In her book "Depression," Judith Peacock defines depression as a mood disorder that is characterized by feelings of extreme sadness and hopelessness. Many factors contribute to depression, including genetics, changes in your brain chemistry, stress, emotional shock and your personality type. If you think you are suffering from depression, seek the advice of your physician or a licensed mental health counselor in order to discuss treatment options.
Therapy
Engaging in psychotherapy is generally advisable for people suffering from depression. According to Peacock, if you suffer from less severe forms of depression, you can generally see improvement in your condition after 10 to 20 weeks in treatment. There are many different types of psychotherapy, including the more traditional psychoanalytic psychotherapy based on Freud's theories of basic drives and the unconscious, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, which works to change your negative, depression-reinforcing beliefs and behaviors. Talk to your doctor or therapist to determine which form of therapy is most appropriate for you.
Exercise
Exercise may help you to fight depression because it promotes the production of endorphins, which are chemicals produced in the brain to help you feel good. Adding regular exercise to your daily routine can help you alleviate and manage depressive symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, although exercise may seem like the last thing you want to do when you're depressed, it can help to reduce the immune system chemicals that make depression worse and help take your mind off your worries. If you are new to exercise, you can start off simple--try low-impact aerobic exercise, yoga or tai chi.
Alternative Therapies
Many alternative therapies show promise in alleviating depressive symptoms. According to Peacock, acupuncture and biofeedback may help you to fight depression by lowering stress, elevating your mood and increasing your energy levels. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese healing art that uses fine needles inserted into specific energy points in your body. The belief behind this practice is that you help to restore a healthy life flow to your mind and body. Biofeedback is another option you could try that has been shown to benefit individuals suffering from depression. You work with a trained practitioner who hooks your body up to a monitor to measure involuntary functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure and brain waves. The goal of this practice is to teach you how to control your bodily responses using mental techniques. Eventually, you learn to do this without the use of the monitor. Biofeedback can help you to control your physiological responses to depression.
References
- "Depression;" Judith Peacock; 2000
- MayoClinic.com: Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms
