Can Chronic Pain Cause Depression

[Lakeisha Moffitt]

Depression can cause a drain in energy that makes it hard for a person to function correctly. Even though it's not easy to get over depression, it is definitely possible. This article is filled with tips you should think about applying to your situation if you feel depressed. A good amount of effort is needed to beat depression, but victory is obtainable.

Complex carbohydrates in your diet will help to relieve some of the nervous and sad feelings that you may be experiencing. If you take the time to eat things that are high in complex carbohydrates, you will naturally be fighting off those nervous feelings that leave you uncomfortable and unhappy. Use your diet to win your battle.

Challenge your depressive thinking patterns. If you are thinking something about yourself, consider if you'd ever make that statement about another person. If the answer is no, you're probably being overly hard on yourself. Try to reframe these types of thoughts in a more realistic and constructive manner by making statements that provide suggestions on how to fix the problem.

The best way to beat depression and kick the blues is to become active and exercise. It is not a quick fix to the problem of depression but it is an ongoing way to make life better and gives you something to look forward too tomorrow. Not only does it release stress, but it makes a person feel better about themselves and gives you some control over your life.

Change the bad habits in your life that keep you depressed. Be ruthlessly honest with yourself as you try to identify what these habits are. Try using positive thinking, assertiveness skills, and problem solving skills to tackle these negative habits and thoughts. Try using humor to deal with life's problems too, instead of letting the negativity drown you.

Although it is obvious that depression typically leads to dark thoughts, you should do everything in your power to avoid letting yourself enter into these cycles. Once you start fantasizing about your own death or suicide it can be quite difficult to break out of the feedback loop that makes you more and more depressed.

Laughter really is the best medicine. Research shows that even a smile can raise serotonin levels, the same effect that many antidepressants give. Instead of wallowing in your sadness with depressing music and tear-jerking tragedies, break out the stand-up albums or put on a silly comedy. Even if you don't feel like it when it starts, you will find yourself smiling and laughing despite yourself by the end!

Try to be open-minded to new ideas that your therapist gives you. Many people do not follow the advice of a therapist because they find these ideas to be odd or unhelpful. But remember, your therapist is the expert and he or she is just trying to do whatever possible, to help you out.

When and if you are feeling suicidal you should do everything in your power to remind you that this is all in your head. If you even begin to entertain the idea of killing yourself you should immediately contact someone that you trust and ask them to come and talk you down.

If your doctor prescribes antidepressants to treat your depression, be sure to take the medication as prescribed. Do not take more or less than what your doctor tells you to take, and do not stop taking the medication without consulting your doctor as this can be dangerous. Frequently it is necessary to slowly wean patients off of anti-depressants; stopping them suddenly can have negative consequences.

A handy tip for depression sufferers is to eat a variety of healthy, energizing foods. Depression can be exacerbated by diets full of sugar and other empty calories. Choosing fresh, organic produce can help lift one's spirits and can provide life-affirming nutrients that are vital for good, physical as well as mental health.

If you have been feeling down, uninterested in things that make you happy, and are having trouble with sleep, this could be depression. Identifying depression is the first step in solving it. If you have had these feelings for more than two weeks, it is important that you see a psychiatrist as soon as possible.

Exercise. Studies have shown that people who exercise have lower rates of depression, and that those with depression can help their condition by doing some kind of exercise. Exercising is not only great for your physical health but for your mental health as well, so start an exercise program. There are many to choose from, and you'll feel much better.

Don't drink a lot of coffee. Coffee can cause you to feel stressed, amped up and anxious. Coffee can cause a mental state that exacerbates your depression symptoms by adding others on top of them. Avoid coffee as much as possible so you don't give yourself any additional stress.

Drinking water can actually help heal depression. Dehydration can cause your body to shut down, as well as your brain. It is not possible to be happy and have a positive attitude if you are dehydrated. Try to drink half your body weight in ounces each day. If you weigh 150 pounds, you would need 75 ounces of water.

If you are feeling depressed, it is important that you have healthy coping skills to help yourself manager your feelings. Healthy coping skills help you to improve your mood. Examples of coping skills that have worked for people are listening to music, talking to friends, and going for walks; however, it is important that you find what helps your mood, because everyone is different.

Often times, bad behavior and general bad habits will work to worsen depression, so avoid following the same bad behavior. For instance: If you have an inclination to yell and scream at people who try to help, and then immediately begin to fall further into your funk, you can identify this bad behavior and stop it before it becomes worse.

Do not be afraid to ask your doctor to switch your depression medication if you feel it is not working. You should always give your medication a chance to work for a few weeks to a month but with so many on the market you have to find the one that works the best for you!

As stated before, many people worldwide face depression daily. Depression has a debilitating effect on people as they become sad and are not able to complete activities and live normally, sometimes even resulting in an attempt to end their life. Using the tips from this article, you can combat depression.

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