How To Cope With Anxiety And Depression
This article was co-authored by Rebecca Ward, LMFT, SEP, PCC, MA. Rebecca A. Ward, LMFT, SEP, PCC is the Founder of the Iris Institute, a San Francisco, California-based business focusing on using somatic expertise to teach individuals and groups the skills to deal with dilemmas using interventions, including her own Original Blueprint® method. Ms. Ward specializes in treating stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist , a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner , and a Professional Certified Coach accredited by the International Coach Federation . Rebecca holds an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marymount University and an MA in Organizational Leadership from The George Washington University.There are 26 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 125,039 times.
Anxiety and depression can have a big impact on your life, but fortunately, there are steps you can take that can make it easier to get through from day to day. Keep reading for tips about how to cope, even when you’re really struggling.
When Youre Depressed You Cant Just Will Yourself To Snap Out Of It But This Guide To Depression Help Can Put You On The Road To Recovery
Coronavirus update
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many of us are dealing with social distancing, isolation, and lockdowns that make it even harder to cope with symptoms of depression. Whatever your circumstances, though, there are ways to overcome feelings of sadness and despair, improve your mood, and regain a sense of hope. In addition to the tips in this article, you can also find help for depression in our Coronavirus Mental Health Toolkit.
Seeking Help For Depression
Get help if you’re still feeling down or depressed after a couple of weeks.
Treatments for depression include psychological therapies and antidepressants.
You can refer yourself for psychological therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy or counselling on the NHS. You don’t need a referral from your GP.
You can talk it through with your GP first if you prefer. Your GP can also tell you about antidepressants.
If you start to feel that your life isn’t worth living or about harming yourself, get help straight away.
You can:
- contact Samaritans on 116 123 for 24-hour confidential, non-judgemental emotional support
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How To Practice Focused Meditation
Here are six tips to help you practice focused meditation. Based on your availability and interest, these tips may change and evolve. Thats the point: to create a structured practice that caters to your needs.
1. Find a Comfortable Seat
As with any meditation practice, comfort is truly key. The physical body responds to meditation practice by alerting you to whether it is comfortable and supported or stressed out and in pain. This is best observed in practitioners who tend to slouch and lose the tall, supported spine that is essential to meditation practice.
A simple rule in meditative sitting is to ensure that your hips are higher than your knees. Therefore, choosing to sit in a chair instead of on the floor may be a smart decision or perhaps propping yourself up on a cushion. For meditation techniques overall, it does not matter how you sit. All that matters is that you are supported and comfortable sitting for some time.
2. Choose Your Object of Focus
Every meditation training session is going to be different because no single day is the same for any one person. Therefore, experienced meditators know that choosing an object is more about listening to what you need at this time versus following any doctrine or rule.
3. Set Your Desired Time or Go With the Flow
Likewise, if you have the time, you can also listen to your body and come out of your meditation when you feel its right to do so. This is often a beautiful practice of listening and tuning in.
Take Positivity As An Input
The third tip is to plug in your earplugs and hear stuff that makes you bubbling with positivity. The rule is simple. The more positive you see and hear, the more positive you are. Whenever you are free, hear a motivational podcast or read a motivational blog. There is also plenty of good stuff available on the internet. Instagram or Facebook is not a curse but a blessing, only if you are aware of the right ways to use it.
Congratulations! You are reading my blog right now which will help you overcome depression and anxiety.
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What Makes You Afraid
Lots of things make us feel afraid. Being afraid of some things like fires can keep you safe. Fearing failure can make you try to do well so that you wont fail, but it can also stop you doing well if the feeling is too strong.
What youre afraid of and how you act when youre afraid of something can vary per person. Just knowing what makes you afraid and why can be the first step to sorting out problems with fear.
How can we manage and reduce stress? Our free downloadable pocket guide offers you 101 tips: www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-stress.
Emerging Trends In Substance Misuse:
- MethamphetamineIn 2019, NSDUH data show that approximately 2 million people used methamphetamine in the past year. Approximately 1 million people had a methamphetamine use disorder, which was higher than the percentage in 2016, but similar to the percentages in 2015 and 2018. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Data shows that overdose death rates involving methamphetamine have quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Frequent meth use is associated with mood disturbances, hallucinations, and paranoia.
