10 Treatments for depression

Depression, you're either going through it or you may know someone who is going through depression.

Sadly, you are in-charge of your emotions and even though friends and family may try their best to brighten up your mood, but eventually you are the boss of yourself. Getting into depression is far easier than getting out of depression. But even though depression is a serious issue, there are solutions available and today we have listen 10 treatments for depression.

Food for happiness

When depressed people tend to eat or lose their appetite. But eating the right food is the way to go. Try having nuts, berries, dark chocolates, tomatoes, spinach, coconut, honey, whole grains, etc to pep up your mood. These foods can increase your endorphin levels which can make you happy.

Quit smoking

A 2008 study that surveyed 3,000 people found that while smokers had a 6.6 per cent risk of developing lifetime frequency of major depression; it was 2.9 per cent for non-smokers. The Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) survey revealed that about 70% of male habitual smokers and 80% of female habitual smokers had major depression.

The study also established that 30% of smokers show some symptoms of depression.

The root cause behind it is Nicotine! Acting as a stimulant it affects the release of neurotransmitters in the brain; consequently, the brain becomes so addicted to the drug that it no longer functions normally without it. After 20-30 minutes of smoking the last cigarette, nicotine withdrawal begins and this leads to anxiety, which is very closely related to depression.

Exercise

Researchers found patients who exercised an hour and a half to two hours per week had slightly lower depression scores, which in turn were tied to a reduced risk of re-hospitalizations and deaths related to heartproblems.

Avoid junk food

Studies have shown that people whose diets include fried foods, processed meats, desserts and high-fat dairy have a higher chance of showing signs of depression. Besides bringing depression, junk food also makes you irritable and aggressive.

But the study does not mean that you need to cut out junk food completely from your life. Depression, irritation and aggression creep in when you live off junk food very often. Eat junk food in moderation and strict portion control, coupled with a healthy overall eating plan, and you should be okay.

Avoid late night and TV sessions

Sitting in front of a computer or TV screen late into the night or leaving it on when you fall asleep could increase your chances of becoming depressed, according to a study by U.S. scientists.

"The good news is that people who stay up late in front of the television and computer may be able to undo some of the harmful effects just by going back to a regular light-dark cycle and minimizing their exposure to artificial light at night," said researcher Bedrosian.

Go outdoors

Want to increase your happiness? Then make sure your serotonin levels are normal and sunlight does exactly that. If you are feeling low ore depressed go outdoors and brighten up.

Surround yourself with positive people

Isolating yourself can only make your gloominess a lot worse. Enjoy the company of positive, energetic people as this will make you feel better. Don't know anyone who fits the bill? Join a club. Exercise clubs or hobby groups are the best influencers here.

Tune out from negative thinking

Depression can make you to a world of too much negativity. It's hard to stay off it, but try and replace it with more balanced thoughts, which can make you happy. You'll find that surrounding yourself with positive people, good habits, and a clean environment will work wonders in helping you achieve this.

Avoid sad songs

When you are depressed, it is a normal tendency to listen to sad songs.

Avoid it. This will just make it hard for you to forget what wrong happened to you, because when we are upset we don't enjoy the music we tend to evaluate the lyrics. More often the lyrics just match our lives, which make us burst into tears. Listen to happier music and you'll find your day's getting brighter.

Avoid alcohol and drugs

You may be tempted to drink or take a drug to escape the misery. But know this - all relief from substance abuse is short lived and has drastic fallouts in the long run. Since alcohol is a depressant, it will only make the situationworse. Alcohol can increase suicidal thoughts and leave you addicted to it later in life.