Coping with Stress
Coping with Stress and Depression
As the weather outside becomes gray and work becomes dauntingly slow, despite the holidays, we can have a tendency to become overwhelmed with seasonal depression or stress. But there are ways to cope with this that are much more simple than one might think. It starts by simply living a healthy lifestyle.
First of all, you need to understand that this is something everyone experiences at least once, if not many more times, in their life. Although you may feel hopeless and unfulfilled with things that used to bring you joy, there is hope! It is simply a condition and everyone has the means to overcome it and avoid it in the future. It is strongly advised for someone who is depressed to seek help from a professional. However, there are additional day-to-day things you can do to cope with or prevent it, which is what this post will focus on.
It is important to get daily exercise in order to get your blood pumping, improve your circulation, contribute to detoxification, provide an outlet for your frustrations, and release the body's natural feel-good chemicals.
Eating right is another way to keep your mind and body healthy. Indulging on fatty, over-processed, and sugar-filled foods will not only weigh you down, but cause fatigue and harmful chemicals to be released in your body. It is important to get a nutritional diet filled with nutrients and all parts of the food group. This includes lean meats, dairy, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and plenty of water! Some of the most common nutrient deficiencies that have been connected to mood disorders are omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, B vitamins, zinc, folate, chromium, iron, iodine, and amino acids. It is also important to note that these nutrients are absorbed much better when they are provided by foods, rather than taking store-bought vitamins. Foods that contain these nutrients can easily be found online or through your doctor.
Meditation is another way that many people find relief from the stresses of everyday life. Take the time to relax, breathe in deeply, and focus on your own mind and body for a little bit each day. This will allow more oxygen to your brain and body as you breathe in deeply, which will also help to combat some of the physical pains that often come from stress, depression, and mood disorders.
Make sure you are getting at least eight hours of sleep each day, limiting alcohol consumption, getting natural sunlight, and taking some time each day to do something fun for yourself! In addition to exercising, laughing is another easy way to boost the levels of the natural feel-good chemicals in your body. When we're faced with a long and stressful to-do list on a daily basis, it can be easy to forget to do things for ourselves, but nonetheless, it is actually very important for your physical and mental health.
So if you're starting to feel down in the dumps lately, or more on-edge than usual, try incorporating these things into your daily life, it certainly won't hurt to try!
If your experiencing physical pain from stress, you should also consider visiting a chiropractor. We offer a variety of services that will surely relieve your pain and get you back on track with a healthy body. For chiropractic care in Vancouver, Washington, contact Back to Health Chiropractic for an appointment!
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Stress