- CocaineIn 2019, NSDUH data show an estimated 5.5 million people aged 12 or older were past users of cocaine, including about 778,000 users of crack. The CDC reports that overdose deaths involving have increased by one-third from 2016 to 2017. In the short term, cocaine use can result in increased blood pressure, restlessness, and irritability. In the long term, severe medical complications of cocaine use include heart attacks, seizures, and abdominal pain.
- KratomIn 2019, NSDUH data show that about 825,000 people had used Kratom in the past month. Kratom is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia with leaves that can have psychotropic effects by affecting opioid brain receptors. It is currently unregulated and has risk of abuse and dependence. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that health effects of Kratom can include nausea, itching, seizures, and hallucinations.
Resources:
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I Beat Anxiety & Depression
My name is Kellene Diana and I used to struggle with anxiety and depression. Nobody understood or wanted to understand in fact they called me names and passed judgment before they even knew what I was going through. It made me so afraid to speak up and speak out about it that it completely silenced me for years. For a very long time I was full of anxiety, depression, fear, anger, self-doubt, low self-esteem and alcohol. Everything was hurting me emotionally, mentally and physically!
But, as scary as it was, I took a stand and put up a serious fight for my soul, my health, my spirit and everything that matters in this life! I stopped caring about what people thought and started caring more about getting better.
I got so tired of the panic attacks, the constant tears, the what ifs, the fears, the lack of self-confidence and the hangovers! I knew in my heart that there was so much more for me! So, one day I made a conscious decision and I said out loud ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! It is time to fight for the Kellene that I knew was on the inside waiting for an invitation to show her greatness.
First, I acknowledged my struggles, and then I immediately made an appointment to see a therapist. I started journaling, reading stories of hope and triumph on the ADAAs website, praying, meditating, exercising and speaking life and love over myself every SINGLE day!
No more excusesno more waiting! It is time to give yourself that invitation to step into your greatness just like I did.
Try These Five Tips For Decreasing Depression
There isnt a quick fix as in Boom, youre cured and will never again be beset by the blues. But, there are techniques that can help lift the emotional paralysis and ruminating that often accompany depression. Both of which make it much more difficult to focus on the behavioral changes that are necessary to prevent a relapse. Luckily, there are ways to punch holes in the curtain of unrelenting darkness.
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What You Eat And Drink Can Also Affect How You Feel
Theres no magic diet that will treat depression. But what you put into your body can have a real and significant impact on the way you feel.
Eating a diet rich in lean meats, vegetables, and grains may be a great place to start. Try to limit stimulants like caffeine, coffee, and soda, and depressants like alcohol.
Some people also and have more energy when they avoid sugar, preservatives, and processed foods.
If you have the means, consider meeting with a doctor or registered dietitian for guidance.
Can You Overcome Depression And Anxiety
Many people who experience anxiety and depression are eager to get to the other side. They want to defeat the problem and resume their life as normal. While there are many effective anxiety and depression treatments, there is no permanent cure. Its essential to consider how to manage these conditions in a healthy way and minimize their impact on your well-being.
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Tips For Men Coping With Anxiety And Depression
There are lots of things you can do to look after your health and wellbeing, so find an approach that best suits you. For example, try to stay active and make plans for the day they dont have to be grand plans, just small things like going for a run or talking to a mate.
Try to include activities or hobbies that you specifically enjoy. At first, you may not enjoy them as much as you did before, but if you keep active and persist, the enjoyment should eventually return.
Its important to look after your body by staying physically active, eating healthily and getting plenty of sleep. Try not to drink alcohol or take other drugs to block out how youre feeling and what is happening. This is not a positive long-term solution and can make the anxiety or depression worse.
The important thing is to find the right options and the right health professionals that suit you.
How To Overcome Depression And Anxiety
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Clinicians considered depression and anxiety of them to be two sides of the same coin. Because of different issues of life, individuals have been suffering from anxiety and depression. Nevertheless, if the symptoms persist in such a way that the ability to function normally is affected, seeking treatment is the best option. If the conditions of these disorders become milder, there are several things to practice if you want to combat them.
To overcome anxiety and depression, you ought to find out their roots. A common symptom is being nervous and depressed, hence leading to anxiety as well as panic attacks. It is possible to stay away from depression and anxiety disorders if you can practice to calm your mind as you relax. Consider these tips if you want to overcome depression and anxiety:
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Natural Ways To Overcome Anxiety And Depression
Anxiety, Depression, Self DevelopmentElisha Goldstein, Ph.D.
