Coping With Anxiety & Depression –  5 Steps For Managing Your Mental Health

If you’re dealing with feelings of anxiety and depression, you may not be sure what to do to try and cope with the overwhelming, negative feelings that are constantly affecting your mental state. Dealing with either anxiety or depression can be hard enough, but when they mix, the combination is even harder to overcome.

So in this guide, we’ll discuss a few basic steps that may help you improve your mental health, and overcome feelings of anxiety and depression.

Note: If you are feeling extremely anxious and depressed, having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, or having any other severely negative thoughts that concern you, you should see a physician or mental health professional immediately.

1. Take Care Of Your Body

Your body and your mind are connected, so by taking proper care of your physical body, you may be able to help mitigate some of the feelings of anxiety and depression that are affecting you. Here are a few steps we recommend:

• Get some exercise – Exercise has been shown to help reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, and negativity. You don’t have to run a marathon – simply taking a 30-minute walk 5 times per week has very helpful benefits for your body and cardiovascular system. You’ll also be able to relieve stress and get some fresh air.
  
  
• Eat right – Try to avoid eating fast food, processed foods, and too many sugary or starchy snacks. Eat plenty of whole grains, healthy dairy, lean meats, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Fueling your body properly will help your mind stay strong, too.
  
  
• Get plenty of sleep – Aim for at least 7-8 hours of high-quality sleep per night. Sleep deprivation harms your mental and physical health, so follow sleep hygiene best practices to make sure you get enough rest.

2. Reach Out To Loved Ones & Friends

Sometimes, you just need someone to talk to, and discussing your anxiety, depression, and mental state with someone who understands you deeply and intimately can be very helpful. If you have a support system of loved ones and close friends, reach out to someone who will understand, or who may have been through a similar experience.

“Talking it out” is a great way to reduce your feelings of negativity. In many cases, your problems may not seem as huge and difficult to overcome once you speak about them, and begin thinking about them in a more concrete, real way.

3. Avoid The Use Of Intoxicating Substances

Don’t start using or abusing alcohol, prescription drugs, or illicit substances due to anxiety or depression. Substance abuse disorders often go alongside mental health issues like depression and anxiety because the use of drugs and alcohol can provide temporary relief from your pain and stress.

But when these substances wear off, your problems are still there – and you’ll go back to using alcohol and drugs again. This leads to a vicious cycle that can be very difficult to escape. If you think that you may be developing a substance abuse problem due to anxiety and depression, you should seek help and rehabilitation right away.

4. Practice Meditation And Mindfulness

Mindfulness and meditation have been shown to help treat people who suffer from anxiety, depression, and mental and emotional pain.

Basically, this process involves separating yourself from what has happened in the past and what may happen in the future – and focusing on what’s happening in the present.

Often, feelings of depression and anxiety are related to fear or uncertainty about the future, or trauma experienced in the past – so using mindfulness and meditation to focus on the “here and now” can be very helpful.

5. Get Help From A Mental Health Professional

Sometimes, you may feel like you’re going through too much to take it on alone. And that’s when you need to see a mental health professional like a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist.

With the help of Rehab UK and rehab cape town, you can explore your feelings of depression and anxiety more deeply, learn about coping strategies, and get guidance that will help you improve your mental state.

In addition, you may be able to get a prescription for anti-anxiety or anti-depression medication, which can help you manage your anxiety or depression more easily.

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Take Every Step You Can To Fight Back Against Depression And Anxiety!

You don’t have to feel this way forever. If you’re suffering from negative feelings like anxiety and depression, it’s time to make a change – and take every step you can to fight back against these feelings, and improve your mental health. Don’t wait. Start following these tips today!