Decrease Depression: Three mood-boosting ways to beat sadness

Author: Ivanhoe Newswire
Published: Updated:
Credit: Duplex/Pixabay

Major depressive disorder affects more than 19 million people in the United States and two million are kids. Did you know major depressive disorder is more prevalent in women than in men? Are things we do every day that are making us more prone to depression?

Irritated, down, angry, bored, indifferent, tired, lethargic.

“We all have struggles, there’s not one of us on the planet that’s not struggling with something,” David Baker, Ph.D., a psychotherapist performance management consultant, told Ivanhoe.

First, watch what you eat. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the healthier a person’s diet, the lower their risk of depression. The more processed foods you eat the higher risk you have. Also, spending too much time alone can impact your mood.

“I have not been the friend that I wanted to be to my best friend,” Baker stated.

A study out of the University of North Carolina found that people with close social ties had lower blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, and levels of inflammation markers than those that were socially isolated and try to cut back on multitasking on your media. In fact, experts estimate that the average amount of time spent multitasking on devices has doubled from an hour and a half to almost three hours a day.

“Can you ask yourself, as a mental health check-in, ‘What is it that I’m desiring, longing for, but not having’,” Baker asked.

So, bottom line, turn off your phone, and have a healthy dinner with your friends. It just may be the perk-me-up you need.

Last year The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline received more than 800,000 calls.

This is a 27 percent increase from 2019. The helpline is a confidential, free, 24-hour information service. If you’re feeling down and want to talk to someone, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

RESOURCES

FGCU Community Counseling Center
https://www.fgcu.edu/mariebcollege/counseling/communitycounseling/

National Alliance on Mental Illness, Collier County
namicollier.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry counties
namilee.org

Lee Health – Behavioral Health
https://www.leehealth.org/our-services/behavioral-health

Lee Health Foundation’s – ‘Kids Minds Matter’
https://leehealthfoundation.org/kids-minds-matter

The National Alliance for Caregiving offers a free handbook
Circle of Care: A Guidebook for Mental Health Caregivers

Collier County Mental Health Court
ca.cjis20.org/home/collier

Lee County Mental Health Court
ca.cjis20.org/home/lee

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
convio.net

Local Support Groups: Anxiety and Depression Association of America
adaa.org

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help)
hhs.gov/programs/topic-sites/mental-health-parity

Southwest Florida Resource Link
http://www.swflresourcelink.com/services/mental-health–substance-abuse

Stop Now And Plan (SNAP)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
https://www.samhsa.gov/

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Talking to kids about suicide

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.