7 Approaches to Avoid Getting Depressed

What are the approaches to avoid getting depressed? Depression can be a devastating condition that affects people of all ages. Depression happens when your brain doesn’t produce enough, or any, of certain chemicals that help control your mood. When you have depression, how you think and feel can change, sometimes even to the point where you no longer enjoy life.

Pessimism is baked into us. Psychology has various names for this gene, like “learned helplessness” or something else that involves the word “learn.” We just can’t help but think we’re doomed. Even if it seems that we are suffering at the hands of others, we’ll find a way to blame ourselves. 

When we recognize this pessimistic gene in ourselves, many people try to fight it with positive thinking, affirmations, and cheesy self-help books. But these things are pointless because they fight against your biology (and who wants to hear it from someone who hasn’t suffered?). 

Instead, accept that you’re just not meant to be happy like dogs, bees, and dolphins are. Understand that life is short and precious, so you can’t waste time on things that will not make you feel better or succeed.

In this article, I will share 7 approaches to avoid getting depressed. 

1. Build Strong Relations

We often treat social media as a place to show off our lives to others, and the people who scroll through their Facebook feeds are naturally nosy, curious and voyeuristic.

The key is, to be honest about what you share online. If you don’t want everyone to see it, don’t put it online. The same applies to what we say online.

When people get a measured amount of attention in person, they’re drawn to more real social media interactions—it’s not real life. Still, it’s better than the false reality portrayed on many newsfeeds.

If you’re a struggling entrepreneur, seek out the real thing: Make an effort to meet and befriend people you genuinely like, or simply find a good coffee shop where you can sit and enjoy your own company.

There is no doubt that social media can give us a false sense of popularity, and we become depressed when we discover that other people’s social lives are more active than ours.

The good news is we don’t have to put ourselves in this situation. In pursuing popularity and social acceptance, we can hurt ourselves. 

By not looking inward, instead of helping us understand our place in this world, social media causes us to feel more inadequate. It’s easy to have 100 friends on Facebook, but it’s a lot harder to nurture 100 real friends.

So as you can see, people who get affected by it easily will often get depressed and may feel down, like their life sucks, like no one cares about them, etc. etc.

Suppose a person who never gets affected by such things is positive most of the time and does not complain about things that do not matter in real life. In that case, the positivity will rub off on other people and give them a more positive outlook on life – which reduces the chance of getting depressed.

We become more susceptible to feeling lost, depressed and left out when we aren’t sure where we fit in the world. This is where genuine relationships come into play… Looking at the bigger picture helps with perspective. In the end, what matters is how you interact with others.

2. Fewer Choices

Have you ever noticed that it’s easy to get completely overwhelmed when you have a lot to choose from? When you feel like there are too many options, then perhaps making a decision feels more impossible than possible. When there’s too much choice, it can cause anxiety and depression. Keep your choice list shorter. 

3. Follow a Therapist

How often have you been instructed to practice cognitive behavioural therapy strategies? It’s a common request from a therapist. But the reality is that most people don’t incorporate these strategies into their daily lives. But why? Because they are hard to practice consistently.

Clinical research shows that only 1 out of 3 people who suffer from depression get better from the first use of antidepressants or therapy. 20% still have depression after 6 months and up to 20% after 2 years. 

It’s not enough to just try something once and give up if it doesn’t work the first time. Even medications need to be taken for several weeks before they start working correctly, yet many people stop using them because they don’t feel better immediately.

This is where cognitive behavioural therapy can help most. It is one of the only scientifically proven treatments that work for people with and without depression. It teaches strategies that can help you change how you think about yourself, the world, and your problems. These strategies will ultimately make you feel better and improve your chances of recovering from depression with medication or without medication.

Research shows that those who suffer from depression and use CBT have a high chance of getting much better. In fact, than those who use traditional treatment methods in which they have prescribed medication alone. If you are looking for a reliable therapist to avoid getting depressed, then Book an Appointment at Online-Therapy. 

