Depression is usually very draining for people going through depressive episodes. Unfortunately, many people experience a sort of downward cycle where they feel bad and then, as a result, start feeling more depressed.
Depressed, as we know, is not an ideal situation to be in. If you ask anyone struggling with depression, they’ll likely tell you that they’d prefer it if they weren’t feeling down. Fighting depression takes work. In severe cases, it requires outside help from friends, family, and medical professionals.
If you’re looking for better ways to fight depression, whether it’s for you or someone you love, there are things you can try for better results. Here are some strategies you can use to overcome feelings of depression and better protect your mental health.
Get Outside More
Spending more time outdoors can do wonders for your mental health. You’re in nature, which is bound to boost your mood, and you’re moving more. Any additional exercise will help you fight off depression.
You don’t need to go for a run. The time outdoors can be relatively low impact. But do your best to move. Find some trails in your neighborhood to spend some time around greenery, birds, and other life. It will pick you up a bit or at least get you out of an environment where you focus too much on how badly you feel.
Identify Depression Triggers
If you regularly struggle with depression, you should start paying attention to what triggers depressive episodes. For example, if you spend time around certain people and you find you become depressed afterwards, you may want to limit how much time you spend with them. The same goes for the media you consume, what you do at work, what you eat, and other habits.
Protect your mental health by avoiding things you know will make you depressed. If you are going to see people who tend to make you depressed, for instance, change the setting or what you’re doing together.
Seek Medical Help
Not everyone needs medical assistance to fight depression. However, many people fight through depression due to hormonal imbalances or mental health struggles that would be much easier with medical support.
You can meet with a therapist or talk to a doctor about changes to your diet or medicines that can make you feel better in the midst of a bout of depression. When you feel like you can’t get out of feeling bad by yourself, you should seek professional help.
Let Your Friends & Family Know
One of the biggest challenges of dealing with depression is that people often feel so alone. They feel like no one cares or knows they’re struggling with mental health. However, one of the best things that anyone can do is ask for help from the people they love.
Tell your friends and family if you’re having a hard time fighting off depression. Let them know that you need help. Most people are looking for ways to help folks around them, so give them an opportunity!
Spend time with people you enjoy, and let your community lift you up.
Control Your Environment
Don’t spend time listening to sad music or watching depressing movies if you’re depressed. It will only make things worse. If you want to fight off depression, you must control what you can to stop yourself from spiraling deeper into depression.
Changing your environment is especially hard because depressed people don’t want to get outside, start moving, or go out with friends. It takes hard work to climb out of feeling depressed.
When you’re fighting depression, you need to celebrate small successes. Focus on the positive, and build from there.
How Peptides Work with Depression
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that trigger and facilitate biological functions. In animal models, peptides have shown they improve everything from cognitive function to help regulate metabolism.
Regarding depression, the peptide Tesofensine has shown in animal models that it improves BDNF levels in the brain, which promotes neurogenesis in the hippocampus, so it likely has antidepressant properties. Research in rats, for example, shows that Tesofensine boosts the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, which plays many roles in the brain, like increasing synaptic transmission and altering the onset of depression.
Fighting depression is challenging, especially for people who struggle with chronic or severe bouts of depression. Using these strategies can help manage symptoms and shorten the time it takes to feel better. Give them a try and stick with what works. If necessary, seek professional medical support when symptoms persist.
