With all the stressors of modern society and the personal struggles that people deal with, it’s no surprise that mental health issues have become commonplace. The quest to reduce the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms is a never-ending battle.
Developing sustainable and healthy habits is a major component of fighting depression and anxiety. We’ll cover the five habits for reducing and potentially overcoming these mental demons.
1. Spend Time With A Pet
If you’re struggling with severe episodes of anxiousness, consider getting an emotional support animal (ESA). These furry companions offer comfort to alleviate mental health problems by offering their presence in the wake of loneliness.
Spending time with a pet makes you more likely to live in the moment without worrying about the future or past. Often, anxiety stems from being overly concerned with the uncertainties of life.
Obtaining an emotional support animal requires receiving a letter from a licensed therapist or mental practitioner stating that you’re diagnosed with a specific mental condition and that an ESA can help reduce the symptoms. Once you have your ESA letter, you can register your emotional support animal from service providers like esaregistration.org.
The beauty of having an emotional support animal is that it can generally come with you anywhere you go, whether in public or when finding a home. For example, the Fair Housing Act protects individuals from potential discrimination, thus allowing renters to live with their emotional support animal.
2. Exercise Regularly
Exercise isn’t just about keeping your body fit and cardiovascular health in check. It’s a proven fact that people who exercise often have a great sense of well-being. Studies have shown that exercise can be a natural treatment to fight depression and, in some cases, be just as effective as antidepressants.
That’s because exercise provides a balanced number of hormones, especially endorphins, which gives you the “runner’s high.” This state is when the body releases feel-good hormones that make you feel amazing afterwards.
3. Try Meditation
Meditation is often scoffed at or considered impractical. However, meditation has been proven to reduce stress and improve well-being.
That’s because meditation can help manage your cortisol levels through strategic breathing patterns and help center your attention away from negative thinking. Negative thoughts often spiral out of control leading to a never-ending thought loop and depressive feelings.
4. Spend Time Journaling
Journaling clarifies how you’re feeling and why you feel a certain way. It lets you vent your frustrations and feelings in a way that won’t harm you. If you’re lonely and don’t have a confidant who will listen to you in a nonjudgemental way, a journal can be a friend of yours who always is there to listen to you.
Journaling can help you track your symptoms, so you’re aware of negative thought patterns, triggers, and other influences on your behaviors and mood.
5. Sleep Well
Most people underestimate the importance of sleep. Sleep is a therapeutic process vital to your body’s natural ability to carry out processes, function, and expend energy. When you’re sleep deprived, your stress level rises, and positive thinking drops. You may feel more distressed by insignificant events.
Wrapping It Up
It’s difficult to manage and live with depression and anxiety, especially if you’re experiencing severe symptoms. Practicing healthy habits proven to help with these problems can make the fight more bearable. If you need assistance, there’s no shame in seeking professional help!
