Unfortunately, over 15 million people are diagnosed with depression each year within the United States.
Although your doctor may prescribe medication (such as Wellbutrin) in order to help you manage your symptoms, there are other steps that you can take to gain control of your condition.
Let’s take a quick look at all the information you need to keep in mind. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about managing depression.
Stay Connected With Those Around You
It’s no secret that depression can easily lead to isolation. Many people who have been diagnosed with depression tend to become a sort of recluse and distance themselves from friends and family.
Although it may seem comforting at the time to avoid human interaction, this can have long-term negative effects on your overall mental health. Humans are social beings, and it’s important that you make an effort to connect with those around you.
Fortunately, you have plenty of flexibility when it comes to how you do it. Even something as simple as going for a short walk with a friend can drastically improve your mood.
Exercise
Being sedentary is one of the worst ways that you can cope with your depression. Not only will this cause you to frequently feel tired and weak, but it could also have an adverse effect on your physical appearance.
When someone goes through depression, their negative feelings can often be exacerbated by realizing their appearance has changed for the worse.
Not only will exercising help keep you in shape, but it’s been scientifically proven to help boost your mood. So, it’s highly recommended that you regularly engage in whatever form of exercise you’re able to.
Those who are physically capable could pursue strength training, while others who need a low-impact form of exercise could go for brisk walks, bike rides, etc.
Pursue Interests and Hobbies
One of the worst aspects of depression is the fact that it’s a constant cycle of ups and downs. This attribute becomes more prominent when other areas of your life are cyclical because there are fewer distractions from the quality of your mood.
By pursuing your interests or hobbies, though, you’ll be able to take your mind off of how you feel while also experiencing the joy of learning something new.
This is especially true if your hobbies include creative skills (such as writing), as you’ll be able to tap into your inner creativity and use it to make something.
Change up Your Diet
It’s not uncommon for someone who has been diagnosed with depression to cope with their symptoms by using food.
This can quickly lead to poor eating habits, such as the overconsumption of saturated fat and sugar. Over time, you’ll likely experience a strong deficiency in key nutrients that will negatively affect how your body feels.
This becomes even more of a concern if your diet leads to unnecessary weight gain. By changing up your diet to include healthier foods, you’ll likely find that you improve your overall mood.
When you combine a balanced diet with regular exercise, you could even transform your appearance entirely and become far more confident than ever before.
Do Your Best to Avoid Negativity
It’s crucial that you avoid people, situations, etc. that can trigger negative thoughts. Unfortunately, this isn’t always easily achievable, such as if you have an issue with a coworker or family member.
But, you can still take steps to minimize the number of interactions you have with these people on a regular basis.
Similarly, if a certain book, TV show, song, etc. tends to make you feel more depressed than usual, don’t go out of your way to expose yourself to it. By gradually eliminating the sources of negativity in your life, there’s a strong chance that your worst episodes of depression will occur less frequently than normal.
Get Sunlight Whenever You Can
This is a piece of advice that many people with depression overlook. But, it’s one of the most essential to keep in mind.
Regular exposure to sunlight has been proven to have a number of benefits for your mental health.
As previously mentioned, those who suffer from depression are often reclusive. This has the unfortunate result of minimizing (or even eliminating) their exposure to natural sunlight.
Instead, take a bit of time each day to go outside and enjoy the sun if you have the opportunity to.
Talk to Someone if You Need To
Living with depression can easily make you feel like nobody in your life could possibly understand what you’re going through. The truth is, though, that others can often relate more than you think.
If you’re feeling particularly down or have something on your mind you need to talk about, reach out to a friend or family member who is willing to listen.
In the event that you don’t have access to someone who can help you, consider turning to the Internet. There are hundreds of support groups and forums designed specifically to help those with depression interact with others.
Although it’s not quite the same as speaking with someone in person, connecting with another human in this way can make a strong difference in how you feel.
Your Doctor May Prescribe Wellbutrin, but You Can Still Take Action
The above information will help ensure that you can properly manage your condition. In combination with Wellbutrin, you’ll find that you are far better off and will minimize the negative impact depression has on your life.
Want to learn more about what we have to offer? Feel free to reach out to us today and see how we can help.