Without seeking professional help, most people do not experience success in treating major depressive disorder (MDD). However, along with traditional treatments, self-help techniques can help you cope, manage symptoms, and help you beat the disease altogether:
- Get active: Exercise is the best way to beat depression, as well as overcome other chronic illnesses. It helps to reduce and relieve symptoms, as well as ease some physical effects of depression. In addition, it can be a social activity that encourages connectedness and improves emotional well-being.
- Learn as much as you can: Depression can leave you with a sense of helplessness, but you can take that back by learning as much as you can about the disease. Read up on medications and coping skills, and seek out reputable doctors. In addition, you may connect with someone going through the same thing and be able to provide support for one another.
- Seek out therapy: One-on-one therapy or group therapy can help with depression, both the symptoms and causes of it. These skills you learn will help you in the future to adjust to a crisis to avoid depression.
- Sleep well: A good night’s sleep can dramatically improve brain function and improve recovery. It can improve depression symptoms and it is good for your physical and mental health. If you aren’t sleeping well, talk to your doctor.
- Keep a journal: Keeping a journal of thoughts and tracking your day is a great way to remind you that not every day is worse than the one before. You can include what you did that day, what you saw, or what you felt during therapy sessions. In addition, looking back over these days can show you how far you have come.
- Focus: When your brain is free to wander, you waste a lot of energy thinking about your problems, but it is important to learn to divert your brain’s attention for the better. There are several techniques you can use to improve harmony between your mind and body, including acupuncture, guided imagery, yoga, meditation, and massage therapy.
Resource: http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/self-help-guide-to-depression#2
