The Keys to Battling Depression

Thanks largely to social media, we now live in a society where a large portion of our time is spent scrolling through the accomplishments of others and feeling jealousy over the lives that we deem better than our own. Job- and money-related stress and anxiety is now more prevalent than ever before as we try to juggle the demands of family, work, friends, and self together in an increasingly fast-paced world. Given all of this, it’s no wonder that depression has become so much more prevalent.

The Basics of Depression

Depression is considered a very serious mood disorder that significantly affects how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities like eating, sleeping, and working. Certain symptoms become chronic and can occur for weeks or months at a time, like feeling hopeless, pessimistic, irritable, helpless, and fatigued. Many people with depression lose interest in the things they used to love and have difficulty concentrating and making decisions. It can truly be a debilitating disease, which is why it is so important that anyone suffering from depression can receive the help and support they need to overcome their darkest days.

Coping Naturally

Exercising and spending time outdoors are two common solutions for people feeling depressed since doing so can release endorphins and help the brain wire itself in more positive ways. Eating healthy can also support depression recovery, and although there’s no one magical single food that does the trick, omega-3 fatty acid and folic acid are believed to support brain function. Essential oils are also a very popular tool by way of aromatherapy. The aroma and chemical components of essential oils can trigger the brain to fight depression and also alleviate common depression symptoms like fatigue and stress.

Reach Out

There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help, either from a friend or professional. There are many support groups for depression, and many different types of doctors and therapists know how to help people work through their depression. For example, a therapist can help someone with depression to replace negative thinking with positive ideas. Instead of focusing on negative events and forgetting positive ones, it can be very helpful to learn to remember the many positive aspects of an event while coping with the one or two negatives.