8 Ways to Reduce Your Depression

Depression is an emotional reaction to external situations. Almost everyone experiences depression at some point in his or her life and it is a normal part of life. It should not be seen as a disease. When one begins to experience a sad and lonely feeling, it is usually a sign of that depression is experienced. There are also times when depression causes loss of appetite and lack of sleep. In some cases, depression may cause withdraw from social contact and in more severe cases the condition is further characterized by feelings of hopelessness, despair and low self-esteem.

Depression can be seen as a cycle: Depression = lower motivation = doing less = increased isolation = more negative feedback in your life = more depression

Nevertheless, one thing remains constant; depression can be reduced effectively. Depression is highly treatable, and potentially easy to manage. So here are the 8 ways you can reduce it:

Another way of managing depression is by engaging in fun activities. If you have an activity that used to bring you fun, you should do it for at least 5 minutes each day. It helps to keep the mind active and can reduce depression.

Going outside in the morning and sitting in the sun for 5 minutes is also great leap forward. It helps to keep the mind relaxed.

Go for a walk in the sun, morning and afternoon even if you don't feel like it. Again 5 minutes is better than no time at all.

You need to allow yourself time-out to do things that relax and provide you with positive feelings. For instance, having a bath or watching a funny movie can have positive impact on your mind.

It has also become clear that meeting friends helps to reduce depression. It is better than being all alone. You ought to meet friends even if you do not feel like doing so.

The war of tackling depression will not be achievable if you do not increase your self-esteem, so you will need to get help in increasing your self-esteem. Do something challenging but rewarding, focus on what you are good at and what you like about yourself (I know it is difficult to feel good about yourself, but you should start finding even small things that you should feel good about)

Learn relaxation techniques like deep breathing, or learn meditation techniques through yoga.

One of the best ways to tackle depression is by seeking professional help. You do not have to tell everybody around you. Go for a professional who has a vast experience in handling depression. The sooner you seek the professional help, the easier it is going be. Statistics and studies indicate that prompt tackling of depression minimizes the possibility of recurrence or more severe symptoms.