Depression and Anxiety is a state of mind which is characterized by a negative sense of inadequacy and a visual lack of activity. It is a mental state in which the effecting person experiences sad feelings of gloom and downturn in mood, which may be relatively transitory and may be due to something complex. The common behaviour includes feelings of sadness, despair, low self-esteem, low self-reproach and discouragement.

  Depression is a listed mental disorder which includes altered mood; it may occur daily associated with diminished interest or pleasure in most or all of the activities. Depression is like a tree that has many roots!!

The good news is that there are usually many healthier alternatives which really work well. Here are a few:

Exercise
Exercise can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety. You’ve heard this before and it is hard to start! But if every client followed this advice, I would go out of business! Regular exercise helps you to feel healthier, increases the production of natural “feel good” chemicals in the body, boostsself-esteem and significantly reduces the symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety.

Social Support
When you are depressed, you usually isolate yourself and avoid company. Mixing with
people is not always what you feel like doing, but loneliness is one of the major causes
of depression. Get out there and join the world! You may hate it at first, but do it
anyway! It will ultimately help to uplift your spirits and you will not feel so alone. If you
don’t have a social circle, join one! Volunteer organizations, mothers’ groups, churches,
sports clubs, hobbies and crafts are all good ideas.

Talk About It
This is the most effective way of relieving depression and anxiety. Share your problems
and “externalize” them, rather than bottling them up. You will be amazed at how
relieved you feel and how you are able to begin to get things into perspective.
Speak to friends, family or to a professional person like a licensed counselor. Writing
about your feelings is also therapeutic, so keep a journal, write a book or consult a
professional.

Do Nice Things For Yourself
Nurture and spoil yourself. You deserve it too! So have a bubble bath, buy that special
something you’ve been wanting, play your favorite music and SING, have an
aromatherapy massage or relax and soak in your bathtub after adding a few drops of
soothing Lavender oil to the water. – and do it because YOU ARE SPECIAL!