People who are depressed may not feel much like being active. But get yourself to do it anyway. If you need a push, ask a friend to do it with you. Getting any activity started helps boost your mood. Keep it going. Eat healthy foods. Some people with depression don't feel much like eating. Some may overeat. But what you eat can affect your mood and energy. So with depression, you need to be sure to eat right. For most people, that means plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Limit simple carbs and foods with added sugar. A SAD lamp can help alleviate symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Learn more about SAD lamps, how to use them, features to look for, and products….
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme fluctuations in thinking, mood, and behavior, known as depression and mania or…. Experts say mushrooms contain a number of nutrients, including potassium and B vitamins, that can boost physical as well as mental health. Persistent depressive disorder, formerly known as dysthymia, is a form of chronic depression. Learn about its symptoms, causes, treatment, and more. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Mental Health.
Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Exercise regularly. Cut back on social media time. Build strong relationships. Minimize your daily choices. Reduce stress. Maintain your treatment plan. Get plenty of sleep. Stay away from toxic people. Eat well. Maintain a healthy weight. Manage chronic conditions. Read prescription medication side effects carefully.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Get our free guide when you sign up for our newsletter. Efficacy of peer support interventions for depression: a meta-analysis. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. Dedovic K, Ngiam J.
The cortisol awakening response and major depression: examining the evidence. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. Prevalence and clinical correlates of co-occurring insomnia and hypersomnia symptoms in depression.
J Affect Disord. Nutritional medicine as mainstream in psychiatry. Lancet Psychiatry. The efficacy of zinc supplementation in depression: systematic review of randomised controlled trials.
Driessen E, Hollon SD. Cognitive behavioral therapy for mood disorders: efficacy, moderators and mediators. Psychiatr Clin North Am. Uses and abuses of recovery: implementing recovery-oriented practices in mental health systems. World Psychiatry. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Build a Support Network One of the most important things you can do to help yourself with depression—other than medication and therapy—is to develop strong social support.
Reduce Your Stress When you're under stress, your body produces more of a hormone called cortisol. Improve Your Sleep Hygiene Sleep and mood are intimately related. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Minimizing the pain of another person is not helpful. For people who are dealing with depression, it can be very hurtful and harmful. When you're caring for and about someone who is depressed, you may say hurtful things when you are feeling frustrated or worried. If you find yourself thinking "who cares? You need to take care of your own emotional and mental health before you can help someone else with theirs.
If you are feeling frustrated, irritated, or helpless, check-in with yourself and make sure that you have the support you need. It may seem, at times, like someone who is depressed is very preoccupied with their own life or, more specifically, their own thoughts but that doesn't make them selfish.
Avoiding making comments that shame them for how they are feeling such as:. Implying that a person with depression doesn't care about other people provides no comfort and only fuels feelings of blame, shame, and guilt.
People who experience depression still care about others. Even if you have experienced clinical depression yourself, your experience may be different from someone else's. If you've never had depression, it may be hard for you to empathize. In either case, if someone you love is depressed, the best thing you can do is be open and willing to learn.
Rather than giving up on a conversation by saying "I just don't understand"—or saying you do understand when you really don't—start by reassuring your loved one that you care about them. If you are struggling to understand what they need, be honest. Calmly explain, then be patient and ready to listen. While this may be true, a person who is depressed may not have the perspective necessary to entertain the idea—let alone believe it. A person who is depressed may have a hard time envisioning the future because they are overwhelmed by the present.
It's also not easy to "let go" or "escape from" the past, especially for someone who experienced loss or trauma. You may feel like you're offering hope by saying that, eventually, things will get better—but a person who is depressed may be frustrated wondering how long they will have to wait. It's tough to find helpful words to someone who is feeling depressed. Don't be afraid to say, "I am not sure what to say right now. And if you're not careful, your words might do more harm than good.
If you think you've said something hurtful in the past, apologize. Explain that you weren't sure what to say or that you didn't understand. An apology can help someone begin feeling better if your words haven't been helpful in the past.
Everything feels more challenging when you're dealing with depression. Get our free guide when you sign up for our newsletter. Neurobiological mechanisms in major depressive disorder. Optimism and its impact on mental and physical well-being. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. Mental health treatment seeking among older adults with depression: the impact of stigma and race.
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry.
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