What Is Depression?
Well, in general terms, depression can be framed as the feeling of being lonely, hopeless, sad, drained emotionally. People experience depression at different levels. For example, for some people, depression level is low; hence they can cope up with their normal day to day life, while for the 2nd type of people, the depression level becomes high, which not only affects their behavior but also degrades their productivity. For some people, it varies from the different quarters of the day, like in the first half/morning time the depression level is at the peak while at the end of the day, it goes down.
The depression symptoms vary from one age group to others. In teenagers, the symptoms may be different than those in middle-aged people, while it can also affect senior citizens. Is it true that depression can be worsened for people with other health disorders?
Unfortunately, yes. Health issues like obesity, diabetics, hypothyroid, asthma, people with arthritis can worsen depression. Can depression be genetic? Research has been proved people who have siblings/father/mother who had depression are indeed likely to develop similar mental health conditions.
TW: Sexual harassment
Depression is influenced by the environment – Is it true? Yes, in some cases, where the people are staying in an environment where they are constantly feeling pressured regarding their work-life balance/to improve their productivity, it’s quite possible the person can experience depression.
Is there a simpler way to handle depression? Yes, of course. A simple step towards lifestyle change can work as a miraculous thing for people suffering from mental issues like depression. Below are the 4 most basic lifestyle changes which will help in fighting depression.
1- Make A Habit Of Getting 7-8 Hours Of Sleep
For people who sleep late at night and wake up in the mid-noon, a mental health issue like depression is common. According to studies, persons who are sleep for 7-8 hours are less prone to getting depressed. One of the root causes of depression is sleeping deprivation. So start implementing this habit in your everyday routine.
2- Regular Exercise
These days it’s commonly said that- “we don’t get time to exercise”, “we are not interested in exercise”, “better to use that time in sleeping,” etc. But doing regular exercise is an integral part of our lifestyle, and people must understand this. By doing exercise, you are not only making your body fit but also getting rid of sleeping disorders like insomnia. Not only this, but it also fuels the body to keep you energetic throughout the day, which indeed works as a firewall for mental health disorders like depression.
3- Share What You Feel-Never Keep It To Yourself
Yes, this is the most important factor, which has the capability of eradicating the root cause of depression. In the present time, people are preferring to have an online group chat rather than having a family chat. They believe in social media live sessions rather than face-to-face discussions, which is one of the primary reasons for developmental stress and depression. When you start sharing what you feel with your family members/friends/any person you trust, your thoughts become clearer, and there is always a solution to your problem.
4- Always Show Gratitude
By showing gratitude towards others, we develop a sense of fulfilment/cheerfulness inside ourselves. We learn to value others and enjoy the journey of being alive. The feeling of gratefulness improves the mood and reduces the stress level significantly. So, it is always recommended to implement the feeling of gratitude in our lifestyle.
We all are aware of depression but have never really tried ways to handle it. It is never too late to start. It just requires a small amount of dedication from our side to implement lifestyle changes to improve our mental health.