It’s normal to feel sadness as a response to challenging life events, loss, or changes, but sometimes these feelings can stick around for a while if left unaddressed and make it difficult for you to get through each day. This is when you may be experiencing a “funk” or mild depression. If you have depression these negative feelings may feel impossible change. You may feel hopeless and feel like you can't get better. However, there are things you can do to improve your self-esteem and start feeling better about yourself.

Depression will also drain your energy and make you feel hopeless, making it challenging to take the necessary steps to get out of this state.

However, all is not lost as you can still improve your mood and will yourself out of depression. Even though taking action might be the last thing you want to do, you can still take simple steps to feel more in control and improve your situation.

3. Challenge negative thoughts

One of the things that depression does to a person is that it makes them see everything negatively. This includes how you view your future and self. The best thing to do is to give up on these cognitive distortions and try to think positively in every situation. The therapists at Shoreside Therapies all specialize in challenging your negative thoughts through CBT work.

4. Eat a healthy diet

There are no foods or drinks that will cure your depression. However, with that said, what you eat or drink can increase or lower the level of depression. For instance, drinks like alcohol, caffeine, and coffee are not suitable for depressed individuals.

On the other hand, foods such as vegetables, lean meat, salmon, and grains can help ease depression.

5. Stay away from alcohol and other drugs

Substance misuse is prevalent in depressed individuals. This is because they temporarily remove you from your depressed feelings. However, this is temporary, and most symptoms return stronger after use. Avoid using alcohol and drugs to try and alleviate depression. This will only worsen things and lead to mental problems.

6. Get enough sleep

Depression can make it difficult for you to get enough sleep. But, on the contrary, little sleep can worsen things for you. That’s why getting enough sleep is crucial. Ensure to sleep on time and remove distractions like a TV in your room.

7. Set achievable goals

Since depression can take a toll on a person, it is essential to keep things simple instead of complicating them. For instance, set achievable goals that don’t add to the difficulty you’re already going through.

8. Have fun as much as possible

Depression can make you feel disinterested in things you find interesting. Despite the feeling, you have to try and have as much fun as possible. If you love playing soccer, basketball, biking, or even hanging out with friends, try these activities as they may help you to recover slowly and find joy in them.

9. Do something new

Try something new to challenge your brain. When you repeat the same things daily, you use the same parts of your brain. As a result, you won’t get any new developments. Nonetheless, if you do something you have never done before, you will challenge your neurons and change your brain chemistry.

10. Exercise more

When you feel like you don’t want to do anything, engaging in physical exercise can help fight depression. You can also jog, run, or do yoga.

Even though depression drives us into a bad state and changes how we feel, think, and act, therapy can still reverse it by getting to the bottom of your mood and doing things that can uplift your spirit once again.