When people think of treating depression, it's often thought that the best treatment comes in a bottle. But that's not necessarily true, and some of the key triggers that can help eliminate depression are simple life changes.
To begin with, one of the biggest changes a person can make in their lifestyle to help combat depression is to get enough sleep. There's nothing like being awake all night to put one in a bad mood. Going to bed at the same time each day, turning off the phone, TV and computer screen a bit earlier than a person is used to is a great first step towards eliminating depression.
Another important change a person can make to eliminate depression is getting more exercise. It's well known that exercise is valuable for an overall healthy body, but it also has many mood-boosting effects. A person doesn't need to run a marathon to gain the benefits of exercise, but exercising a few times a week will reduce a person's cortisol levels (a body's stress hormone).
Changing one's diet is also necessary to help eliminate depression. One of the biggest factors to someone's health is their blood sugar level. Eating a sugary snack that results in a spike and a crash an hour later is enough to put anyone in a miserable mood. It's now thought that sugar may play a bigger role in depression than previously thought. So eating healthy snacks, especially ones that are a good source of protein, is certainly a good way to help eliminate depression.
Another important part of a person's diet is healthy fat. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, similar to those found in fish, help reduce depression symptoms. Flaxseeds are also an excellent source of omega-3s, as are walnuts.
Lastly, one of the biggest triggers to eliminating depression is finding a passion and purpose for life. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep and exercising will help with boosting a person's mood, but having a sense of purpose, a reason to get up every day, is key to combating and eliminating depression. This type of change is probably the most difficult to accomplish, so people need to really find something that they enjoy doing. Whether that be changing careers, or finding a hobby that they truly enjoy, making these changes will give them a sense of purpose and meaning.
Depression is a difficult condition to overcome, and those who battle it on a daily basis often times feel that there is no hope. Seeking out medical help will certainly be beneficial to battling and eventually eliminating depression from their lives, but making these small, but meaningful life changes will certainly play a big role in overcoming this condition. People looking to make these changes should start small by choosing one of these triggers and initiating that change. Each time they feel a sense of accomplishment in that change, move on to the next one. Eventually combining all of these triggers and working them into one's daily lifestyle will help them move past depression once and for all.