Life is a package of goods and
bad moods. Its quit natural to be sad and off certain times but if the mood
continuously remains the same then one must try to come out of it.
This mood should not be confused with depression or clinical depression. If you
are still feeling “down” or not in control of how you feel, fatigued, wanting to
sleep but never feeling rested, having difficulty completing tasks, or having
thoughts not consistent with how you have been in the past – and having all or
part of these feelings lasting longer than a couple of weeks – seek help. There
are many ways to identify and treat depression and no one should ever feel
discouraged about seeking help.
But, maybe today is the day you got out of the wrong side of the bed, or your
significant other looked at you the wrong way, or work has you so stressed it
feels like your shoulders are carrying ten pounds of clutter, or you just don't
feel like yourself.
Take a few moments for yourself to lift your spirits and chase the “blues” away.
Consider these helpful hints:
1. Reality check. First of all, take a minute, or two, to “count your
blessings.” We all have people, events, and surroundings to be thankful for.
Concentrate on the good instead of focusing on the bad.
2. Deep breathing. By taking deep breaths and slowly releasing through your
mouth, you enhance blood flow and oxygen working its way through your system.
This will help to clear your mind of unwanted thoughts. You might start out with
a couple of minutes of deep breathing each day, then work up to ten- or
fifteen-minute sessions of meditation to reduce stress levels that could be
working against you.
3. Exercise daily. Our bodies need to move; they were born for it. A 30-minute
walk each day, especially outside where there is plenty of fresh air, will give
you time to think, work through issues that might be preying on your mind, or
even solve a problem that seems unsolvable. Once you are able to think of
devoting thirty minutes a day to exercise, consider making at least two of those
sessions strenuous workouts. You will experience endorphins, released through
strenuous exercise, that help give a sense of well being.
4. Relaxation time or something special to anticipate. Days can start to run
together in our busy lives, sometimes giving us the “doldrums” as one day starts
to feel like the previous one. If you feel yourself slipping into this thinking,
get creative. Make plans for something that you can look forward to that
evening, such as a half-hour bubble bath or a quiet place to read something
uplifting before you call it a day. At least once a week, schedule a feel-good
movie to lose yourself in, or find a friend to give and get a manicure from, or
find your creative self with a new hobby.
5. Light therapy. In the past few years, light therapy has increased in
popularity, particularly in areas where daylight is shortened during certain
seasons. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has been researched, and in
short-term studies, some light therapy has been shown to be nearly as effective
as medication. That being said, if you feel the “blues” coming on, try shining a
little light on yourself. There are bright light boxes available that can easily
be found on the Internet or by checking with your physician. Search “light
therapy” on any search engine for a number of choices.
6. Food for a good mood. Foods do affect our moods. Too much fat intake has been
shown to affect hormone imbalances, not eating can trigger inappropriate
behavior, and eating the wrong foods consistently can affect our health – which,
once again, will affect how we look at the world.
7. Yearly physical. Give yourself peace of mind. So much of our own
psychological well being is intertwined with our physiological make-up. By
having a yearly physical or a wellness check-up, issues may be found and
corrected before becoming a problem.
Consider some contributors to the “blues” that you can have control over:
1. Watching television. Although some television shows are a great diversion
from everyday life, think about what you watch. In this age of reality shows,
over-the-top angst, anger, and backbiting are prevalent and may start to appear
how life is to be led. Think twice about what you watch and how it affects your
mood.
2. Shopping. This may sound like a weird one to avoid – but think about it. How
often have you gone shopping, hoping that buying something will lift your
spirits? This impulse shopping is usually regretted at a later date and the
items purchased may no longer be deemed important.
So, take control of the “blues” that can sneak up on every one of us at various
times of our lives. Being the caring, loving and nurturing that we are, realize
you may be internalizing feelings that need to be released before dragging you
down.