Time has flown by this year for many of us, for some in a great way a for some not so good. This last year has seen a rise in compromised mental, emotional, social and physical health due to the pandemis and it has been drastic. The scary thing is not many people are realising that they have been impacted and are not aware that unless they address it immediately, the long-term impact could be devastating.
I am resharing the below as I believe we can never explore these concerns enough:
Depression is an extremely common experience, one which can be hard to escape from once an episode has begun. Psychological research has found that the chances of developing depression can be reduced from social connection in many ways, from building resilience to taking up a hobby. Consider the following science-backed methods for lowering depression risk:
1. Social connection
Social connection is the strongest protective factor against depression. People who feel able to tell others about their problems and who visit more often with friends and family have a markedly lower risk of becoming depressed.
2. Build resilience
Recalling positive memories helps to build resilience against depression. Reminiscing about happy events and having a store of these to draw on is one way of building up resilience. Similarly, getting nostalgic has been found to help fight loneliness and may also protect mental health. Thinking back to better times, even if they are tinged with some sadness, helps people cope with challenging times.
3. Regulate your mood naturally
Being able to naturally regulate mood is one of the best weapons against depression. Mood regulation means choosing activities that increase mood, like exercise, when feeling low and doing dull activities like housework when spirits are higher. Some of the best ways of improving mood are being in nature, taking part in sport, engaging with culture, chatting and playing. Other mood enhancing activities include listening to music, eating, helping others and childcare.
