Hello everyone, how are you today? Happy I hope.
I always try and stay positive and happy, but like everyone else, it is not possible 100% of the time. But I do try and keep my happiness levels as close to that level as possible. Of course, life throws things at you that affect your mood – the secret is to accept that it will happen and keep things in perspective. But what happens if you are not like this, that you are naturally low, but would like to become a happier person?
Many people suffer from depression and low moods. It’s often hard to overcome, but remember that change takes time. When trying to take control of your feelings, remember to be patient. Listed below are some tips for dealing with a low mood.
1. Stay in touch. Don’t withdraw from your life and your loved ones. When talking to others, it has been proven that it can improve your mood. Talk to the people you care about the most. Let them know how you feel because they may be the biggest key in you getting the healing that you need. If you find that they are not capable of lifting your moods, seek professional help but with their support.
2. Be more active. Take up any form of exercise. Studies have shown that exercise helps to lift your mood. I know that when I get out in the fresh air for a run or even brisk walk, I feel so much better and feel as if I have accomplished something.
3. Face your fears. Whatever is making you feel so low, face it, but in small amounts. Running away from something difficult can actually just make your mood drop even more. Depression can make people lose their confidence, but don’t let it take that away from you. Battle through it and tell your depression who’s boss.
4. Don’t drink too much alcohol. Alcohol in large amounts is a depressant, which will only make you feel more depressed. You may turn to drinking to cope or hide from your depression, but in actuality only makes it worse. I admit this is something a younger me would have done, although never to excess.
5. Try to have a healthier diet. When depressed, many people don’t feel like eating – again, something I used to do. This makes them in danger of being underweight. I had one particularly nasty week in my early 20’s where I could not physically force myself to eat – I lost a stone and a half in a week! Thankfully a trip to the doctor sorted me out, and it’s not somewhere I want to revisit. On the flip side, though, some people find comfort in food, which then puts them in danger of being overweight.
6. Have a routine. Keeping your body on a regular schedule has shown to decrease stress and low moods. Ensure that you go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time. Without a routine you can fall into a slump and notice a new level of sadness. Another negative to not having a routine is that it impacts your eating. You may stop cooking regular meals, eat snacks throughout the entire day, or miss meals because you stay in bed all day.
These tips may not work for everyone. However, if you notice that your depression is getting out of hand and you can’t handle things on your own, it may be time that you get help from a professional. They’ll be able to provide you with an “attack” plan to help battle your depression.
If you feel as though the tips given won’t help, or that your depression is on a high level, then you may want to consider talking to your doctor about medication to help balance your moods (this is what I needed 20 odd years ago). There are also helplines available to anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable getting help from their doctor, or whose depression has gotten so out of hand that they’ve thought about harming themselves.
Whatever the situation, there are people available whenever you need the help. No one will judge you; they’re simply there to help you get the support that you need.