Tuesday, 8 January 2013

10 Tips Avoiding Depression

Depression is now becoming similar to an epidemic and that is why its causes are now well researched. If you would want to avoid developing depression, you have to know the causes of it and how not to be under the “spell” of its causes:
Stress is said to be the top cause why people become depressed. There may be stress experienced at work, because of social relationships, pressures at home, in school, worrying about finances and a lot more. Migrating to another country, losing your job may also lead to stress---these may be unavoidable of course but what you need to do is to learn and apply stress coping mechanisms that would effectively relieve your stress. Find out what works for you---whether it is having a relaxing soak in a hot tub or eating sweets, the most important is that you are not that stressed in your daily life.
People who are into drinking and drug intake would also be more prone to getting depressed. The reason is because alcohol and drugs especially when taken consistently at a young age would really affect the person’s brain negatively. People in the end will become addicted to it because of the feeling of being “high” temporarily. As soon as that temporary high passes, the person will tend to become depressed. It is not bad to drink occasionally. Be sure that you do not get used to drinking continuously if you want to lessen the chances of you getting depressed.
Lack of sleep is also a reason why depression may set in. The brain waves would not be able to function normally if you are not able to have enough sleep most of the time. This will then lead to a depressed individual. Sleep with the right number of hours (at least 7-9 hours a day) in order to avoid depression.
Getting enough sunlight as well as exercising regularly will also help your body and brain function well and this would help in preventing depression. Good eating habits are also important and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to keep you healthy will help in keeping depression away. Experts say that you should avoid the intake of coffee, sodas and cigarettes. Remember that these do not really have any positive effect on your body and will bring you harm if taken excessively. They are also addictive stuff and believe it or not, they would bring about depression whenever you don’t get to take them.
Another secret to avoiding being depressed is to have a little bit of fun daily. Whether it would be reading funny stories, listening to jokes, doing what you love such as reading, listening to your favorite tunes, etc., you have to experience fun also to avoid being stressed out. Engaging in social activities such as sports, joining a club, chatting, and other hobbies will help you keep depression at bay.Lastly, think positive. Being a negative thinker would make you become highly susceptible to depression. Also remember that happiness is all in the mind. Listen to lively music, dance, sing, do these things to signal to your brain that you are happy---do these in order to avoid becoming depressed.