Avoid Depression in a Few Easy Steps
Recent studies have helped uncover some of the factors that contribute to the likelihood of people developing
depression.
Stress
Stress is the chief cause of depression. Any stressful environment or situation
could lead to depression - social stress, worrying about jobs, problems in relationships, financial worries,
staying up late, irregular and uncontrolled lifestyle, pressures of studying and getting good grades.
While these events cannot be avoided, we must come up with an effective stress coping and handling mechanism
to be able to thrive even in stressful situation.
Drinking and Drug Use
Those who take drugs and alcohol are more predisposed to experiencing depression. When these substances are
used at a young age, they can have a profound effect on a person’s brain. Although these substances help
make the person feel good temporarily, they often become addictive.
Drugs release dopamine within the pleasure center of the brain, just like other pleasurable experiences do.
Take this for instance: delicious food boosts dopamine release by about 50 percent. Sex, on the other hand,
doubles this number.
However, drugs can increase dopamine release anywhere from four to ten times. This unnatural high almost
certainly leads to depression after the high subsides. It can also do permanent damage.
Drugs make a person depressed more than it makes him happy. This effect will spiral downward until the person
doing drugs will want more and more of the substance to break the cycle of depression that follows each high.
Thus an addiction is born.
Lack of sleep
Studies show that up to 40 percent of adults do not get the proper amount of sleep per day. And among students,
up to 71 percent complain of sleep disorders and lack of sleep.
Sleep is an integral part of a person’s health. During sleep, the body repairs itself and reorganizes thought.
Lack of sleep contributes to a lack of coherence in brain waves. This scenario often leads to depression.
Sleeping during the day and staying up late also interferes with the body's natural rhythms. This will also
lead to a sense of depression.
Best ways to prevent depression
- Sleep is an integral part of preventing depression. Balance your life with enough rest and exercise everyday.
Go for seven to eight hours of sleep per day.
- Try to maintain regularity in your life. Keep your activities organized so that they can come at expected and
regular intervals. If your weekly, daily or monthly routine is set then your body has time to get used to the
activities. This will lead to a reduced chance for depression to set in.
- Don't endanger your health by pushing yourself beyond your limits. Keep stress in check and try to avoid
stressors if you can. If you cannot, then try to deal with the stressors in a manner that mitigates the damage
it may cause.
- Sunlight and exercise can help the brain to function a higher level. Be sure to get outdoors in the morning
and try to stay active in the daylight when possible.
- Keep yourself away from substances such as alcohol and drugs. They may seem attractive at first, but all they
really do is cause havoc in a person’s life.
- Make at least one balanced meal daily a priority. Good eating habits and good health are important when keeping
one away from depression.
- Have some fun every day. Nothing takes the load off of depression like some good old fun time.
Devote a little time daily to some simple, natural, healthy fun. Social activities such as chatting,
joining a support group, sports, and other hobbies can do wonders towards healing a stressed out and busy mind.
Depression can be avoided and treated. Follow the above mentioned
tips for a sunnier and happier disposition every day. You will feel better for it and will never regret
not overloading yourself!
NEXT: Dealing with anxiety
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