How to Stop Being Depressed

How many times in your life when you are living a bad situation they tell you to be positive ? Have you been struggling and working hard, not getting the results you expected and when you tell that to somebody, a friend or family member they tell you "be positive, you need to see the good things around you", but at the end you still feel depressed or sad. I know some successful people that they got money and expensive material things and they are not even happy. Depression drains your energy, hope, and drive, making it difficult to do what you need to feel better.

 We live in a society where a high value is placed on being positive. Yet sometimes this simply isn't possible, and people find themselves facing temporary or long-term sadness. Just telling yourself to "be positive" isn't much help, because moods can have a life of their own. One of the pitfalls of being positive is that people tend to fantasize about a perfect life instead of realistically facing the fact that no life is perfect. Everyone's existence contains challenges, disappointments, frustration and failed expectations.

What is depression and how can I stop it ?

According to the DSM-5, a manual used to diagnose mental disorders, depression occurs when you have at least five of the following symptoms for at least two weeks:

• A depressed mood during most of the day, particularly in the morning
• Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
• Impaired concentration, indecisiveness
• Insomnia (an inability to sleep) or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide (not just fearing death)
• A sense of restlessness or being slowed down
• Significant weight loss or weight gain

How can I stop being depressed ?

I strongly recommend you first to start doing a daily activity or exercise, any sport or outdoor activity will really help you.

1. Spend time with positive people – Nothing affects the way you think and feel more than the people you interact with. Thoughts (both positive and negative) are contagious.
2. Understand the emotional cycle – Life is an emotional roller coaster. Some days you feel like nothing can stop you. Other days you feel utterly hopeless. Most of the time you’re somewhere in between. Understanding the pattern of positive and negative emotions will help you put your feelings in perspective. Next time you feel down, just remember that it’s a natural emotion that will inevitably pass. Depression is not forever, it just a cycle ! Think about it, it will end as soon as you decide to stop it. So today if you are reading this article you already deciding and taking the first step to stop being depressed. Congratulations!
3. Focus on gratitude – It’s human nature to measure ourselves against those ahead of us on the social ladder. When you consider everything good in your life and compare it to the problems of less fortunate people, the issue that’s making you depressed won’t seem as serious.
4. Reflect on past success – In the wake of a colossal failure, it’s easy to forget everything you’ve ever done right. Take a few minutes to remember your past accomplishments and build yourself up. What made you successful before? What are your strengths?
5. Break your routine – Going through the same routine, day after day, can be monotonous and depressing. It often leads to getting caught in a rut. To get out of it you need to temporarily change your routine. If you can, take a day off from work. Do something you don’t normally have time for or something you’ve never tried.

original article here -> http://www.stopbeingsingletoday.com/how-to-stop-being-depressed/