What are some of the most effective ways to fight depression?

5 ways that are backed by scientific research

“Wanting to stand in the street and scream for no apparent reason”

“Wanting to vomit but have no mouth”

“The healthy suspicion that modern life has no meaning and is absurd and alienating”

“Its like drowning when everyone is breathing”

“You wake up in the morning just to go to bed again”

“Feels like you are locked in a cage without a key”

“A permanent feeling of exhausion that sleep doesn’t fix”

“Being scared and tired at the same time”

“Praying to die everyday but having to live with the knowledge that you won’t”

These are just some ways people described depression as. It feels like a bloodcurdling scream going through it. They are very powerful and tragic at the same time.

The most common way people deal with depression is by using prescription drugs. The truth is that this is the addiction no one talks about. The reason people do not consider this an addiction is that there is no craving for it, and there is no high either. But don’t get it twisted, it IS an addiction.

The reason talking to someone during depression is effective is because the depressed person’s thinking is clouded. During depression, your thoughts control you and for them, it is easier to stay in the same place and torture yourself every day than to actually understand the root of the problem! This is the main reason depression is as big a problem as it is!

Depression hurts your self-identity. When this happens it makes you feel powerless and weak which further inhibits you from coming up with definite solutions to deal with it.

How do you deal with depression?

Let’s get straight to the essence of this article;

Have a high protein breakfast

I heard this when hearing a lecture of Jordan Peterson- a famous clinical psychologist. He stated that many people who walk through his doors with depression, he noticed that majority of them have weak breakfasts and that might be the reason you feel the way you feel if you are down some days.

Keep in mind this remedy is for everyone who happens to feel down some days, we all do. I have personally seen this work wonders for me. Having a high-protein breakfast gives me more energy throughout the day than when I don’t have it. And the difference is massive.

Jordan Peterson himself said that for people who make this a habit, it is like half of their problem is solved! So be sure to try it, I am sure it can and will go a long way.

Protein is associated with meat like chicken, beef or mutton, and eggs, etc.

It doesn’t matter whether you are hungry or not, just eat it and you will notice the massive difference it makes.

Try writing about what you think for some days

The major problem like I discussed before, for depression, is that it clouds the way you think, ultimately sabotaging your problem-solving skills too. To get around this, one of the things you can do is write for some days. Just write whatever you think. Once you do this for a few days on end you might be able to eliminate the bias and zero in on the problem at hand. Once you point the problem out you are already in the final stretch!

Talking to someone

This is a common method in coping with depression but it is often used wrongly. Don’t get me wrong though, it still works more than it doesn’t.

What people usually use this for is venting or dishing your anger or issues out on someone you trust. This is perfectly ok, but there is another dimension that should be added to it.

Talk to them and ask them to tell you what you are thinking which is inherently wrong or biased. Let me reiterate, thinking is clouded due to depression and you need someone there.

I understand that not everyone wants to talk to someone about their issue, that is why I included another way to get around that- writing. This is in the case where you don’t want to write or writing does not identify your problem as it should.

Exercise

According to the Mayo Clinic, engaging in 30 minutes of exercise for 3 to 5 days a week can significantly weaken depression or depressive symptoms. This can include walking, running, swimming, boxing, and all sorts of other exercise regimens.

This works as exercising improves self-esteem and cognitive processes. Consistent exercise also helps build discipline. Not only this but exercise also results in better sleep.

Sleep is disturbed more than anything in depression and recovering that can work really well for your mental health. This is because sleep balances your circadian rhythms which balance your mood. If sleep is disturbed so are those rhythms and thus the mood that goes along with it.

Therapy

I included this at the very end as this is the most obvious one. Therapy works for most people but not everyone wants to be vulnerable in front of another person. That is why I included the rest.

This obviously needs no introduction so I’ll move right on.

People misunderstand depression

The sad truth about depression is simply that it is misunderstood. Yes, it is a mental issue, the most dangerous one. Yes, it has caused countless suicides and problems. Yes, it has ruined the lives of amazing people and maybe even people with high potential who never managed to reach it. But what depression really is, is a chance to level up or upgrade yourself to be precise.

People who come out of depression come out stronger than ever. Think about it. The sad fact is that not everyone does get out of it. Depression points directly to certain problems in your life that need immediate attention. It hits at your ‘perfect’ self-perception. People who understand this and manage to deal with it become better people with one less problem to deal with. People who don’t, either end up taking their lives or remain unhappy all the time.

People around us should understand this as well. When people help depressed people this is what they should aim at. This is what depression really is. It is a chance of self-improvement and it does that by pressing vigorously on an issue that needs attending. It has to be either resolved or it can break the person.

For more regarding depression make sure you check this article out as well!

Depression