Disclaimer : I am not a certified doctor, these are not proven techniques, but techniques that helped me to combat my depression. I am not urging you to use these techniques instead of medication, but should you wish to use these alongside other remedies, you are free to do so.
I guess i should start my explaining a little bit about me! i suffered from depression earlier in life, and tried several different medications, of all the medications i tried i found that none fully relieved me of my depression, they only seemed to mask it. I think if you've already read this far then you are probably feeling the same way yourself. So here are a few easy to do every day things that i found to help balance my feelings.
Sleeping patterns
This one is a lot more important then we think! And some of us take for granted that we dont get much sleep, but sleep is our bodys way of restoring its energy! Energy generally transforms into happiness. An ideal nights sleep consists of between 6-9 hours, but it varies on each individual, so you need to discover how many hours of sleep you need to be at peak function.
The reason we sleep at night and wake in the day is because of the light source, our biological clock causes us to be more productive during the day.
In order to get a good nights sleep we should be going to bed by about 11pm and waking at around 7pm, you will find that these hours leave you fresh, invigorated and energised for the day.
The hardest part of this exercise is getting used to this new pattern, for a few nights you might be a little restless, but just lay down and close your eyes until you fall asleep, and make sure you get up when your alarm wakes you.
Positive re-enforcement
I know this ones gonna sound crazy, but try it, it really does work!! Each morning after you have woken up, and each night before you go to sleep, you should say aloud to yourself, three, positive things! These things have to be statements, not questions, and they have to be about you!
A statement normally begins with "I AM" so if your positive sentences are begginging with this, your probably doing the right thing, however if your sentence ends in a question, u need to choose a different one.
a few examples of sentences you might be able to use are :
"I am a hardworker and i try to help myself and others whenever possible"
"I have a lot of friendship and love to give"
"I am smart, intelligent and kind."
You might start by repeating these three to yourself each day, until u find u have some of your own to say, it might take a little while, but trust me, it works.
Washing
This one is also overlooked! I believe a good wash stimulates the body and mind! It leaves you feeling a lot better about yourself too. I personally prefer a shower each morning and night, but if you dont have a shower, a strip wash next to the sink is better then having a bath. Think of a bath as a luxury, a once in a while thing rather then a daily routine. I prefer to use a flannel and water, as soap leaves me feeling gunked up afterwards, but its all about personal preference, just so long as you dont rush your wash! Remember it should take at least 15 minutes, to wash ur face, arms, chest, tummy, naughty bits, and legs! Then another 3 minutes to brush your teeth, followed by however long it takes you to do your hair.
Three meals a day
Breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are three main meals a day because this is what our body needs to survive on. Throughout the day our body is using up energy, and the energy is gained through the intake of food. Without energy our bodys cant function at peak performance and we start to feel tired and lathargic. But remember, healthy eating plays a part in this too! Healthy foods contain more energy that lasts for longer!! Whenever possible, try to choose the healthy option.
Working
This is an important factor for anyone, everyone needs a job as it gives people a place in the world, a purpose. But remember a job doesnt need to be a paid 9-5 job, it could be a few hours voluntary work at your local church, or looking after your children, or working by studying! Whichever you choose, it helps to regulate your life and meet new people!
Spend some "you" time
Aswell as hardwork, u also need some time to relax, some "you" time. Try to do something you have a passion for. Think of the one thing youd most like to do in your spare time and try to do it!! Whether it be rock climbing, to swimming, to building card houses, to decorating houses, everyone has something they love to do, you just gotta find what it is that you want to do first! Remember though, you should be doing this in moderation, save it as a treat, if you do it too much you'll take the fun out of it.
Friends
Everyone needs at least two friends! This can be difficult, I would suggest looking at a local community center, or church, or at some classes. Here you will find people like yourself, that are looking for friends too. All it takes is a hello for you to find out what you have in common. For some people it may be harder then others to take this step, but you have to look inside yourself, remember your positive re-enforcement! take the plunge and say hello. If one person is too busy to make friends, dont let that put you off, because there is someone you missed thats waiting for you to say hi first!!!
Well guys, thats it, my 7 tips to fight depression, as i said, im not a doctor, im just here to be a friend, please feel free to leave a comment, i will try and reply to them if you need to ask me a question.
Hope you enjoyed reading my piece, and i hope they work as well for you as they have for me.
