Last update: 10 November 2017
Certain factors greatly increase the risk of depression, a serious disorder that requires your utmost attention. Unfortunately, in some areas there is still the idea that it is a condition that must be ignored, that those who suffer from it are a weak person and even that those who do not get out of it are not trying hard enough to succeed. In short, it would be a whim or an extravagance like many others.
The situation therefore appears very problematic if we consider that depression "does not cure itself". Far from it. When not treated in time, it can cause progressive deterioration and more serious illnesses, both physical and mental.
Lifestyle is a key factor in nutrition or overcoming depression. Daily habits have a positive or negative effect on this condition. Some promote depression, while others help reduce symptoms and improve mood. Below we see three habits that increase the risk of depression.
"Depression feeds on untreated wounds"
-Penelope Sweet-
Habits that increase the risk of depression
1. Bad management of free time
Routine, especially if you live in a big city, can cause enormous emotional strain. Every day we are subjected to hundreds of stimuli, many of them aggressive. In large cities, there is an atmosphere of generalized stress. We hardly meet a friendly face and everything flows at high speed.
Free time, therefore, is not just a moment of pause, it is also a fundamental space for maintaining good mental health. The problem is that the same frenzy of routine very often it leads us not to know what to do in these moments of idleness. Sometimes we simply use them to seek tranquility and isolation. It is true that this helps us rest, but it also contributes to fueling the risk of depression.
The ideal is that free time allows to give oxygen to the body and mind, that includes fun activities that make us laugh and give us pleasant moments. This recharges our physical and mental energies. It gives us vitality and improves our mood. The outdoors, nature, sport, having some hobbies, are all highly advisable factors.
2. Not getting adequate sleep
There is nothing better than a restorative sleep. While we sleep, we allow the brain to reorganize, rearrange and filter information. Sleeping well is part of clearing the mind, but also of its good health. Rest is essential to be able to feel good in everyday life.
Having a sleepless night or sleeping badly ends very early to affect our mood. One of the first manifestations is a hypersensitivity that easily turns into depression. This is expressed in the form of discomfort, irritability and lack of energy.
Sleep problems result from unresolved difficulties that recur in the form of anxiety. At the same time, not sleeping well makes us more vulnerable and hinders us from concentrating and solving problems. This creates a vicious circle that leads to depression very easily.
3. Neglecting your own appearance
One of the earliest manifestations of depression is carelessness in one's appearance. It is a sign of apathy in front of oneself and the world. Sometimes these are isolated episodes that resolve relatively quickly. Other times, however, the episodes consolidate and become a constant attitude.
It clearly does not refer to paying extreme attention to the clothes we wear or our hairstyle. Healthy behavior implies that the person takes care of his hygiene, wears clean clothes and is overall tidy. This is also reflected in what surrounds us, in the sense that when we talk about appearance, we also refer to the space in which we move and the objects that surround us.
When there is a state of depression, both the appearance and the order of the place where one lives or works take a back seat. The person puts aside his or her personal hygiene routines. His objects and furniture are also completely neglected. What is good for you is the exact opposite. Taking care of ourselves a little and organizing our space to a minimum improve our mood.
Life is never without sadness and hardship. It is important to love and protect yourself, because if we don't, there will be times when negative feelings will end up invading us. We will lose interest in life and get sick. Adopting healthy habits and abandoning harmful ones is always the best defense against depression.
