Depression - what helps??

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  • VickyFine
    VickyFine Posts: 8
    Exercise does help your depression as does anything that gets your mind off of you. Read a book. Make something. Get outside if possible. Talk to a friend or family member. Help someone. Smile. Laugh. Look things up on google. I feel for you. Depression is tough. Hang in there.
  • NotThePest
    NotThePest Posts: 164
    Run as quick as you can to the book store, apple book store, amazon, etc or your local library and get this book, SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, by John Ratey, MD. There are several chapters on how exercise effects the brain's chemicals and moderates the ones that control mood and emotion.

    After reading that book and another one he wrote called, The User's Guide to the Brain, I know longer exercise to control my blood glucose levels, but to keep my little brain cells intact and in working order.
  • apedeb09
    apedeb09 Posts: 805 Member
    I was diagnosed with major depression at 14. I have days where I get so depressed and I have no idea why. I hate feeling like that... but I've noticed that exercise truly helps with that. Ever since I've started exercising regularly and eating better, I'm in a much better mood than I was. Other than that, therapy can be helpful too.
  • KellyUK1987
    KellyUK1987 Posts: 75
    I have severe anxiety, and moderately severe depression, and find that swimming really helps. It's so calming and soothing for me.
    I go for about an hour, and spend about 10 - 15 mins just floating around to collect my thoughts, and see the way the water moves, I find it therapeutic.

    Depression is a physical, as well as mental, illness. As the chemicals in your brain are out of balance.

    I find that putting my mind to something allows me to forget about the depression. Such as Calorie Counting. I'm obsessed with it at the moment. Every little thing I eat, is put in to this site. If I'm going to go over, I just simply do a bit of exercise / WiiFit so that I can bring it down again. So I know that I am in control :)
  • jcpmoore
    jcpmoore Posts: 796 Member
    Step 1: Start keeping a journal. It doesn't have to be elaborate, but enough to know which are your toughest days and which are better.

    Step 2: Track your food and exercise.

    Try to make better food and exercise choices. After a month, see if there's a pattern. Over several months, see if those tough days seem to fall in the same pattern each month.

    If you have the leeway, see a good nurse practitioner and get checked out. They are way better about this sort of thing than full on docs, IMO.
  • Jigglebewie
    Jigglebewie Posts: 336 Member
    I'm suffering from depression, and social anxiety =[

    I find that exercise reeeally does help me. I don't exercise to lose weight in my mind, I exercise to feel better and the added benefit you lose weight =] Sometimes I only feel good for a few hours after exercise but it's feel better than sitting there all day, like I do being miserable. I find it very hard to concentrate on stuff, I left my job cuz it got so bad I couldn't face going daily, and I have no mtivation for doing my coursework =/ the only thing I seem to be doing well in is the whole fitness thing =] I'm reading, researching and exercising. The best thing is to start slow, do something you think you will enjoy, not something you hate. I'd go walking but if your like me, I don't like going out and feel very self-concious so I prefer to do aerobics dvds.

    The healthier food has helped me a lot too, when I eat crap I feel liek it helps at first, that I'm just ignoring everythign and eating my feelings, but the next day, boy do I feel so bad =[ As I've been eating a lot better for the past few months, it gets easier and makes me feel good.

    I have been reading a book that doesn't exactly have a magical solution, but it has some things you change in your life: The Depression Cure (Without Drugs) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Depression-Cure-Six-Step-Programme-Without/dp/0091929814/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343996763&sr=1-1 Could help or give you some ideas on where to start. I'm currently having CBT to help with my negative thinking, and am on a waiting list for a social anxiety course. Defo get some professional help tho *hugs*

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