Tips To Combat Depression: Part Two

In part one of our two-part series, we briefly discussed three easy ways that you can reduce the effects felt by depression. While getting back to an optimal state of physical and mental health may be difficult, with the proper tools and knowledge at your disposal, you can minimize the impact that depression has on your life. However, by simply doing nothing, depression can manifest in every aspect of your life, making it much more difficult to combat the effects that can cause you to lose interest in the things that you love most.

Long Island Counseling has provided the highest-rated therapy services to individuals of Nassau County, Queens County, and the surrounding areas of New York. Our team of professionals are trained in every aspect of psychotherapy, offering the leading services to our patients such as trauma counseling, sex therapy, substance abuse therapy, and much more. Read more below to learn about three ways that you can confront the depressive symptoms that you may be experiencing.

Exercise

Frequently taking part in some sort of physical activity has been shown to significantly reduce the symptoms of depression, and for good reason. When going for a run, or lifting weights at the gym, you are effectively reducing the amount of cortisol stored in your body while producing a host of feel-good endorphins. Cortisol is one of the main hormones associated with stress, which can exasperate the effects felt from depression. By burning off excess cortisol at the gym, you will find respite from some of the negative thoughts that can impact you most.

Reducing Social Media Use

As much as we would like to avoid talking about the negative effects of social media, the truth is that social media can be incredibly debilitating on one’s psyche. Social media platforms are often used as a method to display the best parts of one’s life, creating a false representation of reality and distorting how many people view themselves when compared to others. This is one of the many reasons why taking a break from social media can be a great way to scrub your mind free of negative thought patterns.

Meditation

Whether we are aware of it or not, there are many subconscious thoughts that individuals experience throughout the day without fully acknowledging them. This can lead to a buildup of negative thoughts and emotions that you many not even know exist. Meditation is a practice that has been used for a millennia to confront the internal struggle that individuals deal with daily. By practicing meditation on a daily basis, you will be able to learn more about the aspects of your life that are affecting you most.

We hope that you found some of the tips listed in our two-part series helpful. While these tips do not guarantee that your depression will completely subside, they can certainly help you minimize your depressive symptoms. However, if you feel like you require professional help from a trained therapist, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Long Island Counseling today. We offer consultations for a variety of mental disorders, and have helped a number of people get back on the road to recovery. Contact us today to learn more.