Depression can be severe and life-altering, affecting the quality of life and the happiness of those who live with it. It’s also a common condition. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, it affects around 15 million Americans every year.
In some cases, it’s possible to prevent depression, even if you’ve already had a previous episode.
There are many lifestyle changes and stress management techniques you can use to prevent or avoid depression. There are certain triggers that can cause us to experience depressive episodes. While triggers may be different for everyone, these are some of the best techniques you can use to prevent or avoid depression relapse.
Exercising regularly is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise can help in the treatment and prevention of depression in several key ways:
- It
increases your body temperature, which can have a calming effect on the central
nervous system. - It
releases chemicals like endorphins, which can boost mood. - It
reduces immune system chemicals that may worsen depression.
All types of physical exercise can help treat depression, but it’s best to exercise regularly. To get more exercise, you can:
- Join
a sports team or studio (like yoga or kickboxing), where you’ll be part of a community in addition
to being active. - Take
the stairs instead of the elevator. - Make
it a habit: This is the best way to maintain the fitness level that is most
effective in preventing depression.
However, limiting social media time can help prevent depression. You can do this by:
- deleting
all social apps from your phone - using
website-blocking extensions that only let you use certain sites for a preset
amount of time - only
going to social media with a purpose and avoiding logging on several times a
day just for something to do
Having a strong support system and an active social life is important for our mental health.
Make sure that you’re regularly connecting with friends and family, even when your lives are busy. Attending social events when you can and finding new hobbies that could help you meet new people can all help you build new relationships too.
Have you ever walked into a theme park and been overwhelmed at what you want to do first? Researchers think that having too many choices can actually cause significant stress that can lead to depression.
Psychologist Barry Schwartz, author of the book “The Paradox of Choice,” describes research that shows that when faced with too many choices, those who aim to make the best possible choice — “maximizers” — face higher rates of depression.
For many of us, our lives are filled with choices. Which outfit do we wear, and should we buy yogurt or eggs or bagels or English muffins or sausage for breakfast? The pressure of making the right — or wrong — choice is thought to contribute to depression.
If making choices stresses you out, simplify things. You can:
- Learn
to be decisive more quickly. - Reduce
the decisions you’ll have to make during the work week: Plan out your outfits,
and have your meals prepped and ready to go.
Chronic stress is one of the most avoidable common causes of depression. Learning how to manage and cope with stress is essential for optimal mental health.
To manage stress, you can:
- Avoid
overcommitting to things. - Practice
mindfulness or meditation. - Learn
to let things go that you can’t control.
Continue reading about the best places for guided meditation online ?
If you’ve already experienced one depressive episode, there’s
This includes:
- continuing
prescription medications, and never stopping them abruptly - having
“maintenance” visits with your therapist every so often when in remission - consistently
practicing the strategies and coping mechanisms your therapist taught you
Getting plenty of high-quality sleep is necessary for both mental and physical health. According to the National Sleep Foundation, people with insomnia have a tenfold risk of developing depression compared to those who sleep well.
To get better sleep, you can:
- not
look at any screens for two hours before bed (including your phone!) - meditate
before bed - have
a comfortable mattress - avoid
caffeine after noon
We’ve all met that person who just makes us feel bad about ourselves. Sometimes they’re an outright bully, and other times they subtly put us down to make themselves feel better. They may even be someone who takes advantage of us. Regardless of the specific situation, toxic people should be avoided at all costs. They can lower our self-esteem.
One study from 2012 found that negative social interactions were linked to higher levels of two proteins known as cytokines. These two proteins are associated with inflammation as well as depression.
To avoid toxic people, you should:
- Stay
away from anyone who makes you feel worse about yourself. - Cut
people out of your life who take advantage of you. - Know
the signs. If someone spreads rumors or talks badly about someone as soon as
they leave the room, they’re likely to do the same for you.
Recent research has shown that regularly consuming a high-fat diet can have similar effects as chronic stress in terms of causing depression. In addition, an unhealthy diet can also deprive your body of vital nutrients it needs to maintain physical and mental health.
To prevent depression with your diet, you should:
- Eat
balanced meals with lean protein, and lots of fruits and vegetables. - Reduce
high-sugar and high-fat foods. - Eliminate
processed foods from your diet as much as possible. - Incorporate
more omega-3s into your diet, with foods like salmon or nuts.
Obesity can result in low self-esteem, especially once you start adding in the judgements and criticisms of other people.
If you’re exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and eating well, maintaining a healthy weight should fall into place.
People with other chronic conditions have a
You should:
- Consult
your doctor if your condition or symptoms get worse. - Follow
your treatment plan carefully. - Take
your medications and make lifestyle changes as recommended.
However, a number of different prescription medications can cause depression as a side effect. Read prescription labels carefully before taking them. You can talk to your doctor and see if other medications or treatments can resolve your condition without depression as a side effect.
A few medications that can cause depression include:
- hormonal
medications, like birth control pills - beta-blockers
- corticosteroids
- anticonvulsants
The excessive use of alcohol and any drug use not only is associated with higher risks of depression, but also
Because limiting alcohol can be difficult in some social situations, you can:
- Order
an appetizer instead of a drink at happy hour. - Plan
and invite friends to events where alcohol isn’t central. - Order
cranberry juice; you don’t have to tell anyone it doesn’t have vodka in it.
Smoking and depression can perpetuate each other, though any type of nicotine can act as a depression trigger.
To stop smoking, you can:
- Focus
on your reason for quitting and remind yourself of this every time you’re
tempted. - Know
what to expect ahead of time. - Tell
your friends and ask them to help hold you accountable. - Quit
at the same time as a friend.
There are some depression triggers, but if you know about them, you can plan for them. And that can help you cope preemptively. Examples of unavoidable depression triggers could be the anniversary of a death or a divorce, or knowing that you’ll see your ex and their new partner at your child’s school function.
To plan for these triggers, you can:
- know
that it’s coming up, and know what it will entail - have
plans with a friend, or ask someone to check in with you - remind
yourself that you will get through it
If you’re concerned, you can also make an appointment with your therapist for more tips to help manage it ahead of time.