What can I do to help myself with depression?
 
Reach out to someone you trust
ItÔÇÖs easy to lose perspective when you are sad and isolated, to forget there is hope. The very nature of depression makes it hard to reach out to others, but it is an important first step in improving your mood. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness. It wonÔÇÖt make you a burden on others. Your loved ones may even be relieved to hear that you are ready to talk and take the first steps toward a healthier life. The person you reach out to doesnÔÇÖt have to be someone who can fix you; it just needs to be someone who is a good listener and someone you trust.
Take care of your body.
Our bodies and minds are interconnected.  The way you treat your body affects your mind and your emotions. So treat yourself well, like someone you deeply care about.
- Eat nutritious foods every day
- Drink plenty of water, especially during our long Louisiana summers
- Make sleep a priority
- Take medicines as directed
- Make and keep medical and dental appointments ┬À┬á┬á ┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á
- Steer away from alcohol and unprescribed drugs
Exercise
According to Dr. Margaret Wehrenberg author, of The 10 Best-Ever Depression Management Techniques, exercise is one of the single most effective things you can do to manage depression. Exercise encourages the production of new brain cells that can produce serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for helping us feel mentally healthy. Exercise also decreases stress. For depressed people with agitation, exercise is especially helpful because it uses up adrenalin and helps rid the body of toxic cortisol. Twenty to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day is best. But you can start wherever you are and build up. Find an exercise partner and head to the track at one of NatchitochesÔÇÖ city parks.
Spend time in nature
Here in Natchitoches Parish, nature is all around us. Many of us live along Cane River and near fields and wooded areas. Some of us are lucky enough to have backyards. Those of us in town can take advantage of our city parks, the downtown riverbank, and Beau Jardin. Breathing fresh air, listening to the ripples of the water, gazing at the sky, and luxuriating in green spaces relaxes us, opens our minds, and helps us get in touch with our spiritual lives. When we are in nature, we indulge our senses. This pulls us away from negative thinking. Other advantages of being in nature are getting natural light and vitamin D, moving our bodies, and meeting others including the wildlife.
Source
Wehrenberg, M. (2010). The 10 best-ever depression management techniques. W.W. Norton & Company.
Even though our blogs can be helpful, Mind Over Matters recommends that you seek professional help if your depressive symptoms are severe. Please seek help if you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide, if you are unable to care for your basic needs or attend to your basic duties, or if your symptoms are accompanied by substance abuse.
