Depression Prevention

Yes! Depression can be prevented and often improved with exercise. A number of mechanisms may be involved, which include: (1) refocusing the mind away from negative inner chatter that promotes depression, (2) releasing feel-good brain chemicals... Full Answer

To get through the dark winter days, here are my tips for beating the winter blues. First, try inhaling a whiff of peppermint oil. It helps with sadness and depression. Second, purchase a fluorescent compact bulb or a sun lamp. These bright lights can... Full Answer

Healthcare providers recommend that an individual suffering from depression reduce stress and try to develop regular sleep patterns. Sleep disturbances may signal the early phase of a depressive episode.To prevent depression, learn to recognize the early... Full Answer

Whether you have experienced depression before or you experience new symptoms during pregnancy, it is important to seek help. You can begin with making sure you have enough sleep, exercise, good food, and practical help with coping with any stressful... Full Answer

Believe it or not, eating a banana every day facilitates both cross talk among your brain and the effect of certain neurotransmitters (like serotonin and its precursors). These two effects may mean that eating a banana a day helps keep the therapist away... Full Answer

From the land of olives and gyros comes the key to sidestepping a low mood. Eating a Mediterranean-style diet appears to help lower the risk of depression by about 30 percent, thanks to a high concentration of good-for-you-fats and B vitamins.... Full Answer

Getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night has been shown to protect against depression, as does maintaining your natural circadian rhythm; that is, your sleep-wake schedule. The best way to keep a balanced sleep schedule is to wake up at... Full Answer

In the research on depression relapse, two things have become apparent: maintaining a balanced circadian rhythm helps to keep your mood stable, and so does getting regular exercise. A circadian rhythm is an approximate daily periodicity, a... Full Answer

Research has shown that people who take ten thousand steps a day are less likely to relapse into depression. People with depression need to be encouraged to develop regular exercise habits. To ensure that you take ten thousand steps a day, you... Full Answer

Recovering and staying free from depression is like going on a diet. You can’t go back to your old habits once you’ve lost the weight. Staying well -- like staying at a healthy weight -- often means changing your lifestyle for good.... Full Answer