There are many things to help with depression, and most of us are familiar with these practices. However, there are a few unexpected techniques which may surprise you.
If you have depression, I know you’re tired of everyone telling you to be more positive and not worry so much. Yes, I am tired of that too because it just doesn’t help. In fact, it makes depression worse because we feel like failures for not being able to “just be happy”. Therapists offer us things to help with depression through medication and group therapy, but it just seems to fall short in that area as well. So, what can we do?
Help from the Unexpected
For those of us who live with this monster, there are things to help with depression. These may not be structured therapies or inpatient programs, but they work in surprising ways. Let’s take a look at a few unexpected treatments for this common mental illness.
Reiki
What if you could cram 100 sessions of meditation into your body and mind? That would produce amazing results, now wouldn’t it? Well, Reiki has the ability to do just that.
It realigns energy pathways and clears blockages that feed into depression. Reiki reduces pain and heals naturally while releasing built-up energies from the body. Anxiety or depression sufferers noticed a drastic improvement in only 30 Reiki sessions, something that would have taken much longer with other treatments.
Mediterranean diet
Unhealthy diets contribute negative effects on the mental state. Processed foods, fatty foods or too much red meat can increase chances of depression.
On the other hand, a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and legumes, namely the Mediterranean diet, can create positive results in both physical and mental health. It can also lengthen the lifespan, hence the healthy diet idea.
The best part is that it only takes a few changes at a time to show results. As your body feeds on nutritious foods, so does your mind. The connection is obvious.
Socratic questioning
This form of asking questions is vastly different from ordinary questioning. When using Socratic questioning, you tend to focus on a person’s main concern. You can also ask yourself these types of questions, helping you to understand differing perspectives on the present issue.
If you’re depressed because of an event in your life, then question how this event will affect you in the future. Learn how important this event will be within the big picture. You might find the huge problem becoming a small one. You might also find depression lifting a bit from off your shoulders.
A break from social media
I won’t name names, but there are certain social media platforms that have you hooked from the time you wake until the time you go to bed. These places will make you feel quite depressed after viewing pictures and media.
Social media breeds comparisons which can be dangerous to the self-esteem. Even the most confident person will start questioning themselves after gazing at social media. Sometimes, it’s best to take a break, whether it’s for a day or a week. You must step away for a while.
Sound therapy
Similar to aromatherapy, sound therapy surrounds you with soothing sounds instead of scents.
Different sounds work for different people. Certain sounds, like Tibetan Singing Bowls, cause vibrations which stimulate the left vagus nerve. This is a region of the brain which responds to stimulation which is designed to help those with depression.
Writing
Whether it’s a novel or a journal entry, writing can have profound effects on the mood. In a matter of minutes, as you type or write those words, your brain will experience a soothing comfort. You will literally be able to feel the darkness leave while writing.
You don’t have to write an uplifting story. It works no matter what you decide to write about. This is one of the things to help with depression that I personally use every day.
Wallowing in sadness
Believe it or not, wallowing in your sadness can actually help. It makes sense too. Pushing negative feelings aside and covering them with false happiness can do a whole lot of damage. When doing this, you aren’t allowed to process what you’re feeling and give it a correct name.
By allowing yourself to feel the negative feelings, you are, in a sense, gaining control over all your feelings and accepting things as they are. That doesn’t mean you cannot change things for the better. You just need to see the truth of your sadness.
Socializing in person
Yes, you may send messages with social media or you might even send regular emails to friends, but that’s just not the same. You have to socialize in person from time to time.
Now for those of us who are introverted, this can be hard. I think the key is to find those few people you are comfortable with and make them your focus for face to face meeting. Sometimes it will take a push to get out there, but my fellow introverts, you gotta do it!
Fighting depression the unconventional way
Medications cannot cure every problem that we have. Sometimes it takes unexpected cures to save the day. When it comes to chronic mental illness, finding things to help with depression is like winning the lottery. It just means so much and proves to be that important.
If you’re searching for things to help with depression, try these tips and see how they work for you. Who knows, one of these techniques may just help you get over your next episode.
Be blessed and enjoy good mental health!
Admittedly, I did not try some of these. But the two that helped most were perhaps those which people might seem least likely. First, Socratic questioning. I’ve heard many times that asking the right question is fifty percent of the answer. And it’s true if you follow through. Second is wallowing in sadness. All depressives do this. The trick is in understanding the feelings to work with them. That took a long time. Thank you for this. It took me back there for a while and that’s not a bad thing.
Don,
I used to question why I wallowed in sadness, and it didn’t help that others tried to shove positivity down my throat. I do, however, think there is a balance, and like you said, learning to deal with the dark feelings. I also noticed how I gravitated toward melancholy music and seemed to feel much better afterward. I am so grateful that someone understands this. As far as the questions go, I do ask them of myself, but not so much as to irritate my anxiety. Anxiety can get you lost in your questioning and ruminations, considering your mind is a great big unorganized filing cabinet.
Thank you for reading, as always. 🙂