Beat the Blues
There is a point in everyone's life when things get you down. You have no energy and don't want to do anything but sleep and stay at home, but the key to getting rid of these down periods is feeling good about yourself and having confidence. You are going to have to get yourself up to do that.
Contents
Steps
- Drink {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of fresh water. Do this every day.
- Get out of the house: go for a walk, go to a restaurant, go out with friends even if you don't feel like it.
- Join a sport: there are many sports teams you can join out of school. You can start in such places such as the YMCA.
- Join a gym or workout at home: getting into shape or pumping iron can really boost your confidence level.
- If you just don't feel like doing anything, listen to music, something that inspires you and gives you motivation.
- Make sure you eat properly: When you're depressed, you're likely not eating right (either too much or too little). Change your diet and eat more vegetables and fruits, remember you are what you eat.
- Join a club: If you are in high school, join a community service club, helping others gives you a sense of accomplishment and happiness
- If you are not the sporty type or helping type: Practice something and become really good at it, such as music or art. Playing music can sometimes really let your emotions out to the world and make sure you play with friends too. Also, video game stores sometimes host tournaments on card games and Nintendo games, just join and compete in order to test your skills with other people who share your interests.
- Say a few prayers if you are religious, they will help you feel more connected with yourself.
- If you are not religious try reading modern self-help books that provides modern meditation practices that you can do.
- Go dancing
Tips
- Your mood depends highly on your diet, so try to eat healthily instead of eating junk food.
- Elevating your confidence level is key to getting through depression. So don't hesitate to get out there and join a club or take up a hobby.
- Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner as a family together.
- People spend more time alone when they are depressed than when they are happy. Intentionally spending time with other people can help lift your mood. This does not necessarily require interacting with people if interacting is too difficult at first. Sometimes just getting out of the house and being around people (spending time at a library, music store, sports event, or mall) can help, even if you are still alone.
- Figure out what activities you do when you are happy, that you do not do when you are depressed. Sometimes doing those things can help lift your mood.
- Depression is frequently associated with grief or loss. Finding healthy ways to comfort yourself can help you get through depression.
Warnings
- If these feelings persist for more than one month, seek professional help. You may be clinically depressed.
- Most people have thoughts about suicide at some point in time, although most people do not act upon these thoughts. If you find yourself occasionally thinking about suicide, don't let this scare you. But DO find someone you trust to talk to about this. If there isn't anyone with whom you feel comfortable discussing your thoughts about suicide, seek out a crisis line, suicide hotline, or a mental health agency. This is especially true if you have specific plans about how to hurt yourself, when or where to do it, the intention to follow through with your plan, or if you have obtained the means to do it.
