Depression – Buster Strategies

Relocating to a new place unfortunately brings the likelihood that you may feel depressed once in a while for a myriad of reasons. Sometimes you don’t even realize you’re depressed, and when someone tells you that you seem down, you may get defensive. But, sometimes, it pays to listen to those that notice and care about you. When you find yourself spending most days on the couch in front of the television, with no desire to get up, and unexcited about anything, it’s time for you to get out of a rut.

We can never have enough strategies to beat depression so here are a few tips in case you’re in the blues:

• Get outside. Feel the fresh air on your face, even if it’s raining or snowing, just go outside and be reminded that there is life outside your door. Even if it’s only for a few minutes, it will shift your body and your mind from the same habit and get some renewed energy pumping through you.
• Change your location. Take a day trip, or a weekend getaway to a completely different place. If you can’t do that, then venture into the next town! Just change the scenery to allow yourself to get out of the cycle you’re in.
• Meditate – sometimes sitting on the couch watching TV is simply helping you avoid the deeper thoughts in your mind. Try getting in touch with what really has you down, and then you can work alone, or with a coach or therapist to move past it.
• Pet a dog. (Or cat, or horse…) Somehow, animals are magic when it comes to depression, and spending just a few minutes with the animal of your choice can work wonders. If you’re allergic, take a Claritin or whatever your favorite allergy medecine is and find an animal to pet! Don’t have one or live near someone who does? Find the nearest pet shop and ask to hold a dog or cat even for a few minutes! No pet shop? Try an animal shelter. If you live in the countryside, you may even be able to walk down the road and find a horse stable and ask if you can pet them!
• Do one thing on your to-do list. It doesn’t matter how small – buy the tube of toothpaste you need, go to the coffee shop you’ve been meaning to try, wash the laundry – just do ONE thing. Action steps help draw you forward and get out of the “I’m stuck” feeling.
• Call or email a friend. Pick one person, let them know what’s going on. Don’t isolate yourself. Try to unload one time, and promise yourself, and your friend, you’ll work on strategies to pull yourself out of the depression, starting the next time you contact him or her.
• Throw out clutter. The act of throwing out all those papers and boxes and whatever else is causing a mess is very therapeutic!