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Depression Busting by Sharon Martin, LCSW
Depression is a very common disease in the United States. The good news is that it’s very treatable. People do recover from depression and/or keep their symptoms manageable. Many do well with a combination of medication, cognitive, and behavioral strategies. A therapist can help you change your negative thoughts and feelings (the cognitive part). David Burns, M.D. has also written many excellent self-help books on cognitive behavioral therapy.
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Here are some basic behavioral strategies that can help alleviate your depressive symptoms:
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise
- Get some sunlight
- Smile at others
- Sleep the proper amount
- Keep a set schedule
- Limit alcohol and other drugs
- Get involved in something you enjoy
- Practice gratitude
- Set small daily goals
- Attend treatment consistently
And there are plenty more! What behavioral strategies work for you?
Dr. Sharon Martin, LCSW
Sharon Martin, a licensed counselor and psychotherapist in Northern California, specializes in helping adult children of alcoholics and others who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, and self-criticism. She has a private psychotherapy practice in CA where she is available for online counseling. Sharon is also the author of The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism and write the blog Conquering Codependency for Psychology Today.