5 Ways to Cope with Depression

Written by Staff

This article is courtesy of HomeLife magazine

 Depression can be a serious condition. Here are 5 ways to combat depression in your daily life:

• Celebrate the moment. Enjoy daily victories — a project completed, a promotion, a child’s good report card, or a financial blessing. Celebrating small successes will increase your capacity for joy.

• Exercise. I have found that my mood lifts significantly when I walk or do aerobics. Find an exercise you like and try to do it at least three times a week. It will help your mood, your health, and your self-esteem.

• Put a statute of limitations on the depression. This great advice comes from Dr. Penelope Russianoff’s book When Am I Going to Be Happy? (Bantam). It’s normal to have grief after any type of loss — a move, a broken friendship, the death of a loved one, or a job change — but if you feel hopeless for more than a few weeks or months, seek professional help. And always seek help for yourself or a friend if thoughts of suicide crop up.

• Do something! Depression is discouraging because you don’t feel like doing anything, but shame and guilt multiply when you stay inert for too long. Try easy things at first: bake cookies with the kids, visit a nursing home, work on a simple project. Give yourself an assignment, and then applaud yourself when it’s done.

• Call for help. If your depression is debilitating, seek counseling and/or medication. If it’s mild, call a friend and go to a movie, or talk your spouse into taking the kids for the day so you can pamper yourself. Don’t try to do everything on your own. Remember, call on God too! 

 

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