimistic, ever jubilant and jolly-go-happy with everyone that he comes around. I believe the almighty to be the only positive power existing, to take care of the goodwill of all and not the devil. Also, on the terms of equality of understanding, if few can talk of optimism and no-depression theory, then others too can comprehend the aspects of not being in a gloomy, depressed state.

But if under any circumstances, any instance of depression goes skipped  or missed here, and depression overpowers you then, the 12 cool tips that lay beneath will help you overcome depression, stay cheerful and enlightened.

DON’T PUT YOURSELF DOWN

Although it is important to be able to recognize your weak areas, but realizing them is only half the work done, matching them with strengths to help keep your confidence levels rising completes the palate. For instance, if you’re impatient, then chances are that you are also good at adapting quickly to change [1].

WATCH YOUR WEIGHT

A change of more than 5% in your body weight in a month, especially if accompanied by sleep changes or feelings of exhaustion could be a sign you’re suffering from depression[2]. Seek help if you re worried.

DON’T RUSH IT

If you’re being treated for depression, remember it takes time for antidepressants to work. So although you may start to feel better within a couple of weeks, the full effect may not be seen for several weeks or months. Be patient.

GET A MASSAGE

It might sound obvious, but it’s amazing how many people never get a massage. A treatment doesn’t need to cost a lot and having someone take care of you for an hour can make you feel happier to a lot extent all together.

CHOOSE YOUR COUNSEL

When you first call a health professional, spend a few minutes asking them questions about their philosophy and approach. Interview several and choose the one you feel most comfortable with.

FIND THE RIGHT ONE

If you’re having therapy, don’t stay with the therapist if you feel the treatment isn’t working for you. Review progress regularly and don’t be afraid to point out areas you feel could be improved.

STRETCH AWAY TOXINS

During the winter, don’t neglect exercise. Walking, yoga and pilates are all great ways to keep body’s circulation going and alleviate the winter blues.

TRIP THE LIGHT FANTASTIC

Winter is the most important time to make sure you get some natural light. A walk at lunchtime is a great way of boosting your sunlight levels[3]. However, if you suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you may need to buy or hire a light box for regular exposure to light during dark months. You need 30 minutes a day at a light level[4] that you’d get on a clear spring morning, which is five times brighter than a well-lit office.

FIND A PROJECT

Take up a project or hobby that is something you used to enjoy before you started feeling down – such as art, politics or volunteer work. Dedicating yourself to a goal means you don’t have time to think about being sad.

KEEP TAKING THE PILLS

Don’t be tempted to take yourself off antidepressants if you start feeling better without talking to your doctor first. Continued use under medical supervision has shown to lower chances of future bouts of depression.

KNOW YOUR SYMPTOMS

Depression isn’t just about crying a lot or feeling sad. Other symptoms are loss of interest in doing things, changes in appetite and trouble concentrating, sleeping or eating. Seek help if you feel you might be depressed or are suffering from chronic anxiety.

TAKE A CLASS

If you find it difficult to meditate, breathe deeply or concentrate on one thing at a time, consider taking classes in meditation, which could help give you a valuable life tool for relaxation.

Never hesitate conversing your thoughts out. Communicating is the bridge to anything adverse set and done. This is not just to it, being patient too forms the key that gets you out from depression. And finally, gift yourself with the power of time, as time is said to be the biggest and best healer of all times. Now, it is healthily advised to hover over the following link to check out the 11 Great Ways To Stay Optimistic In Tough Times and feel free to treat us with a tweet.

References:

[1] Nancy M. Lorenzi, and Robert T. Riley, Managing Change, J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2000 Mar-Apr; 7(2): 116–124. PMCID: PMC61464

[2] Roberts RE, Duong HT. Perceived weight, not obesity, increases risk for major depression among adolescents. J Psychiatr Res. 2013 Aug;47(8):1110-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.03.019. Epub 2013 Apr 30. PMID: 23643102.

[3] Daniel K Brown, corresponding author Jo L Barton, Jules Pretty and Valerie F Gladwell. Walks4work: Rationale and study design to investigate walking at lunchtime in the workplace setting. BMC Public Health. 2012; 12: 550. Published online 2012 July 25. doi:  10.1186/1471-2458-12-550. PMCID: PMC3490792.

[4] M. Nathaniel Mead. Benefits of Sunlight: A Bright Spot for Human Health. Environ Health Perspect. 2008 April; 116(4): A160–A167. PMCID: PMC2290997.