How to Rebound from Depression

Coping with your depression

As the Mayo Clinic notes, you will often need to seek help from others to deal with depression. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) explains that a depressive disorder impacts your daily life, as opposed to common, ephemeral feelings of sadness. NIMH experts point out that, while some people never receive treatment for their depression, those that do tend to benefit.

Instructions

1. Consult your doctor. NIMH suggests ruling out a physical cause, such as a thyroid problem or virus, for your depressive symptoms. With medical causes eliminated, NIMH advises seeking the counsel of a mental health professional. This will likely lead to regular therapy sessions.

2. Consider taking an antidepressant medication. Discuss the potential risks and benefits with your family doctor and therapist. If you choose to take prescription drugs to help ease your depression, your therapist will likely recommend them in conjunction with ongoing therapy.

3. Stick to your treatment plan. As you begin to rebound from depression's low points, Mayo Clinic doctors claim that you might be tempted to skip a therapy session or a dose of medication. They advise against this to avoid withdrawal-like symptoms and a detour from your progress.

4. Get enough sleep. The Mayo Clinic contends that sleep is important when you are depressed. If you are having trouble sleeping, mention this to your doctor.

5. Take part in regular exercise. Exercise can alleviate depression in several ways. It releases chemicals in your brain that elevate mood and raises your body temperature, which helps provide calm. Mayo Clinic doctor Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D. suggests starting slow. Realistic exercise goals offer a better chance at success, which makes it more likely that exercise will help sustain your recovery from depression.

6. Practice some form of relaxation. This can include yoga, acupuncture or massage. These activities address the mind-body connection that might play a role in depression.

Tips & Warnings

• The Mayo Clinic warns against relying solely on alternative therapies to treat depression. As with many disorders, rebounding from depression is complex. It requires a well-rounded, consistent and, in some cases, life-long effort.

References

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): How is depression detected and treated?
• Mayo Clinic: Lifestyle and home remedies
• Mayo Clinic: Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms
• Mayo Clinic: Recover from depression one step at a time
• NIMH: What is depression?