5 Tips to Reduce Depression

While war and poor economic conditions begin to affect people all over the world, more and more people suffer with depression. The more we focus on news events and the business climate, the more we are depressed. Whatever the reason you feel is the cause of your depression, the following five simple tips guarantee you reduce it significantly.

1. Do not read newspapers.

Newspapers publish negative stories most of the time. Even in peaceful periods, newspapers will find the worst in humanity and place negative stories on display in order to promote sales and subscribers. Stories focused on War, rebellion, death, destruction, doom and despair abound in the newspapers.

You will not miss any news. Friends, family, and your local air raid siren will keep you informed if your attention is needed. Only pay attention to the things you can control in your life.

Stop reading the newspaper and reduce the negative input to your brain.

2. Turn off your television.

Watching and listening about the horrible economy and the losses associated with War will add to depression. In fact, you guarantee the feeling of helplessness. Helplessness allows depression to nurture. If you really need to watch or listen to these kinds of news stories, promise yourself you will bury yourself in the documentaries that are sure to follow in the next 5 or 10 years. A way you can eliminate most of the negative input to your brain is by setting it aside for a date somewhere in the future. I guarantee in the future, you will not find it very interesting.

When visitors come to your home, make sure you turn off your television and keep it off. News television broadcasters are fighting for your guests' attention as they promote despair, war, death, and destruction with many headline news interruptions. Those little banners that run across the bottom of the screen achieve your attention and they take hold of your consciousness. Television will diminish your positive spirit.

3. Say good things about others

My Mother always says, "if you can't say anything nice about others, don't say anything at all." However, when you find yourself in a conversation and a relative says, "Remember Uncle Phil?" " He was an alcoholic" Respond with " yes, Uncle Phil was an alcoholic and he was the most charitable person, I have ever met."

Connect your friend's negative statement about Phil with a positive one. Set yourself up to find the positive in anyone's statement and you will keep negative thoughts and depression from overtaking your life.

Og Mandino, a great motivator once said, "treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight." "Your life will never be the same again."

4. Get physical exercise

Adults forget about exercise when suffering from depression. Make sure you are exercising daily and sending more oxygen to your brain cells. The result of exercise will improve your health as well as your attitude.

5. Breathe deep and relax.

Practice the following breathing exercise to relax your body and mind.

Breathe deeply and relax. For 2 or 3 minutes each hour, take a short mental vacation.

You can engage in this exercise while you are standing in the checkout line at the supermarket or when listening to others while talking on a telephone. You can complete the exercise at home or at work.

Take three deep breathes and relax. As you inhale, concentrate on calm and peaceful thoughts. You may think about relaxing by a mountain, by the ocean or comfortably in your favorite room at home.

As you exhale, concentrate on pushing any tension out of your lungs.

Focus on positive images in your life. Focus on laughter, love, excitement, and hope.

Keep breathing in and out in this pattern until you feel better. If you practice the exercise often, you will notice wonderful changes in your outlook and in other aspects of your life.

Reduce your depression now! Enjoy your family, your friends, and your life.

--Wayne F. Perkins

Wayne F. Perkins is a clinical hypnotherapist and author of "The Master Hypnotist Home Study Course," and self-help audio CD programs. http://www.wayneperkins.net/ "My mission in life is to help you achieve your mission in life."

Depression is a Choice

There is one very simple reason for all emotional depression.In... Read More

Biological Psychiatry Confirms of Efficacy and Safety of VNS Therapy for Depression

The September 1, 2005 issue of Biological Psychiatry confirmed the... Read More

Major Depression and Manic Depression ? Any Difference?

Countless number of patients and their family members have asked... Read More

Insurance Reimbursement for Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

I attended the Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy Conference at the... Read More

Depression Series (Part 2): My Antidepressant Doesn?t Work - What Can My Psychiatrist Do?

Maria has been increasingly depressed for the past few years.... Read More

Change Your Life Forever with New Medical Breakthrough Treatment for Depression

With the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to... Read More

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Depression Are Not The Same Thing!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a... Read More

Disability is NOT a Life Sentence

On September 30th 1998 I was crossing the street in... Read More

Adult Men and Women Who Suffer From Chronic Depression

Market surveys on women, men and depression suggest an estimated... Read More

Quick Steps To Improve Your Mood

Looking to improve your mood?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker, author... Read More

Depression Series: Why Don?t I Respond to Medications? (Part 1)

Maria has been feeling depressed for at least two and... Read More

Turn Depression into Joy

Depression is the most prevalent disease of our time. Under... Read More

Anxiety and Depression - Why Depression Drugs May Not Be Necessary - Fight Depression Naturally

Millions of people, especially in the United States, are currently... Read More

5 Surefire Tips to Beat Depression Now

Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives...... Read More

Ten Tips For Beating Depression

I heard about a woman who was suffering from depression,... Read More

Chronic Depression: Disease or Charcter Flaw?

A major survey on depression symptoms from the National Mental... Read More

Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Depression - A Natural Treatment

A new research study has again shown that a diet... Read More

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Should be Used Early in Treatment when Traditional Antidepressants Fail

Lifetime Prevalence of Depression and the Age-of-Onset Report Distributions of... Read More

Depression And Celiac Disease

Depression is a condition which affects about 15% of the... Read More

Are You Someones Puppet? Four Ways People Manipulate Others

With the current interest in mental health topics, a mental... Read More

Depression and Procrastination: Twins in the Job Search

My definition of procrastination is that a person delays and... Read More

The Formula for Preventing Depression

While it is arguable that depression is not always preventable,... Read More

How Do You Know if You Have Manic-Depression

Nancy was doing very well until about two years ago... Read More

Depression is the Number One Cause of Disability in the United States

According to the World Health Organization, 4 of the 10... Read More

A Look at the Different Depression and Anxiety Medications

While it may be easy to recite the various brand... Read More