Do you ever feel anxious or depressed especially in these times? Its easier than we think for our brain to get conditioned into an anxious or depressive loop. In this video Im going to share with you what Ive learned over the last 20 years as a psychologist, around what are natural ways to overcome anxiety and depression. These arent the common ways of better sleep, regular exercise and whole foods. Ill talk about cultivating certain ways to focus, practices and mindsets that can enhance your sense of energy, resiliency, and just plain being happier. I use these 5 natural ways in my own life, in my private psychotherapy with clients and with thousands of others in my personal coaching and professional teacher training programs. Listen to them closely, pause the video when you need to, take notes, these can change your life for the better.
The list of activities mentioned in the video:
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Try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy can be extremely useful in counteracting depression and is based on the principle that certain ways of thinking can trigger certain health problems, such as depression. The counselor helps you understand your current thought patterns and identify any harmful or false ideas and thoughts that you have that can trigger depression or make it worse.
The aim is to change your way of thinking to avoid these ideas, as well as help your thought patterns be more realistic and helpful.
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What Is The Solution
How to overcome depression and anxiety then? There is no hard and fast rule for solving this problem. First of all, this is not even a problem! This happens with every human being on the planet. However, a lot of people take it seriously enough to commit suicide.
When you fail to fit into a circle of influence created by damned society, create your own circle! If nobody believes in you, you believe in yourself.
Symptoms Of Anxiety In Men
Anxiety is more than having sweaty palms and butterflies in your stomach. Symptoms of anxiety can include ongoing feelings of worry, fear and impending doom that are so severe they interfere with your ability to work, maintain relationships and get a decent nights sleep. Physical signs of anxiety may include:
- pounding or racing heart
- thinking about death or suicide.
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If You Need To Wallow Wallow But Do So Constructively
Suppressing your feelings and emotions may seem like a strategic way to cope with the negative symptoms of depression. But this technique is ultimately unhealthy.
If youre having a down day, have it. Let yourself feel the emotions but dont stay there.
Consider writing or journaling about what youre experiencing. Then, when the feelings lift, write about that, too.
Seeing the ebb and flow of depressive symptoms can be instructive for both self-healing and hope.
Limit Your Alcohol Intake
Watching your alcohol intake is another important step in the battle against depression.
In the short term, alcohol can feel great, alleviate boredom and lessen anxiety. For these reasons, alcohol can be a bit too appealing to the depressed individual. It can feel like a quick fix and easily become an inappropriate way of self-soothing.
Frequent alcohol use can lead to unwanted consequences such as dependence, sleep disturbances and may actually worsen your mood.
This is not to vilify your glass of wine with dinner, but alcohol is a mood-altering substance that should be approached with caution if you are prone to depressive episodes.
Alcohol added to a festive celebration is quite different from alcohol added to the sadness and anxiety that comes with depression.
Keeping your relationship with alcohol in check can be crucial to keeping your depression in check. Taking a step back with periods of abstinence can help you evaluate the role alcohol is playing in your life.
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Assess The Parts Instead Of Generalizing The Whole
Depression can tinge recollections with negative emotions. You may find yourself focusing on the one thing that went wrong instead of the many things that went right.
Try to stop this overgeneralization. Push yourself to recognize the good. If it helps, write down what was happy about the event or day. Then write down what went wrong.
Seeing the weight youre giving to one thing may help you direct your thoughts away from the whole and to the individual pieces that were positive.
Tap Into Your Spirituality
Religion can be an impactful source of support for many people dealing with depression, but there is no need to join a church, synagogue, or mosque unless you wish to. Simple daily practices such as meditation or adding to a list of things you’re grateful can help boost mood and overall well-being.
Meditation can have a range of beneficial effects such as lowering stress levels and helping people to become more aware of their thoughts and reactions.
Research indicates that an intervention called mindfulness-based cognitive therapy , which combines elements of cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness meditation, can be helpful in treating depression and preventing future relapses of symptoms.
Studies also suggest that different types of mindfulness meditative practices can also be effective in the treatment of depression.
There are many different types of meditation, but you can get started with a simple meditative exercise with these steps:
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A Better Life Is Your Birthright
-Do you want to feel creative again?-Do you want healthier relationships?-Do you want the Joy back in your life?
You deserve to feel joy and have meaningful, healthy relationships and that is possible! When you are ready to take the next step towards having the life you deserve, reach out to me. Over the past 20 years I have helped 100s of individuals rediscover JOY & MEANING.