There are so many different ways to cope with anxiety and depression that can truly be life changing. Some specific ways are to journal your thoughts/feelings, see a therapist, take a yoga class, meditation and so many more. Journaling your thoughts can help you express yourself without any limitation nor judgment. Taking yoga class goes hand in hand with meditation, it helps you be still and be one with yourself. Being able to practice mindfulness is something that will help become more aware and understand your thoughts more. According to Journal of Psychiatric Practice, “Mindfulness practices have become increasingly popular as complementary therapeutic strategies for a variety of medical and psychiatric conditions.
Exercise in general helps release the endorphins from your body, which help trigger positive feeling in the body. Studies have found that yoga can help tremendously when dealing with depression/anxiety. According to http://www.aafp.org/ “Many persons with clinical anxiety or depression turn to nonpharmacologic and non-conventional interventions, including exercises, meditation, tai chi, qigong, and yoga”. These exercises have become more popular because there are no side effects as oppose to taking prescribed mediation which we know sometimes may cause negative side effects.
Although exercising definitely something that will help get your body moving, giving yourself positive affirmations is also another powerful tool. Our thoughts usually consume us, and especially when you are dealing with negative thoughts it is very hard to get out of that rut. I find that listening to podcasts with speakers that teach you how to implement these affirmations is very helpful, the more we listen and practice these steps eventually they stick in our thoughts and they become a positive part of our lives.
I believe something else that is very important when dealing with depression and anxiety, it is to be gentle, loving and patient with yourself. Sometimes it is easy to blame ourselves for feeling the way that we feel, this is something that I personally have learned over the years. Treating yourself as you would treat one of your best friends when they are dealing with depression/anxiety is how you should treat yourself as well. Give yourself all of the love and positivity that you possibly can. There are also many apps on your phone that provide well being apps such as mediation. One meditation app that I have found very helpful is called headspace , you can choose to do a cook 3 minute, 5 minute, 20 minute mediation depending on the time you want to give yourself to do this. Most importantly taking deep breaths can be something that can help immensely when you are overwhelmed , with all of the thoughts that are crossing your mind.
Of Mental Health 