4 things I did to beat Depression

I was down bad, to say the least.

I lost a family member, my romantic relationship broke down, and I had to deal with an injury that threatened my professional sports career. All of this happened within a few months. I felt depressed for months, didn’t feel like doing anything.

Everyone feels sad, desperate, and empty inside sometimes. But for some, this is a permanent condition. The WHO defines the following characteristics of depression: sadness, feeling of emptiness as well as other symptoms, e.g. feelings of guilt, hopelessness about the future, sleep disturbances, just to name a few. This is exactly what I experienced about a year ago.

After a few weeks of going through hell, I managed to get back on track using four methods entirely without medication except for some vitamin d pills. Now I am full of life again, in a new happy relationship, and more motivated than ever in everything I do. I want to share with you how I did it. I’m sure these methods will also help some of you if you have a similar experience. You will get out of there! I believe in you!

1. Vitamin D / Sunlight

Vitamin D plays an important role in the regulation of the brain messenger serotonin and influences the utilization of dopamine and the synthesis of noradrenaline.

In the case of vitamin D deficiency, the adrenal glands release more of the aforementioned messenger substances, which can lead to exhaustion and fatigue. In combination with a tendency to depression or severe strokes of fate, this can aggravate depressive moods.

Since I also felt physically weak during this difficult phase, I went to the doctor. A blood test revealed a severe vitamin D deficiency. My level was well below the norm of 30 nmol/l. In addition to vitamin D preparations, the doctor recommended that I go out in the sun a lot. For vitamin D to be formed in our skin, exposure to sunlight is essential.

Have your blood values checked and get enough exposure to the sun if you struggle with mental health issues!

2. Meditation

Another thing that played a huge role in my recovery process was meditation. During meditation, for example, we direct our attention to all parts of the body one after the other. In doing so, we should try to merely perceive all sensations without evaluating them. After a little practice, you are likely to break negative thought spirals. You simply observe what happens and what thoughts arise. Then you let go of them directly. We focus on the here and now during meditation, rather than on negativity from the past or fear of the future. Breathing exercises in particular have proven to be effective for me.

Especially this book taught me a lot. I highly recommend you to check it out.

3. Stoic philosophy

„It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters“ — Epictetus

Studying Stoic philosophy opened up new perspectives on my situation at the time. The essence of Stoicism is the distinction between things we can control and external events over which we have no control.

I studied Stoics like Zeneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus with this book. As a result, I managed to stop dwelling on my fate and focus on what was in my control. I was in a hole. To change this, I guess it made no sense to keep digging. This is what the Stoics taught me.

4. Friends and Family

One characteristic of depression is that sufferers lose their desire to do things that previously gave them a lot of pleasure. This was also the case with me. I didn’t want to leave my room and refused invitations from friends. Once I did get over it and spent time with my friends, my mood improved significantly. Taking the first step was the hardest part. Get over yourself and go out. Have fun with your friends!

Of course, I am aware that there are people who suffer from much worse depressions. I don’t want to trivialize anything, and I’m also aware that in many cases medication is necessary. Get professional help if you need to! Nevertheless, I think that these tips can positively impact many lives. Share this article with people you know who suffer from similar problems. I have done it and you will do it too!

Thank you for reading! Maybe you are interested in some of my other stories:

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