If you are suffering from depression, it is important that you talk to a doctor or a counselor. Trying to fight depression on your own is extremely challenging and can increase your symptoms. Fortunately, there are many ways that depression can be treated, including counseling sessions, medications and lifestyle changes. If you are looking to avoid taking medications, you may be focused on the lifestyle changes you can make to help fight your depression. Here are a few of the most important lifestyle changes you can make when combating depression.

Exercise

One of the ways you can effectively combat exercise naturally is by exercising. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins in the body. Endorphins naturally make you feel better and happier. As such, many people liken endorphins to natural anti-depressants. It is recommended that you try to work out for at least 30 minutes daily to boost this chemical in the brain. If possible, consider doing a workout in the morning and one in the evening. This helps to stabilize the chemicals in your body throughout the day and keeps them up, helping you to feel better.

Get Seven to Eight Hours of Sleep Per Night

When you suffer from depression, sleep can be tricky. You may have insomnia and not get enough sleep, or you may be tired and get way more sleep than you need. One of the changes you can make to help improve your depression is to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Use relaxation and breathing techniques to help you fall asleep. And then set an alarm to get up after eight hours. Getting less sleep than you need and getting more sleep than you need can both make you feel tired and sluggish, which can negatively impact your depression.

Socialize

The last lifestyle change you can make to help combat depression is to socialize more. Those who feel depressed often feel alone or isolated. Building up a strong circle of friends helps to combat this feeling and gives you the opportunity to interact in fun settings. Plan a night out with your friends once or twice a week or even incorporate some of your friends into your exercise regimen or daily lunchtime setting. Interacting with others can help you feel social, boost your confidence, improve your self esteem and help you avoid feeling alone, lonely or isolated from others, which can help improve your depression.

If you have made lifestyle changes and are attending either group or individual counseling sessions and are not noticing an improvement in your symptoms, your doctor may recommend medications. Medications can help change the chemical make up in your brain that may be causing your symptoms. This can help make your symptoms more manageable when lifestyle changes and counseling are not enough. Talk to your doctor or counselor honestly about what you are feeling and your symptoms so they can put together the best plan for you based on your symptoms and needs.

Do you need professional help with depression? If so, contact a medical professional such as Dr Kuris Counseling Centers.   

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