Tend To Your Social Life
When you’re depressed, there’s no reason to go it alone, and there are all sorts of reasons to reach out to friends and family. Make plans with loved ones and keep those dates. Join a club or sign up for a group activity such as a local dodgeball league or a French class.
Other things you might try:
- Join a support group. Talking to other people who are going through similar experiences and challenges can be informative and helpful.
- Schedule activities. Having routines can be helpful when you are going through depression. Create a daily schedule that includes spending time with others. You are more likely to stick to it if it’s a scheduled event.
- Volunteer.Joining a cause that you care about is a great way to meet new people and expand your social circle.
The problem is that depression often causes people to withdraw, which only further exacerbates feelings of isolation and loneliness. Even when you don’t feel like going out or being social, try reaching out in whatever way is most comfortable for you. Enlist a few of your closest loved ones who understand what you are experiencing.
Doing the things you used to do might not bring you quite the same enjoyment when you are depressed, but getting out of the house and spending time with people who care about you can help you feel better.
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.
The Depression Epidemic: Our Stone Age Brains
There is an undeniable connection between lifestyle and depression. A modern lifestyle is making us sick. The more modern a society, and the more removed it is from the primitive hunter-gatherer way of life, the higher its rate of depression. Our world has changed phenomenally and our lifestyles have changed along with it, but our brains have hardly changed at all. They remain remarkably similar to the ones that powered people in the Stone Age when sleep was abundant, food was nutritious, and people wandered in groups, constantly on the move in the sunshine.
Our Stone Age brains just werent designed to handle the sedentary, isolated, indoor, sleep-deprived, fast-food-laden, stressed-out pace of twenty-first-century life. -Dr Stephen Ilardi
Our brains are beautifully crafted to support Stone Age bodies that live Stone Age lives. When Stone Age brains are forced to live a modern lifestyle, the effect can be devastating. The brain and the body become depleted of the very things that have been fuelling them for thousands of years before now.
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What Is Anxiety And Who Should Care
Anxiety is fear about what might happen in the future. Everyone is anxious at times, but the medical problem of anxiety happens when worry becomes intense and just wont go away.
Troubles with anxiety often begin in childhood and may continue throughout life. As we grow older, the types of situations that cause anxiety, and the types of worries we have, change.
In all cases, normal worrying turns into medical anxiety when it starts getting in the way of life.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Often used as a first-line treatment for anxiety disorders, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors include medications like Paxil , Prozac , Zoloft and Lexapro . SSRIs are considered antidepressants and they increase the amount of serotonin in the brain, which helps improve mood.
Side effects include headaches, dry mouth, drowsiness, sexual dysfunction, diminished sex drive, and weight gain. As with many antidepressants, they can increase the risk of suicidal ideation , particularly in children, teenagers, and young adults.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
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Consider Using Essential Oils
Essential oils are growing in popularity as a way to promote wellness. Bergamot, vetiver, lavender, chamomile, and frankincense are some of the most popular oils used to treat anxiety and depression.
Oils can be used in a diffuser or an inhaler, as well as applied topically. To stay safe, remember that oils should always be diluted with a carrier such as fractionated coconut oil before being applied to the skin. Ingesting oils should never be done without consulting an experienced certified aromatherapist.
The Role Of Medication In Anxiety Treatment
When youre overwhelmed by heart-pounding panic, paralyzed by fear, or exhausted from yet another sleepless night spent worrying, youll do just about anything to get relief. And theres no question that when anxiety is disabling, medication may help. But are drugs always the best answer?
Many different types of medications are used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including traditional anti-anxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines and newer options like SSRI antidepressants . These drugs can provide temporary relief, but they also come with side effects and safety concernssome significant.
They are also not a cure. In fact, there are many questions about their long-term effectiveness. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, benzodiazepines lose their therapeutic anti-anxiety effect after 4 to 6 months of regular use. And a recent analysis reported in JAMA Psychiatry found that the effectiveness of SSRIs in treating anxiety has been overestimated, and in some cases is no better than placebo.
Whats more, it can be very difficult to get off anxiety medications without difficult withdrawals, including rebound anxiety that can be worse than your original problem.
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Which Type Of Anxiety Is Curable
Anxiety is a reaction to fear where your body activates the autonomic nervous system, also known as the fight-or-flight response, to help you stay alert. This is one of the bodys in-built mechanisms that serves to protect you in dangerous and highly stressful situations.
So, for example, if someone is chasing you, or you are running away from a bear, then it’s normal and natural to feel anxious, and it can be even helpful.
But the point at which anxiety becomes a condition or a disorder, is when it starts to affect your life. If anxiety is negatively impacting your relationships, work, and daily tasks, then this can feel far from normal.
The reason this happens is because, people that struggle with anxiety tend to perceive normal life situations as threatening, and as the body cannot distinguish between real danger and what we perceive as threatening, it activates the flight-or-fight response in both cases. This is why anxiety sufferers can be anxious daily.
Anxiety conditions and disorders can be managed at the very least, and in some case even cured.
Taking all of the above into consideration, it is important to understand that even if you overcome your anxiety problems, you will still experience natural anxiety responses like everyone else, but anxiety will no longer control your life!
How I Cured My Anxiety And How You Can Too
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Sharing is caring!
