Tips for dealing with anxiety and depression: Anxiety and depression can have a big impact on your life, but there are steps you can take that can make it more manageable to get through from day to day. Keep reading for tips about how to cope with anxiety and depression.
Tips for dealing with anxiety and depression:
Exercise regularly
Regular exercise reduces the symptoms of both depression and anxiety. Exercise releases endorphins, a feel-good chemical in the brain that enhances mood. It also facilitates specific immune system chemicals that cause depression and raises the body temperature, which promotes relaxation. If you are suffering from depression, try high-impact exercises that get your body moving, like jogging, or hiking. If you have anxiety, try activities like yoga or breathwork.
Cut down on alcohol
People who suffer from anxiety and depression tend to turn to alcohol to ease their tension and anxiety. Though alcohol may ease symptoms for a short period, it will make them worse in the long run. Because alcohol is a depressant, it temporarily suppresses your feelings of anxiety, however, when the alcohol is metabolized and rids the body, your anxiety and depression will backfire.
Organize your day
Depression is an unfortunate experience that affects your mood, and also your energy and encouragement. If you are depressed, it may be challenging to focus or you may find it tempting to stay in bed all day. You may be worried if you do not know what you will do in your day. So, try to follow your regular routines as much as possible, and avoid letting your moods tell you what to do.
Also Read: Ways to improve mental health.
Live in the present moment
If you are suffering from anxiety, it may be because you are worried, or nervous about the future. If you are facing depression, it may be because you are constantly dwelling on the past, pondering about things that went wrong, or thinking self-defeating thoughts. Learning to appreciate the present moment will have a wonderful impact on your life. Although this is no easy feat, it will help you to separate your emotions from your thoughts. The best way to stop dwelling on the past or stressing over the future is to detect when such kinds of thoughts occur throughout your daily life. When they do, then accept them, label them as thoughts, and let them vanish.
Meditate
Practicing meditation regularly is proven to ease symptoms of anxiety and depression. Mindfulness practices can also help you feel more connected to others. They can help you achieve more control over your sentiments and improve your ability to think about situations in a new way.
Deal with painful memories
Many people are depressed and anxious because they are holding on to past traumatic experiences. They are going through a substantial change, or have lost a loved one. While it is particularly challenging to erase these memories and go through these experiences, there are certain things you can do to reduce their prevalence in your everyday life. For example, grieve when you need to, and write down what happened and how it made you feel.