How to Fight Depression & Worries
According to the Mayo Clinic, depression is a chronic illness that necessitates extended treatment. Depression affects how an individual behaves and thinks. Depression often causes the affected individual to feel little or no joy in her life. Anxiety often accompanies depression and can manifest as constant worrying or sudden panic attacks. Depression and anxiety can be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain, genetics and a person's environment or life situation.
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Things You'll Need
- Prescribed medications
- Reference materials concerning depression and anxiety
Instructions
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Determine if you have some or all of the common symptoms of depression or anxiety. Depression symptoms include: little interest in normal activities, overwhelming feelings of sadness, crying episodes, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, weight changes, moodiness, fatigue, unexplained physical pain and suicidal thoughts. Anxiety symptoms include restlessness, impatience, muscle tightness, trouble breathing and headache.
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Seek medical advice. A family doctor can diagnose and treat depression and anxiety. However, an individual may feel more comfortable getting a referral to a psychiatrist or therapist for more specialized care.
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Seek support from family and friends if you are comfortable doing so. Having someone to talk to regularly about your thoughts and feelings may help.
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Take medications as prescribed to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Even if you start to feel better, do not stop taking your medications unless instructed to do so by a doctor or other health care provider.
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Attend all schedules doctor appointments or sessions with a therapist. Consistency is important in fighting depression and anxiety.
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Educate yourself about depression and anxiety. Knowing exactly what you are dealing with can be empowering.
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Exercise regularly. According to the Mayo Clinic, even exercises as simple as walking have been shown to help depression.
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Avoid alcohol and drugs. These things will only serve to make symptoms worse in the long run.
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