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- Battling Depression
Battling Depression
- By Gerald P Njuguna
- Published September 27th, 2008
- Depression
- Unrated
Do you experience unbearable
sadness and emptiness?. Do you feel exhausted, dragged out and run
down? Do you find yourself barely able to perform at work and pushing
yourself just to get through the day?You might be one of the millions
who suffer from depression yet are unaware of the problem.
Sleeplessness, tension and fatigue are often associated with
depression. It is essential that you take out time to relax everyday
for optimal performance. Pick a quiet spot and do this exercise.
Breathe deeply, observe your breath and imagine that all your
problems and worries are vaporizing in the air. Visualize yourself
as part of a beautiful landscape, whether is it mountain scenery or a
white, sandy beach in Florida.
Try to solve and fight one
problem at a time. Thinking about all your problems does no good for
your mental well-being. Besides, this will only make you feel tired,
depressed and helpless. Train your mind to tackle one problem at a
time.
It is also a good idea to spend time reading
motivational or inspirational books that are not only inspiring but
nudge you towards a more positive thinking. Self-help books have a
to fight depression. Inspiring authors like Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne
Dyer, Louise Hay and Aaron Beck have written immensely helpful books
on how to change thinking patterns.
Isolation/self-alienation
is one of the prime factors behind depression and can make the
condition even worse. Try to interact with others who make you feel
good about yourself, show genuine interest in people you talk to and
share their thoughts. Human contact is of prime importance in New
research shows that our behavior has the potential to shape our
emotions.
Find a hobby or activity that you find
pleasurable. Gardening, bicycling, exercising, cooking or traveling
have the potential to give a boost to your mood. Craftwork can also
work as therapy. Go out. Try your hand at volunteer work and
community service. This will make you feel involved with your
community, besides the therapeutic effects. If nothing else, just go
out and enjoy a good meal with friends.
If you find yourself
becoming angry often, make attempts to channelize your anger in a
more constructive way. Read self-help books if you have problems
asserting yourself. Learning how to express your anger in a
non-destructive manner, can help to boost your energy and also your
mood. Use your anger to work positively.
Maintain a careful watch on your diet and eating habits. Make an
effort to eat consciously and avoid foods which potentially cause
mood swings such as foods rich in sugar, chocolate and caffeine.
Reducing, if not quitting, smoking and alcohol consumption is also
advised.
Yoga and tai chi are excellent physical exercises for
fighting depression. Postures that require slow movement bring a
calming and soothing effect on your body and mind. You will
definitely feel relaxed after performing these exercises.
Another
effective method of fighting depression is through meditation. New
research shows meditation can greatly boost your immune system.
Meditation can also infuse a more relaxed approach towards everyday problem solving. Meditating every night for about 15 minutes to 30 minute is not only an effective way of dealing with depression, it promises to increase your attention span and develop a focused critical thinking in you.
