Depression can drain all your energy, leaving you hopeless, fatigued and empty. This can make it hard for you to take the necessary steps to remedy the situation.

However, while overcoming depression may not be easy, it is not entirely impossible. However, you can’t just ‘will yourself’ out of depression. You need to take some steps!

In this post, we will share with you some small steps that you can incorporate into your daily routine as you start your journey to fighting depression and its effects.

Please note that although feeling or getting better can take time, by making small positive choices every day, you can improve your overall sense of well-being.

Accepting the situation

According to the World Health Organization, depression affects more than 300 million people across the globe. This means that depression is more common that you could imagine.

You should take comfort in knowing that more than 300 million people out there face similar obstacles, challenges and emotions.

It is crucial that you accept yourself the way you are as this is the first step towards recovering. Accepting yourself means that you are now ready to seek help and incorporate healthy living tips into your life.

The key to fighting depression requires that you be accepting and open. You should also be loving towards yourself and understand that you will not always be undergoing what you are going through right now.

Today is not tomorrow

Try and remind yourself that what you are going through today does not belong to tomorrow.

If you failed in accomplishing some goals today, it doesn’t mean that the cycle will repeat itself tomorrow.

Appreciate the small achievements you have made today and look forward to a fresh start tomorrow.

Talk to someone

Talking to someone about your problems is probably the last thing you want to do right now. However, as already mentioned, depression is a common problem affecting millions of people and so suffering from it does not make you an outcast.

Talking to someone you trust will ensure that you don’t continue harbouring negatives thoughts about yourself which can worsen the already worse situation.

If you don’t want to talk with a therapist, you can just confide in your closest friend or trusted family member. After talking with someone, you will realize that the issues bothering you are not as big as they seem. You will also realize that someone else has been there and overcome it, so why not you?

Keep a personal private journal

If you are unable to talk to someone, then perhaps you can note down all your emotions, failures and successes in a private personal journal.

The best thing about keeping a personal journal is that you don’t have to fear other people judging you.

Trying to fight depression? Take about 10-15 minutes of your day to note it down. Don’t only write when sad, write to express all your emotions, be it anxiousness, happiness or sadness. Write at least five things you love about yourselves, five things you need to improve on as well as some of the things you need to work on in order to improve the overall quality of your life.

CBD Oil for depression

Most people suffering from depression still relies on pharmaceutical or over the counter drugs. However, research has shown that apart from being ineffective, some of these drugs may have severe side effects, which in the long-run may worsen the situation.

CBD, short for Cannabidiol has been touted for its many health benefits including cancer treatment, arthritis, muscle spasms and now depression. It is believed that CBD oil for depression can help treat even the most severe cases of depression.

One of the best things about CBD oil for depression is that unlike over-the-counter drugs, it has no known side effects, and it does not lead to addiction.

CBD helps treat depression by impacting on receptor 5-HT1A, which is responsible for releasing serotonin into our bodies. Serotonin is a chemical found in our brains and is responsible for the body’s internal mood stabilization.

Craniosacral therapy for depression

Just like CBD, craniosacral therapy for depression takes a natural approach to fight this condition.

It has been found that craniosacral therapy, also referred to as CST can help reduce stress, induce deep relaxation, as well as help, regulate moods positively.

As your body and brains go into a deep relaxation, stored emotions or thoughts may surface for treatment.

As you can see, there are so many tips that you can employ as you try to fight depression. However, if you try everything and still it is not working, it might be time to seek professional help or treatment.

Get enough sunlight

According to health professionals, sunlight not only helps strengthen our bones by producing vitamin D but also triggers or promotes the release of serotonin. Sunlight also boosts the production of endorphins and other ‘happy’ hormones.

The best thing about sunlight is that it helps improve both your physical and mental health. You may not know this, but sometimes all you need is a run, a walk in the neighbourhood with friends or just a feel of the refreshing air outside.

If it is during winter or there is not enough sunshine, a light therapy box can help!

Join self-help groups

You don’t have to walk this journey alone! Joining self-help groups ensures that you are in the company of other like-minded people trying to fight a common obstacle.

Remember that fighting depression is not an easy undertaking and sometimes, giving up seems the best option. However, a little push and encouragement from someone going through similar problems will push you beyond your limits. It is also a great way of interacting and making new friends from all walks of life!

Exercise

When you engage in active physical activities, your body releases endorphins which are responsible for positive living.

Exercising also gives you a chance to step out of your house, meet new friends and forget your problems at least for the moment.

Learn from other people’s experience

You are not the first person to suffer from depression, neither will you be the last one. Watching Ted Talks or listening to podcasts is an excellent way of learning from other people, especially when overwhelmed with your own issues.

These stories will help you see how other people handled similar situations. You can try to employ some of these strategies to get out of your current predicament.