3 Habits That Prevent Depression
Much has been said about depression and how it manifests in our lives as well as how to deal with the symptoms. However, I believe that we have not placed enough emphasis on a vital aspect: that it can be prevented. In fact, there are habits that prevent depression.
It’s no secret that depression is on the rise around the world. There are hundreds of studies that support this claim. It has even become something that many people talk about as if it were completely normal.
People say “I woke up depressed”, and so it is. As if it is not something that deserves attention.
Although it is a common topic of conversation, many do not understand the difference between depression and sadness. The former is not a normal condition, but a condition that lasts for a certain period of time and requires action to pass. Sadness is a feeling, depression a disease.
As with many diseases, it is possible to prevent it if you take the right measures at the right time.
People often describe their feelings imprecisely. This is not a language problem, but a thought problem. Many of us do not make enough effort to identify and define what we really feel. This is despite the fact that this is one of the habits that prevents depression.
The truth is that it is not easy to name and define emotions. It can only be achieved with continuous effort. It helps to try to describe each emotion in writing to specify its nature.
Do you feel happy or frustrated? Are you happy or would it be better described as euphoria? Sometimes the differences are subtle but relevant.
If you learn to acknowledge your own feelings, you can take big steps towards preventing depression. Acknowledging them helps to establish order in your mind. As a consequence, you will find it easier to understand problems and visualize solutions.
A key factor in preventing depression is developing empathy. It is an ability that allows you to understand the feelings of others and put yourself in their place. This in turn helps you to understand reality from someone else’s perspective: someone in other circumstances, with different interests and under the influence of other thoughts.
Why does empathy help prevent depression? The practice of understanding others also increases the compassion you have for yourself. It lets you get out of your own head and see the world from a different perspective. Of course, this makes your relationships with others easier.
Empathetic people are also less lonely and more flexible. It also means that they are more tolerant and, as a consequence, less difficult. A person with well-developed empathy will probably not fall into the clutches of depression.
The way you communicate with the world determines the way you relate to the world. There is no other way to know what someone is thinking or feeling other than how they are communicating. It can be with gestures, words or even silence. Artistic expression is another form of communication. In other words , people are constantly communicating.
The quality of the bands you form depends on what you communicate, even if it is involuntary. Keeping quiet when you have something to say will result in confusion, not understanding. Saying what you want to say without thinking about how to say it results in reactions to your rudeness and aggression, not understanding your message.
Certain communication has to do with expressing what you think and feel in a way that others can really understand. Achieving this requires constant practice. You can also not always control what others understand.
You must therefore communicate in a clear, calm and up-to-date manner. If you do, the chances are higher that you will be understood.
Acknowledging your feelings, empathizing, and using determined communication are habits that prevent depression, and they are closely linked.
These three abilities contribute to your well-being, but will not show up on their own – they are skills you must promote yourself. It will not be easy, but it’s worth it. Your effort will be reflected in your improved mental health and higher quality of life.
