How to Protect Yourself from Depression during Difficult Times

Rebecca Lewis October 14, 2016

Life is not perfect. Every one of us goes through life’s ups and downs, twists and turns. Not every day is a sunny day. Sometimes, we deal with problems that are easy to deal with. But there are also times when the difficulty we’re facing seems endless.

But you have to believe that things will be better soon. You will finally get over that challenge. You will survive. But the stress and negative emotions that come with the circumstances can make you vulnerable to depression. It is a great idea to learn some self-help strategies to protect yourself from developing such a debilitating mental health condition.

Eat healthy.

When the body is weak, so is the mind. During stressful moments, it is very important that you don’t neglect your dietary needs. You might not have the appetite to eat, eat more than you should (also called ‘emotional eating’), or choose unhealthy food over the nutritious ones. So make a conscious effort to follow a balanced diet. Add more greens to your diet, lessen the bad fats (those coming from meat and dairy), and choose wholesome snacks. Good food provides your mind and body energy and nutrients that keep them healthy.

Make a journal.

Writing is a very powerful and healing self-help strategy that works well in fighting mental health disorders, from anxiety to depression. The reason why it’s effective is because it gives you an opportunity to reflect on things, and see your feelings from a different perspective. Whether you write it down on a notebook or put up your personal blog - journaling has great benefits to your mental health. It can also help you understand why such things are happening in your life right now, and probably come up with ways to resolve your problems.

Connect and reconnect.

During difficult moments, it really feels comforting to have friends and family members to guide and support you. They may not be the right people to give you advice, but they can be the best people to listen and empathize. Reconnect with the people closest to you. And allow yourself to meet others too. But be careful who you make friends with. You want to seek company of positive people - those who will help put your mind to the right perspective, not worsen how you feel.

Spend time alone.

While you allow yourself to reconnect and connect with others, you also want to give yourself time to be alone from time to time. There is healing in being alone. Sometimes, the answers to our problems are nowhere to be found but within us. You just have to allow yourself to think things through.

Workout.

You’ve probably felt it - a spike in your mood and energy after exercising. That’s one of the amazing things working out does to your health. Regular exercise doesn’t just make you stronger physically, but also mentally. So make it a habit to work out. 30 minutes of physical activity every day may be all you need to go through a tough day.

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