Depression: How to Prevent It!

Throughout my life, I suffered from multiple episodes of depression that were so severe that I was always admitted to the hospital.  In 2014, when I was discharged from the hospital for a severe bipolar episode, I told myself that I would do anything to prevent myself from admitting to the hospital for another severe episode again. Before I thought I was unable to do anything to prevent depression but, on that day, I decided to believe that there must be ways to prevent another severe episode.

Here, I would like to share with you the things that I’ve done that might have contributed to my not having another severe episode of depression since then.

Exercise

For decades studies have been showing that aerobic exercise improves mood, so I started walking on the treadmill. Sometimes, when I’m sad, I would go out for a walk, and recently, I started going for a morning walk every day which is another way to boost my mental and emotional health.

Hobbies

Hobbies can make us feel happier and relaxed. Research also shows that people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood, and depression. The very first thing I did after being discharged from the hospital was to find a hobby. If you don’t have a hobby now, I strongly recommend you find one. Remember that you may have to try out different activities to finally know which one you like most.

Maintain Treatment Plan

If you’ve already experienced one depressive episode, the utmost important thing to do is to maintain your treatment plan which includes:

• Continue prescribed medication, and never stop them
• Having maintenance visits with your therapist

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep affects both mental and physical health. According to my doctor, lack of sleep can trigger bipolar episodes. So, I would say practicing good sleep hygiene will help in preventing depression.

And Last…. Keep Yourself Happy at All Time

Keeping yourself happy helps in maintaining good mental health which can prevent depression.

Princess Diana once said, “Only do what your heart tells you.”

I believe in that, and I found that’s a very simple way to keep yourself happy – always do only what your heart tells you. Your heart is a compass inside of you, it’s a true guide that will lead you to happiness if you can just tune into it.

Final Thoughts

There’s no clear answer whether it’s possible to keep depression from coming back, but I do believe what I have been doing contributes to my not having another episode since 2014. I strongly recommend you try them out. And besides, all that mentioned are good ways to stay healthy, both physically and mentally.