Since the pandemic began, depression rates in the US increased to a staggering 32%, affecting nearly one in every three adults. Moreover, depression symptoms can range from mild to severe, with some patients reporting feeling depressed for a few days, months, or even years. There are several depression mental health tips that you can follow to help improve your mood and promote positive habits and thinking. Even better, a depression treatment program can help patients turn their lives around with healthy coping skills to fight those negative thoughts.
At Arkview Recovery Center, our depression treatment center in PA helps men and women struggling with depression. We use various behavioral therapy techniques to help each patient create new healthy habits and thought patterns to fight depression.
To help yourself or a loved one struggling with depression, call 717.744.0756 today to learn more tips to improve mental health from our behavioral therapists.
What Causes Depression?
Depression is a serious mental health illness that can affect everyone, regardless of age, race, religion, or sex. In fact, there is no single cause of depression. Multiple factors come into play, such as:
- Genetics
- Family history
- Home/School environment
- Changing seasons
- Substance abuse
- Serious illness
- Death of a loved one
Research has found that people with serious depression have a smaller hippocampus than those with no instances of deep depression. The stress hormone cortisol, which is higher in people with depression, is thought to shrink the hippocampus. A smaller hippocampus means fewer serotonin receptors which help with the processing of emotions. As a result, people with a smaller hippocampus are more susceptible to depression and can benefit from a depression treatment program.
5 Mental Health Tips for Depression
If you find yourself feeling depressed, here are five tips to improve mental health that you can try.
1. Reduce your stress
Stress can be harmful physically and mentally over a long period of time. To help reduce stress levels, yoga and meditation can calm you down and lower cortisol levels. Any activity you enjoy doing will help reduce your stress levels.
2. Have a supportive network of friends
Avoid hanging out with toxic people who are constantly negative or use drugs or alcohol to cope. Surround yourself with friends and family who will encourage and support you. The more you are around positive thinking people who care about your wellbeing, the easier it will be to recover from depression.
3. Eat healthy meals at regular times
Nutrition plays an important role in helping reduce the symptoms of depression. Eat plenty of fish or chicken, leafy greens, and whole foods. Avoid fast food or mindless snacking in front of the TV. As your health improves, you will find your mood and energy improve as well.
4. Get plenty of sleep
Getting eight hours of sleep can significantly improve your mental well-being. Also, cut out your sugar and caffeine intake in the afternoon to avoid staying up late. Turn off the TV, laptop, tablet, or smartphone and pick up a book right before bedtime. Remember that the light from these devices can make it harder to fall asleep.
5. Start a journal
Journaling is a great way to process your emotions and feelings during the day. Write down how you felt, what you did, and what you felt like doing during stressful situations. Reviewing what happened to trigger negative thoughts or habits can help teach you what your triggers are and how to avoid them.
Call Arkview Recovery Center for More Depression Mental Health Tips
Arkview Recovery Center is a depression treatment center in PA that can help men and women with depression and other mental health issues. Our behavioral therapists and medical staff will work with your individual issues to create the right depression treatment for you. We can help with several forms of depression, including:
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
- Postpartum depression
- Psychotic depression
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
To learn more depression mental health tips, call 717.744.0756 today to speak with our caring staff about our depression treatment programs.
