Depression - self-help

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Self-help techniques are great for looking after your mental health. The best thing is that you are in control and can try different strategies at your own pace.

A good way to make self-help more effective is to get someone to do the activities with you. For example find a buddy to exercise with, or talk about a diet change with your partner. They don’t need to know why you are making the changes (let’s face it, they are good for all of us), but if you’re comfortable with letting them know what you are feeling, this can help too.

get into action

Here are some basic lifestyle changes you can make that will help clear your head and free your mind:

address your problems

The way you respond to events or problems in your life has a big impact on the way you feel. Learning a technique called Structured Problem Solving (SPS) can help you identify and deal with issues more effectively.

Learn the SPS technique

change your thinking

The way you think about and approach life plays a big role in keeping healthy. People experiencing depression often get caught up in a whole lot of negative thinking patterns. The good news is that it’s possible, with some practice, to learn more positive ways of thinking about things. This is a great step to take once you’ve tackled the first two strategies.

Learn how to change your thinking