Depression can make you feel helpless, but there are things you can do to fight back. Therapy and medication are options, but there are also natural depression treatments that you can do on your own. Here are some tips to help you feel better:
Get in a routine: Setting a daily schedule can help you get back on track.
Set goals: Start with small goals and as you start to feel better, add more challenging ones.
Exercise: Even a few walks a week can help boost feel-good chemicals in your brain.
Eat healthy: Although there's no magic diet that fixes depression, foods with omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid could help ease symptoms.
Get enough sleep: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day and avoid distractions in your bedroom.
Take on responsibilities: Staying involved and having daily responsibilities can help counter depression.
Challenge negative thoughts: Use logic to beat back those negative thoughts before they get out of control.
Check with your doctor before using supplements: Fish oil, folic acid, and SAMe may help with depression, but always check with your doctor before starting any supplements.
Do something new: Trying something different alters the levels of dopamine in your brain, which is associated with pleasure, enjoyment, and learning.
Try to have fun: Make time for things you enjoy, even if they feel like a chore.
Avoid alcohol and other drugs: Substance misuse is common in people who have depression and could worsen or lead to mental health problems.
While depression can make it hard to enjoy life, it's important to work at having fun and relearn how to do it. In time, fun things really will feel fun again.