Challenge negative thoughts. In your fight against depression, a lot of the work is mental, changing how you think. When you're depressed, you leap to the worst possible conclusions.
The next time you're feeling terrible about yourself, use logic as a natural depression treatment
. You might feel like no one likes you, but is there real evidence for that? You might feel like the most worthless person on the planet, but is that really likely? It takes practice, but in time you can beat back those negative thoughts before they get out of control.
The mainstay of
treatment is usually
medication,
talk therapy, or a combination of the two. Increasingly, research suggests these treatments may normalize brain function associated with depression. Try e
xercise. It temporarily boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphin. It may also have long-term benefits for you. Regular exercise seems to encourage the brain
to rewire itself in positive ways.
Do something new.
When you’re depressed, you’re in a rut. Push yourself to do something different. Go to a museum. Pick up a used book and read it on a park bench. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Take a language class. Paint a picture. Watch a comedy movie. Trust me it works.
