Are you depressed or just feeling low? Symptoms of sadness are commonly mistaken for signs of depression. Depression is a subtle issue that may be hard to pinpoint, when you are feeling low for long. Now it is time to take an initiative and make a change to get yourself out of the rut.
But how do you know if you are depressed or just sad?
Pinpoint the Source of your Woes
What exactly is it that is upsetting you?
Maybe you just experienced a traumatic event in life- the loss of a loved one, job or source of income, a failed relationship or life-changing event. It may just be the freshness of misfortune that weighs in on you as depression. But, take away this one stressor and you will find the source of your sadness disappears. You may not be depressed, if you can remove the thing or that keeps making you sad.
Sadly, sometimes this means moving on, leaving someone behind or pushing our way through a new path down the road of life. If you can’t remove the source of sadness, disarm it by not allowing this thing to have any power over your thoughts or reactions.
Try to Be Happy (if only for a short while)
This is a test to see what you can do. Is it possible to smile, laugh or make yourself happy?
Watch something that makes you laugh or read a story that you find humorous. Does it still have the same effect? If you aren’t smiling, laughing or enjoying the good old things you used to love, then there is a possibility you are experiencing the effects of a chemical imbalance. If the problem persists, and you continue to find no interest in the things you once used to enjoy, these may be signs of actual depression.
Test yourself a bit before coming to a conclusion–does each day offer something good to smile about?
Escape from the Troubles
Sometimes “the Troubles” are welcomed into the land of the mind, as we let those negative thoughts inside to rule over our conscious perception. Are you surrendering the sovereignty of your mind to a tyrant of constant fear and worry?
When we invite bad thoughts into the mind, we ultimately allow these things beyond us (that we cannot change) to rule over our every step in life. Don’t let your worries and fears abode your immediate consciousness. Instead, always keep positivity in mind.
Stop Blaming What Cannot Be Changed
When the going gets tough, some tend to see a thousand reasons outside themselves for the misfortune in their situation. If you find yourself blaming the world, your partner, your family or even yourself, just know that the world unfolds with the illusion of time, and misfortune is just that–misfortune. It can and does happen to everyone, and most of life is never planned.
Watch Your Nutrition
“Learn more here at The Workout Digest” Are you eating the right things, or have you deprived the mental health of your body through bad nutrition? It’s amazing how many issues a healthy diet can fix, and depression is a mental ailment that may be the result of poor nutrition. Brain health and function relies upon many essential nutrients that play a part in proper cognitive functioning. Serotonin is a ‘feel good’ hormone your body produces for a lighthearted effect.
Here are some essential ingredients to help your body with serotonin production:
- Vitamin B6 and B12
- Tryptophan (Amino Acid)
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids
- Melatonin
- Proteins
Stick to the Routine
When you have a daily routine, it gives you less time to question about the future or what comes next. Focusing on the future (the unknown) may be the source of your worries and sadness. If you are the type of person who gets anxious and unmotivated over the looming question of what comes next, then you may benefit from a steady, planned and solid daily routine.
In fact, the regularity of your sleeping habits may have a dramatic effect on your ability to function in everyday society. Be sure you are getting a good night’s rest.
Step Outside to Take a Walk
Just being in the sun raises your mood, so be sure to include 15 minutes outside per day to get your dose–an essential ingredient for mental health. Stay active and exercise daily to combat symptoms of sadness and depression. There are mental health boosting benefits from a good workout that comes from hormones like endorphins and dopamine.
Beat the blues and start the day with these top 10 stress reducing foods.
Source:
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-exercise-makes-you-happy