Many recovering drug addicts and alcoholics suffer with depression. It’s very typical but not always easily treated. There are ways to help improve your life without needing daily medications. Too many addict and alcoholics go out and relapse from things that stem from depression.

Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health issues in our country. Depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older, in a given year. While major depressive disorder can develop at any age, the median age at onset is 32. Major depressive disorder is more prevalent in women than in men. People with depression are four times more likely to develop a heart attack than those without a history of the illness. Many people turn to a pharmacy for an answer, seeking our anti-depressants to help ease their mental anguish.

This article is posed to be a cure for depression but just a list of some helpful tips to help possibly alleviate some of the symptoms of this terrible mental health issue.

One of the easiest things to do is to set some simple goals for yourself and achieve them. They don’t have to be anything extreme but just a simple daily goal. One example can be making your bed in the morning; it’s a great way to make your bedroom more aesthetically pleasing and also an easy way to start your day with productivity. Maybe set 10 minutes apart to just take a quick walk around the block, a small bit of exercise can give some extra energy.

Try and eat a bit healthier. If you’re already eating healthy good for you, but for those of you who are not a lighter diet can help boost energy and produce natural dopamine to help improve your daily outlook on life. Try and cut out soda and other sugary drinks, this is one of the easier things to do and it will help you save money. Water is much cheaper and more readily available, carry a water bottle around and fill it up at water fountains. Try and cut out salty fried snacks, instead of potato chips try some almonds or maybe grapes.

Getting motivation is very hard so this maybe a struggle for some but try to work out for 20 minutes at least 4 days a week. It doesn’t have to be anything intense or extremely rigorous but getting your heart rate up and maybe even getting a small sweat going can help ease some of those depression symptoms. Go for a 20 minute walk; maybe do some push-ups with lunges. Get yourself going try and find a small bit of motivation and you will see a change.

Go out and hang out with friends, staying cooped up and staying to yourself will only increase the symptoms. If you’re up to it try and meet new friends, get into some volunteer work, check in with loved ones, go grab some coffee with a co-worker, maybe take a class so you can learn a new trade or skill.

Stop being so hard on yourself and surround yourself with positive people. If you have a depressive thought or a negative thought try and figure out what triggered it and jot it down. Later in the day or once in a better mood take a look at that list and figure out what you can do to help avoid those thoughts next time. No one is perfect you shouldn’t expect yourself to be. Do not get down on yourself for small mistakes.

Everyone is beautiful in their own way, try and stay positive about all the beautiful things going on in your life, there’s no reason to relapse. Don’t let depression bring you down.