4. Prioritize Your Health

Prioritize your health to avoid getting depressed. A good diet with a workout routine and enough sleep is helpful. 

Research suggests that an unhealthy lifestyle can lead to depression, while a healthy one may help prevent it. Depression is more common among women and people who are older and have lower income or education levels.

The first thing that comes to mind when you’re feeling down is eating some junk food, not going to the gym or sleeping less. You can avoid this by prioritising your health.

The old saying “you are what you eat” is very true. The food you eat can give you the energy and nutrients needed for a healthy life or make you feel tired, depressed and unmotivated. 

Make it a habit to go to the gym more often and work on your self-esteem to get out of the negative mindset. You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel after just a week of practising these good habits.

5. Avoid Toxicity

Avoid toxicity to avoid getting depressed. Hanging out with extra negative people or spreading rumours about others will only make you more susceptible to depression. It doesn’t matter if it’s a friend, classmate, work colleague, or family member; the more time you spend with someone, the more their outlook will rub off on you. 

So be cautious when spending time with them and stick to positive people who will lift you and make you feel better.

So don’t give your energy to those who bring you down or make you feel worse. Make room for people who can add value to your life so that you’re not impacted by what they say or do. 

And if you find yourself in a situation where toxic people are constantly around you, break free by limiting your time with them. The less time you spend around them, the less their personality will rub off on you.

A significant factor in my depression was people who didn’t help me when I needed it the most. Instead, they made things worse. And once I had lost my faith in others, I turned on myself. These days, I’m happier than ever. I’m so delighted that there’s nothing that can stop me now.

6. Manage Chronic Conditions

Depression is a chronic illness that is affected by your daily physiology. This means that taking care of your body will always be necessary. In addition, some fundamental lifestyle changes can help you avoid getting depressed.

Following a healthy daily routine is essential, and avoiding skipping meals, even if you feel better. Maintain a healthy diet by eating small portions at frequent intervals. Not only will this improve your health, but it will also help you avoid getting depressed.

If a chronic condition is poorly managed, it can cause depression. Getting healthy is the first step to staying happy.

Poor chronic disease control isn’t necessarily related to inadequate medications. Instead, it’s often due to a lack of compliance and self-care. To stop feeling awful, you have to take better care of yourself. And it starts by talking to your doctor. Book an Appointment to speak to a doctor to improve your mental health. 

7. Avoid Peer Pressure

Don’t let the holidays get you down. December is one of the most depressing times for people with mental health conditions. Many people feel lonely, isolated, and misunderstood. It’s easy to fall into old habits like drinking alcohol and using drugs just to feel connected to others. Take care of yourself by being mindful and avoiding peer pressure to avoid getting depressed.

Alcohol is central to many social events and is often seen as a rite of passage. Peer pressure to drink can be intense, and people who abstain can feel like outcasts, according to Dr Mark Willenbring, founder and medical director at Alltyr Clinic in St. Paul.

Avoid substances like alcohol and drugs, but if you find them unavoidable, seek help from a friend or a support group.

Order an appetiser instead of a drink at happy hour, or propose doing things that don’t revolve around alcohol or drugs. Plan events where alcohol and drugs aren’t central to the experience. 

If you are uncomfortable in the group setting because everyone else is drinking or using drugs, leave and call someone who will support you in your decision not to engage in substance use.

Avoiding peer pressure to get high or get drunk doesn’t mean you have to be a buzzkill; sometimes, keeping the night low-key is an excellent way to avoid getting depressed.

You don’t need alcohol to have a good time. Some of the best nights we’ve had were without drinks. We all want to be happy, but drinking beer alone and watching Netflix isn’t the path to get there.

How Online-Therapy Can Help You Take Care of Your Mental Health?

Online Therapy is a mental health care center that helps people work on their mental health and well-being through convenient and available personalized sessions.

It has a unique model that brings people together to help them overcome challenges relating to depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. It tailors the online experience to each person allowing customers to speak with a trained coach whenever needed.

Book an appointment and take the first step to improving your mental health. Be happy from the first therapy session.