Depression affects the way you think, feel, and act while having an impact on your physical and mental health. It may occur at any age, though the National Institute of Mental Health explains that depression affects certain people more, including those

·        Suffering from a physical illness

·        With a family history of depression

·        Who are victims of social abuse

·        Who have had a tragedy in the family

·        Who have experienced a life-changing event

·        Using certain medications

·        Addicted to substance abuse

While it is not possible to protect yourself from these events, you can try to find ways to manage stress and depression.

Ways To Reduce Depression

1.      Kick that stress away

Easier said than done, but it is in your best interest to learn a few stress management techniques because there is a connection between stress and depression. Chronic stress puts you at a higher risk of depression, especially those born with genetic factors that raise their risk. But you can always take steps to manage stress, such taking breaks from work, getting a good quality sleep, practicing meditation and breathing techniques, staying active and kicking, and learning to say no.

2.      Think positive

It is in your best interest to adopt positivity and optimism. Learn to stay positive, irrespective of circumstances. Live in the moment and think good. You can kick away depressive symptoms with positive mind-set. Seek out talking therapy with a professional if you find it tough to stay positive. Self-care is important if you are struggling with depression and negativity.

But if you still struggle with negative thoughts, challenge yourself instead of burying negative feelings. Acknowledge negativity and rationalize it. Gradually, you will find that negative thoughts are only in your mind and never materialize.

3.      Aim for small goals

The time may not be appropriate to accomplish larger goals. Instead set small goals that are easy to achieve. When you are able to do so, you will get a renewed vigor to do it even better the next time. Self-motivation is the key, and you can keep yourself motivated by setting and accomplishing smaller goals in your pursuit of larger ones. This will make you happy and stress free. You can wait for the big goals. Goal setting can keep you busy to accomplish your dreams instead of wasting time on negative thinking. Setting goals can help combat depression as you have a reason to get out of bed and do it big to achieve your dreams.

4.      Forget the past

Depression can trigger the catapult of negativity and past wrongs. It can sink you further into depression. So the idea is to stay motivated by living in the moment and not dwelling on the past. When the past situations strike your mind, redirect those negative thoughts into something positive or productive. It is wrong to live under the burden of the past and ruin your present.

5.      Learn gratitude

Did you know that gratitude shows you the road to greater happiness and satisfaction in life? It might sound simplistic, but even research finds that those who perform daily gratitude exercises are at a lower level of depression. Make a list of good things in your life and forget everything bad that’s happening around. This is the right way to live a positive life free from depression.

If you still struggle with depression symptoms, you should seek professional help. It would help to consult with a behavioral therapist to help you on the path to recovery from depression.