We all feel down in the dumps at times, which is natural given the circumstances that we may find ourselves in. But if you feel sad most of the time, there is a chance that you may be depressed.
Depression, also known as clinical depression, is a serious mood disorder that interferes with your daily activities such as sleeping, eating, energy levels, working and maintaining relationships, as well as how you feel and think. Among the symptoms are:
- Constant sadness
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feeling irritable
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in things that used to bring you joy
- Decreased energy or fatigue
- Restlessness
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making even simple decisions
- Disruption of sleep, constant awakening, or oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight changes
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
If you have a mixture of these symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for more than a couple of weeks, you should seek medical attention. Psychotherapy such as CBT as well as medication may be required to make you feel more like your usual self – and that is nothing to be ashamed about.
However, sometimes it may not be depression, but just a few days of feeling low. While that is not particularly fun for the person experiencing it, and it certainly needs monitoring just in case it does not get any better, the chances are that after a few days, it will lift. Here are some tips to help you deal with low moods.
Change your thought processes
Your thoughts give rise to your emotions. You will feel sad, hopeless, and helpless if you believe you are not good enough, that your life is meaningless, and that your situation will never change. And negative emotions are triggered by negative thoughts. Positive emotions such as delight, pride, and love, on the other hand, follow promising positive thoughts.
Take some time to evaluate yourself and your situation completely. Attempt to observe yourself and your circumstances objectively. Take each negative thought, dismantle it, and realistically reshape it. Remember that your interpretation is open and that it can be altered.
Get physical
Exercising stimulate the production of endorphins, which are responsible for feelings of well-being and can even be analgesic, assisting you in dealing with pain. Get out and get moving.
Exercising stimulate the production of endorphins, which are responsible for feelings of well-being and can even be analgesic, assisting you in dealing with pain. Get out and get moving. Exercise is also great for someone who has gone through healing from an injury and can restore your confidence. For example, for people who’ve experienced a sports injury or even a major operation, having a look at Restore POC and getting yourself to a place where you can go out there and get your blood pumping will do wonders for your mentality. At the end of the day, exercise isn’t just about looking good but also feeling your best, which is why starting as soon as possible will only benefit you greatly!
Look at various therapies and practices
Mindfulness, meditation, mobile IV therapy, acupuncture, massage – these are all things that can help you to relax and unwind, and when you are feeling chilled out, it is much easier to pick apart what is causing you to feel low and equip you with the tools that you need to overcome low moods.
Eat a diet packed with serotonin
A healthy diet will make you feel physically better which will always help with moods, but make sure it has plenty of serotonin-boosting foods as well. These include foods such as nuts and seeds, oily fish, berries, and leafy greens. These will promote healthy sleep, appetite and help to improve cognitive function.