Changing How you Live your Life can Make you Happier

Anxiety and depression are problems for people today. Doctors are quick to prescribe medications to solve these problems but there're other ways to treat these illnesses. Making changes to your life style can help reduce the amount of anxiety or depression you feel on a basis.

If you make some of these changes to your routine and you feel as though there's no change after a while, it's recommended you seek professional help . Here are a changes you can make to reduce your anxiety or your depression.

Diet and Exercise

Studies have shown that incorporating regular exercise into your day can improve your mood and reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. An increase in movement helps to stimulate the body’s production of chemicals called endorphins and serotonin. These chemicals are mood enhancers which are great for helping with depression.

Having a workout partner will help you stay consistent and the right partner will motivate you to work harder. It also makes it easier to begin a workout program if you start with someone you know instead of by yourself.

The workout program doesn’t have to be strenuous. Going for a 30-minute walk every day can drastically reduce the risk of chronic diseases, which includes anxiety and depression. But the brain can also the food you eat.

The brain needs a supply of nutrients to properly. This makes following a well-balanced diet important. Eating foods high in refined sugars and processed foods can cause the opposite effects that you want.

It’s important to eat whole foods and drink plenty of water. Also, reduce the amount of trans fats and make sure that you get enough calcium. Certain foods are to increase the risk of depression such as sugared teas and sodas while fruit punch and certain energy drinks and said to reduce depression.

The same can be about anxiety with decaffeinated coffee reducing anxiety. Studies have shown though, that a prolonged use of caffeine can induce tension and feelings of depression.

Alcohol and Sleep

Those who experience depression are more to abuse alcohol. This is something that people who suffer from depression should be cautious of. Alcohol may numb the pain for a little while but the problem causing the pain will still be there once you sober up.

You will also need to drink more to dull the pain as time goes on and you build a tolerance. This leads to heavy drinking and can harm your brain and liver. People with depression should either stop drinking alcohol or keep a close eye on how much they're drinking to avoid complications in the future. Alcohol is also a trigger for depression and proper treatment may be required if drinking becomes a serious problem.

If you are looking for a way to improve your mood, try getting a good nights sleep. Getting enough sleep has shown to keep your brain balanced and can help ease anxiety and depression. People suffering from sleep deprivation are at a higher risk of dealing with depression. Studies show that those who sleep less than seven hours a night are prone to waking up in bad moods.

Being positive

Negative feelings of hopelessness and helplessness can damage the hormonal balance in your body. This interferes with the chemicals that the brain is using to help you feel calm and happy. Adding a positive mindset is one way you can keep the negative thoughts away. Use phrases like “Today is going to be a great day” to get yourself in the right state of mind. Find the phrases that work for you and write them down. Keep them somewhere you know you will see them.

Other forms of mental training to help you calm are meditation and chi. These methods help you work on your breathing which helps you calm down and reduce stress.

Experiencing too much stress can make people more prone to suffering from anxiety and depression. Learning techniques to keep yourself calm is beneficial towards keeping these conditions at bay or at least manageable.

Have something in your life that you can use to help you with the ups and downs of life. This sense of purpose can be anything from your child to an obligation you know you need to take care of. It also allows you to the satisfaction of doing something productive.

Final Thoughts

Anxiety and depression doesn’t have to run your life. Changing the way you handle throughout your day can help you take back control. These illnesses can cripple a person if they become too much to handle but if you what the problem is and make the necessary changes to improve yourself, these illnesses will have much less of a hold on your life.