Finding a therapist and embarking on a medicinal treatment is the most effective and practical strategy to heal from depression. But it takes more than just medications and therapy to break the vicious cycle of sadness that threatens to drown your life’s purpose and happiness.
Reclaiming your life isn’t easy, but it is the only way you can beat depression by reviving your spirits and determination to enjoy your life. You can make multiple lifestyle changes that dispel feelings of sadness and despair with strong feelings of happiness, euphoria, excitement, adventure, fascination and bliss.
Read on to explore some practical ways to reclaim your life as you heal from depression and dismantle the cycle of sadness.
1. Surround yourself with Family & Friends
Depression breeds isolation, cutting you off from your family, friends and loved ones so it can prey on you while you’re lonely and secluded. Fighting this isolation is the first step toward reclaiming your life and reinventing yourself. Spending time with your loved ones will make you feel loved and cherished, instilling positivity and hope in your heart and mind.
This love and hope will help you fight those unexplainable bouts of sadness and despair that make you want to crave isolation. Even if you don’t feel like dressing up and going out, muster the strength to put on a nice outfit and have a great time. Enlist the support of your family and friends and ask them to encourage you to attend social gatherings and events, cajoling you if need be.
2. Enjoy the Things you Love
Were you an avid painter or a passionate gardener before spiraling into depression? Or perhaps, you enjoyed baking and dreamt of opening your own bakery? Depression has a way of emptying our minds of all things that bring us pleasure and satisfaction, filling the empty space with dark thoughts of doom.
Naturally, if you want to heal from depression, reclaiming your hobbies and interests is the best way to dispel dark thoughts that drain your energy and optimism. Think hard and focus on activities that bring you pleasure, satisfaction and exhilarating fun.
Suppose you enjoy lounging around and watching TV shows. In that case, make a bucket list of all the TV shows you haven’t watched and binge-watch them with a tower of snacks. Likewise, if your cognitive senses feel alive while betting on your favorite sports, tune into an online sports betting platform to test your mettle.
There’s an abundance of ways to enjoy what one truly loves and finds satisfying. For instance, nature lovers can travel to a state park, and photography enthusiasts can dust off their old cameras and hit the streets for candid portraits.
3. Get Plenty of Exercise
People diagnosed with mental health illnesses, especially anxiety, depression and chronic stress, are routinely advised to get plenty of exercise. Have you ever wondered why? Exercising or sweating out encourages the release of several neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, glutamate and GABA.
Serotonin and GABA have an integral role in inducing feelings of happiness and joy, while glutamate and GABA work together to heal systemic inflammation, a common risk factor of depression. Exercising for as less as 20 minutes can help you induce these neurotransmitters for an instant feel-good effect.
We advise creating an exercise regimen you can genuinely enjoy and look forward to, such as dancing, yoga, pilates or swimming.
Final Thoughts
Fighting depression demands consistency and patience. The struggle is real, but you don’t have to fight alone. Enlist the support of your loved ones and join an online or offline community of survivors who understand your challenges well. Remember, the hardest challenge is fighting off the isolation, and once you manage to achieve that, good things will surely follow.
