So many of us suffer from depression but how often do we keep it to ourselves because we are too afraid of being judged or feeling like we are becoming a nuisance to others? Well did you know that being depressed actually affects the body… Not only emotionally however very physically as well, way more than you would think. Depression is according to psychotherapists said to cause some cardiac and gastric issues. When you’re depressed, you do not digest food as you would normally do which could also cause or lead to constipation. Breathing can be laboured due to anxiousness and the most obvious are the chemical imbalances that your mental state causes in the brain.

Now with all this information, I have a few tips that I would recommend to try if you find yourself in a depressive state but battle however to express yourself fully. I too suffered from mental health issues and majority of these tricks have actually worked

1. Don’t speak or address the issue until you and the trigger have both had the time to form some perspective

2. When addressing your depressive issues, triggers, causes etc. Always ensure to say what you mean, this does not only help with getting your point across when you’re depressed but it is actually a great communication skill to possess

3. Practising anxiety tricks such as counting your breath, counting backwards, saying a mantra, a small prayer, holding your breath for a few seconds or gesturing the Ohm hand sign (touching your index finger to your thumb) go a very long way in calming you down and gaining some perspective on reality

4. Journaling… This is my favourite. Journaling helps you understand exactly what you feel and why you are feeling it, the benefit here is that you write down your feelings, thoughts and emotions in real-time which makes you wiser and more aware of your triggers and the trends that cause your depressive episodes

5. Keep a mood diary, a mood diary is used to track your feelings, thoughts and emotions. The easiest way is to record daily how you feel in the morning (I prefer to record my mood the earliest as possible) and late in the evening just before bed just so what you record is accurate and not imagined or forced. This would also help in achieving your goals sooner. The more you record your mood, the more likely you are to be honest with yourself, set goals and avoid triggers from getting in the way as intensely as they often do

6. Do not lose interest in your hobbies!! This is often hard to do but our hobbies keep us alive even during the most depressive times, remember to take time to yourself… Be kind to yourself and feed your brain positively

7. Read, read a book freshly printed. Experience the excitement of the smell from a new book, annotate to stimulate the brain and do research on the things you’re most curious about or affected by. Researching your condition and finding people who are in a similar situation to yours will help you understand your condition better and feel supported knowing that you aren’t alone

8. Get some fresh air, talk walks, exercise and eat healthier. Remember that a healthy brain engages in exercise and needs to be well fed (with both food and knowledge). When you’re depressed, you often have to remind yourself that you are trying your best however you cannot be at your best if you are not willing to be honest with yourself and get support where needs be. Eating healthy also helps with balancing your chakras therefore if you know which of your chakras are imbalanced eat more of the foods that are required for the chakra to work at its best potential. Dressing in colours that support this chakra is also very beneficial in this regard.

Now, before you suffer in silence… Remember that there are plenty of avenues to assist you in the journey of understanding yourself and your mental state a bit better. Next time, instead of keeping quiet and thinking no body cares, actually think YOUR BODY CARES and does not deserve to suffer 💜💚💛🤎

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group +27800212223 or text +2731393 (source Facebook)