3 Tips For Curbing Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety seem to be on the increase today because of the myriad of problems that arise each day..Here are 3 tips to note in the fight to curb depression and anxiety

1. Get Fit
As a fitness fanatic myself I regularly experience the endorphin highs that come with exercise. Though I have not cycled in a while, these feel good hormones were in abundance while cycling around London or the countryside! I simply cannot imagine starting my day without my early morning run which keeps me at the peak of perfect health!
I recall bumping into a fellow cyclist one day outside my local grocery (Tesco’s). We got chatting and she began telling me about her history of mental health and extensive medication regime. I was astounded to hear that she was able to come off her meds altogether once she became an avid cyclist!
I am by no means suggesting you stop taking your medication and replace it with exercise or do any such thing without consulting your GP. But I do know the power of exercise and thought I’d share a real life story with you!
Exercise can ease depression and anxiety which is supported by the Mayo’s Clinic’s article here.

2. Lifestyle
Your lifestyle choices can be the difference between good management and a down hill spiral when it comes to depression. Smoking and alcohol in most circumstances never support good health but as a sufferer of depression, you’d definitely want to show it the door!  A study in the British Journal of Psychiatry found that smokers had more than twice the rate of depression than non-smokers. And nearly one-third of people with major depression also have an alcohol problem.
People reach for a cigarette or a glass of wine to help them get over the blues. It is a learned coping mechanism that brings temporary relief to their current mental state. But really it’s a bit like putting a band-aid on a gun-shot wound! It doesn’t come close if you’re trying to stop the bleeding!

3. Overweight
While eating a healthy diet does wonders for your health and well-being, the opposite is true when you don’t and impacts depression is a negative way.
Junk food junkies are much more likely to end up overweight and obese and being overweight is a bummer for your depression! The psychological effects of being overweight can be extremely damaging to your body image and self-esteem . It can further alienate you and give you every reason to hide yourself in your depression and from the rest of world.
Carrying the extra pounds puts weight on your quality of life, pun intended! It is more likely to affect your mood and almost certainly colours your outlook on life.
When you are overweight the cost to your physical health is a hefty one! Pun intended again! You are likely to suffer from a multitude of other disease all adding to the burden of depression. Research has shown that poorer health is linked to anxiety, depression and lower levels of wellbeing
Staying at a healthy weight makes sense for a healthy heart, slender body and a happy mind!
Is There a Price to Pay for Promiscuity?
A recent study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology suggests that teenagers who engage in casual sex are more likely to suffer from depression than their peers who don’t engage in casual sex.

What you choose for your life should always be conducive to your health and wellbeing