Valentin Bosioc
Depression is, without a doubt, one of the most rampant mental health illnesses of all time. According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.
At its height, depression could lead to suicide and people with depression often have triggers that can make their conditions worse. In fact, studies show that about 60 percent of people who commit suicide have had a mood disorder which is a symptom of major depression.
More often than not, depression requires a medical diagnosis. One of the most effective treatments for depression in modern times is neurofeedback therapy. Neurofeedback is a form of brainwave training that instructs the brain to work at full capacity and has been used successfully with children as young as 18 months to adults over 90 years old to help treat depression.
But as effective as this and other depression treatments are, the better alternative is to prevent it from occurring. It starts by being aware of the symptoms and triggers of depression. Here are 4 ways to avoid depression amidst the crises you might be going through.
1. Improve your self-esteem
Low self-esteem is a deeprooted menace in every society and people living with it almost always end up having depression. It’s characterized by poor self-image and unfair inner criticism. People with low self-esteem have lost their sense of confidence and can’t find anything positive about themselves.
For some people, low self-esteem is self-inflicted while a large percentage is a result of emotional or physical abuse meted by others. Either way, you have to change the narrative by challenging all forms of criticism that come your way mentally. Also, you have to practice self-compassion & love, appreciate what you have, and try to see the positive side of everything.
2. Avoid stress
Depression and stress are like the siamese twins; they’re closely related. Stress comes in different forms and we encounter it every day. What is however not healthy is to give stress a place in your life. When you do, it makes life less colorful because it will dictate the tone of your activities.
People who are borderline victims of depression must find a way to eliminate stress from their lives. In living a stress-free life, you must be prepared to accept what you can’t change, learn to overlook things that are displeasing to you and simplify things so you don’t overstretch yourself.
3. Take good care of yourself
Self-neglect is the easiest route to depression. People who fail to attend to their basic needs are more prone to depression than those who take good care of themselves. If the situation is allowed to linger for long, it gets to a point where the entire outlook on life becomes elusive and depression starts to set in.
To prevent this from happening, you must pay attention to personal hygiene, nice appropriate clothing & decent shelter. In addition, you have to get adequate sleep, improve your diet and exercise regularly and. Studies show that some high-intensity exercises have the ability to release endorphins into the body which helps to relieve stress & pain and boost happiness.
4. Watch out for symptoms
One surprising thing about depression is that a lot of people slide into it out of ignorance. Since they’re not aware of the triggers and symptoms, they feel that what they’re going through is normal thus preventing them from seeking any help.
For example, a woman that’s suffering from postpartum depression might not be aware of this condition especially if that was her first delivery. And 1 out of every 7 women usually experiences postpartum depression after giving birth. The point I’m trying to make here is that you wouldn’t be able to get help if you’re not aware there’s a problem. It takes vigilance and awareness to notice the symptoms of depression and raise the red flag.
Conclusion
If after trying the above-mentioned tips and you still notice that you’re having the symptoms of depression, then you need to talk to someone fast. There’s no shame in it and anyone can have depression. But keeping it to yourself will only worsen the situation and that’s why you should always open up so you can get the required help.
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