As an anxiety blogger who has overcome an anxiety disorder, I often get asked how I cured my anxiety.
But people also ask me, questions such as
- Is anxiety curable?
- Can anxiety be cured completely? or
- Is anxiety permanent?
So, in this article I explain,
- Which type of anxiety is curable?
- What kind of anxiety I suffered from and what were my symptoms? and
- How I cured my anxiety?
My goal is to take you through my anxiety journey from start to finish, in the hope that you can apply my anxiety cure success formula to reduce, and manage, and maybe even overcome your anxiety condition.
Recommended Reading: How To Deal With Severe Anxiety
You Can Heal Anxiety And Depression Without Medications
Can you heal your anxiety and depression? Of course you can!! To heal means to restore naturally, to recover emotionally and spiritually
This website is loaded with FREE information that will empower you to heal your life in a natural way.
Hello and welcome!
My name is Gabriela and I am the authorof Heal-Anxiety-and-Depression.com.
This site is made with you in mind. Its main goal is to bring you a complete GUIDE with the best natural treatments for anxiety and depression.
In our society, antidepressants and tranquilizers have become very popular… They’ve almost become part of our first aid kit.
Antidepressants have their rightful place in the treatment of clinical depressions but not all depression sufferers, especially those suffering from milder forms of anxiety and/or depression , need antidepressants or tranquilizers.
A large percentage of anxiety and depression sufferers CAN be successfully treated without the need of psychiatric drugs.
Antidepressants are well known for their addictive qualities and harmful side effects. Studies have also shown that at times they’ve actually increased suicidal thoughts in teens and young adults.
Maybe its time for us to open our minds to a more “wholesome” treatment. A treatment that involves a true healing of the mind, the body and the soul
This website contains EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW to heal naturally.
There are many simple things that you can do to greatly improve your quality of life.
For instance:
I Need Relief And I Need It Now
So where does that leave you if youre suffering? Even when anxiety relief comes with side effects and dangers, that can still sound like a fair trade when panic and fear are ruling your life.
The bottom line is that theres a time and place for anxiety medication. If you have severe anxiety thats interfering with your ability to function, medication may be helpfulespecially as a short-term treatment. However, many people use anti-anxiety medication when therapy, exercise, or other self-help strategies would work just as well or better, minus the drawbacks.
Anxiety medications can ease symptoms, but theyre not right for everyone and theyre not the only answer. Its up to you to evaluate your options and decide whats best for you.
Need to talk to someone?
Get affordable online counseling from BetterHelp or visit HelpGuides directory for free helplines and crisis resources. HelpGuide is reader supported. We may receive a commission if you sign up for BetterHelp through the provided link. Learn more.
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Forgive Yourself And Wait To Worry
Are you particularly critical of yourself and the blunders you make? Well, imagine if you had a friend who constantly pointed out everything that was wrong with you and your life. Youd probably want to get rid of them right away.
But people with anxiety often do this to themselves so frequently that they dont even realise it anymore. Theyre just not kind to themselves.
So perhaps its time to change and start forgiving ourselves for the mistakes we make. If you feel like youve embarrassed yourself in a situation, dont criticise yourself simply realise that you have this impulse to blame yourself, then drop the negative thought and redirect your attention back to the task at hand or whatever you were doing.
What Causes Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are like other forms of mental illness. They dont come from personal weakness, character flaws or problems with upbringing. But researchers dont know exactly what causes anxiety disorders. They suspect a combination of factors plays a role:
- Chemical imbalance: Severe or long-lasting stress can change the chemical balance that controls your mood. Experiencing a lot of stress over a long period can lead to an anxiety disorder.
- Environmental factors: Experiencing a trauma might trigger an anxiety disorder, especially in someone who has inherited a higher risk to start.
- Heredity: Anxiety disorders tend to run in families. You may inherit them from one or both parents, like eye color.
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Ssri Antidepressants For Anxiety
Many medications originally approved for the treatment of depression are also prescribed for anxiety. In comparison to benzodiazepines, the risk for dependency and abuse is smaller. However, antidepressants take up to 4 to 6 weeks to begin relieving anxiety symptoms, so they cant be taken as needed. Their use is limited to chronic anxiety problems that require ongoing treatment.
The antidepressants most widely prescribed for anxiety are SSRIs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, and Celexa. SSRIs have been used to treat generalized anxiety disorder , obsessive-compulsive disorder , panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Common side effects of SSRIs include:
- Fatigue
- Increased sweating
Get A Handle On Stress
Stress can drive up levels of a brain chemical called cortisol, which has been found to be higher in folks with depression. There are lots of strategies for coping with stress, such as time management, meditation, and biofeedback training.
Some stress-relieving activities that you might want to incorporate into your daily life include:
- Deep breathing: A few minutes to slow your breathing and focus your attention on your body in the moment can help you get a better handle on your worries.
- Exercise: Regular physical activity is a great way to blow off steam.
- Progressive muscle relaxation: This process involves intentionally tightening muscles throughout the body, holding that tension for several counts, and then releasing that tension until the muscles are completely relaxed. With regular practice, you may be able to learn how to intentionally relax your body fairly quickly whenever you are feeling tense.
Learning to manage your stress takes time and practice. Talk to your doctor or therapist about other strategies you might try to minimize the stress and your response to it.
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