Depression

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DIET AND LIFESTYLE GUIDELINES FOR A

HEALTHY & DISEASE-FREE LIFE

          These guidelines are annexed at the end and should be read regularly and adopted as far as possible.

ADOPT HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Be Socially Active

          No matter how much you might feel like shutting the door on the world, try to stay socially active. Joining a kind of therapy group and discussing your problems with others could make a difference. Talk with your spouse or other loved ones. Spend quality time with family and friends and do what makes you happy. Social activities such as chatting, joining a support group, exercise, dancing, painting, sports, hobbies, meditation, relaxation techniques like deep breathing and pranayam can do wonders towards healing a stressed out and busy mind and might help you feel better. Helping others with their problems is another way to relieve your depression. Caring for pets helps fight depression, manage stress and lower blood pressure. 

Ventilate Feelings

          It is a common misconception that depression happens because one is too emotionally expressive, and instead one must have the strength and willpower to suffer in silence rather than be dramatic or attention seeking about it. However, ventilating one’s thoughts and feelings provides a sense of catharsis, an integral part of depression treatment. The disorder brings with it feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. These feelings can be mitigated by sharing with a loved one. Talking about depression can also help, as family and friends recognize symptoms and help in seeking medical attention for it.

Family Support Is Essential

          Spouse and/or family support is a key factor in the recovery of a depressed person. It is, therefore, important to “be there” for the patient, and to listen to and understand his/her thoughts and feelings. We should never negate the experience or the suffering of a depressed person. Living with a person suffering from any mental illness can often be a challenging and frustrating experience. You should understand that the patient is not behaving in a certain way out of choice, and just like any medical illness, he/she is unable to “snap out of it.” Besides feeling alone and misunderstood, we must realize that the patient due to the very nature of the disease, experience a lack of energy, motivation and a sense of helplessness. So the patient needs a lot of sympathy and support at all times.