These are the themes that emerged after patients with major depression were in remission from van Grieken et al. (2013). It’s not an all-inclusive list, but a good reference for anyone struggling to find a strategy, from people that had success better managing their depression.
- Take the signals of my depression seriously.
- Maintain long-term professional support.
- Acknowledge that depression is a disease.
- Leave the house regularly.
- Find a therapist with whom I feel a connection.
- Ensure enough rest to avoid exhaustion through over-exertion.
- Inform close family/friends about my depression.
- Set realistic short-term goals.
- Explain my depression to family/friends.
- Involve close family/friends in my treatment.
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I’m glad that works for you. I’ve noticed running gives me more energy and puts me in a much better mood. The hardest part was starting. So I enrolled with a personal trainer so I would follow through. If I didn’t care about myself I weirdly cared more that I was inconveniencing someone else and that little social contract forced me to show up and start.
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I agree with this statement. Exercising had always been something that helped to ground my mind and improve my mindset; however, I had to learn how to not overdo it as a means of self-harm which I had done for a time too.
