You can take an important step in healing depression by bringing about simple changes in your lifestyle: exercising every day, avoiding the need to isolate yourself, eating healthy food instead of junk food and making time for rest and relaxation.

Depression lowers the energy and hope of a person, making it difficult to approach the healing process. Treatment for depression may be long and full of barriers, but it is by no means impossible. A depressed person has more control over feelings and emotions than he thinks he has – even if depression is severe or chronic.

It is important to start building small to lay the foundations for the bigger needs in your life. The feeling of improving your quality of life takes time, but you can reach the level you want only if you think positively – every day!

Talk about your feelings

You can talk about your feelings with someone you trust.

Share what you are going through with the people you love and trust. Ask for the help and support you need. You may have withdrawn from your relationships with your friends, but they can help you get through this difficult time.

Do not be ashamed or afraid. Those around you, the ones you consider your closest friends, will not judge you for the depression you are going through. You will be surprised how compassionate your friends and family are.

Don’t isolate yourself socially

Try to maintain social activity even if you do not feel the need to do it. When you are depressed, you feel more comfortable retiring in your shell. But being surrounded by other people will make you feel less depressed.

We know, it’s hard to understand how interactions with people who do not go through depression, people who do not have anxiety and persistent sadness, can be helpful, but spending time with people that have a good mood can spur you to see your problems from another perspective.

Don’t forget about physical exercising

Studies show that practising physical exercise on a regular basis may be as effective as antidepressant medication in terms of increasing energy levels and diminishing the feeling of fatigue, exhaustion.

Sleep well

When you are depressed, you can sleep too much or too little. You have to stop thinking that you have trouble sleeping because depression typically involves sleep disturbances. Whether you sleep too little or too much, your mood suffers. Try to make a better rest schedule and adopt healthy sleep habits.

Do not worry that you did not sleep enough the night before, do not worry even if you slept over your schedule one morning. The body feels it needs rest, the fact that you worry adds to the feeling of low esteem.

You have the right to relax

You can get out of the house and have breakfast with your friends. When you think only of your depression, you can remain stuck in a cycle of annoyance and sorrow. You can’t ignore your feelings of sadness as well as you can’t get rid of the moments that make you happier.

And a daily relaxation practice can relieve symptoms of depression, reduce stress and increase feelings of joy and wellbeing. Try yoga, deep breathing, progressive relaxation of the muscles or meditation.

Change will not come suddenly, but over time, if you make positive choices for yourself every day, and if you rely on the help of others, you will feel an improvement in mood.