top of page

6 ways to manage Depression & Anxiety

  • Writer: Tina Sorenson
    Tina Sorenson
  • Oct 10, 2022
  • 4 min read

Hello, lovelies! If you have been reading along for a while, you probably read that I was trying to wean off some of my prescription medications to use more natural ways of helping my body.

Well turns out I can not do so. Primarily my anxiety/depression medication. Even though I had not cut it entirely, I was weening the dosage. My depression crept up from the depths of hell and tried very hard to pull me into that deep dark cave.

The addition of gluten back into my diet for testing purposes may have contributed to this. There are not enough studies to link gluten to psychological changes, but some studies suggest it does. Believe what you want, but I believe that what you eat affects your psychological health.



I have had depression/anxiety for 12 years, diagnosed 10 years ago. I have worked with my physician to find the proper medication to help. I try to eat a balanced diet. I do meditation, yoga, and other things to reduce my stress.

Even with all the tools I have learned over the years from therapy, other blogs, podcasts, and books, this was not enough to keep me above water without my prescription medication. I fell into old habits of avoiding feelings, numbing myself, and not communicating with loved ones. After a couple of weeks of this, I ended up getting sick.

I got a sore throat that turned into a raging fever for three days straight. As I was lying in bed, unable to sleep, bored out of my mind, I had a ton of time to reflect upon myself. While meditating, I realized I had started doing things that were not healthy to cope with my depression. It was like a spotlight turned on, and I just floated upward right out of that cave.

I immediately went back to my prescribed dosage of medication. I opened up to my husband. I spoke with my doctor about what I had tried doing. I have been down this road before and know where I can take myself. For me, it is a very unhealthy dark place.

Staying out of that dark cave is work. I have put in work for the last 10 years to manage it healthily. I have worked with therapists to build better communication with my loved ones. I have learned healthy, beneficial tools to help me cope with stress. I have implemented healthy practices that include my loved ones, so if I spiral out of control, I can get help.

Some things I do to help me manage my depression and stress that can trigger my depression are:

1. Meditation

This can be anywhere from one minute all the way up to however long you want to meditate. You can find lots of guided meditations on the internet or as apps on your phone. I use the smiling mind app because it is free, and The Sunroom Podcast has some really great guided meditations and more on Spotify. meditations

2. Yoga

I have a couple of DVDs from back in the day I still bust out every now and then. I also check out the free yoga videos on Prime video and share a subscription to Beachbody with family, and they have a ton of great videos as well. If you do not have time to do a full 30-45 minute session, that's perfectly fine. Do what you can when you can. Any movement is better than no movement.

3. Me time

This will look different for each individual. Some may like a soak in the tub, watching a sports game, going to the salon, taking a walk in nature, or whatever you like to do making some time for yourself to do it. The reset you will get from enjoying yourself is a huge help when you are feeling down.

4. Communicating

Talking about your feelings with a loved one or therapist can be extremely beneficial in helping you manage your depression. If I had a code to give you to get some discount, I definitely would share it as I am a huge advocate for therapy. It made a huge difference in my life and my family's lives. I prefer Talkspace but have heard that Betterhelp is just as good.

5. Journaling

Writing out how I am feeling to get it all out and off my chest helps me to release emotions, clear my head, and reflect on what I am thinking to ground myself.

6. Massage

Now, if you do not like to be touched by strangers then skip this one or get yourself a massage mat that does the massaging without some stranger touching you. I love a traditional massage for relaxation, but when I can not get in to see the massage therapist, I will use my massage units to get some relief or rope my hubby into giving me a rub.

I may never cure my depression, but I can manage it in healthy ways.




If you suffer from depression or anxiety, know you are not alone. There is help out there. You can text or call the suicide helpline at 988. You are loved and worthy of a beautiful fulfilling life.










I want to know. What do you think?

Comentários


file0.jpg

Hi, thanks for stopping by!

Welcome to The Wellness Blondie, where we’re all about living our best lives, free from stress and anxiety. We offer a variety of articles and resources on wellness and lifestyle that are both informative and entertaining. Our goal is to empower people to take charge of their health and happiness. As a real, authentic, compassionate, and down-to-earth blog, we cover lots of topics, from healthy living to self-care, and we do it with a little bit of wild.

Let the posts
come to you.

Thanks for submitting!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Contact

Thank You for Contacting Us!

© 2021 The Wellness Blondie. All Rights Reserved.

bottom of page