Depression Sucks
Depression sucks, but there are things that you can do to help yourself get through it. When it happens to you, it doesn’t really matter what the reason is. All you want at that moment is to feel better fast.
After I received a shocking cancer diagnosis, I had to endure 16 rounds of chemo as part of my aggressive treatment. The chemotherapy plus the hormones from the egg freezing process wreaked havoc on my system causing me to become depressed.
The shift in hormones affected my mood drastically. It was very similar to postpartum depression, and I didn’t know what to do.
Antidepressants would take 4-6 weeks to kick in. It didn’t make sense for me because, at the time the symptoms started, I only had 6 weeks left of chemo. I knew I’d be back to normal once the chemo was done, so I decided to seek out natural ways to beat depression instead.
In an effort to feel better fast, I created a list of all the things that I could do for myself. I wanted to be proactive and not let the depression get any worse than it already was. Here’s what helped me get through it, and I hope it helps you too.
15 Ways to Feel Better Fast
1 – Exercise
Exercise is the quickest way to feel better fast naturally. Move your body in any way you can! Walk, hike, do a silly dance, take a yoga class, whatever.
Did you know that 15 minutes of exercise can boost your mood for up to 12 hours? It sounds like a no brainer, but when you’re feeling depressed exercise doesn’t always sound super appealing.
Number 2 is a happiness hack to get you over the hump.
2 – Jump on a Rebounder
During chemo, I was exhausted, to say the least. The LAST thing I felt like doing was getting out of bed to exercise. Throw some depression on top of that and my motivation level was at an all-time low.
This rebounder (mini-trampoline) ended up being my best friend. It was small, so it could easily fit in any room, and I could store it up against the wall to save space when I wasn’t using it.
Every morning I would get out of bed and walk over to the rebounder first thing. I’d jump around and dance to my favorite songs for 15 minutes. After the first 5 minutes, I’d start to break a sweat and feel the endorphins kick in. I also added 3-pound hand weights to work my arms a bit. This gave me a boost of energy to get through my day and helped keep the depression at bay.
3 – Get Moving in Nature
If you’re not up for jumping then try to take a 15-minute walk just to get outside. This could be on the beach or in a nearby park. You may not break a sweat but at least you’ll get some fresh air. Take in some deep breaths as you move and try to clear your head. Leave your phone at home so you can reset your mind. Everything can wait until you get back with a clear head.
4 – Get Some Vitamin D
Low levels of Vitamin D have been linked to depression. Most people are deficient in Vitamin D due to nutrient depletion in soil.
Soak up some sunshine for a quick and easy dose. Just make sure to wear your sunscreen. If the sun isn’t cooperating and refuses to shine, then a Vitamin D supplement can also help.
5 – Ground Yourself to the Earth
Grounding (also called Earthing) is a natural way of healing and can help you feel better fast. All you have to do is touch the Earth with your bare skin and connect to the positive ions.
You can do this by walking on the beach, gardening in your yard, or sitting on the grass in a park. Ground yourself for 15 minutes and soak up the Earth’s healing energy. You’ll notice a sense of well being and calmness in your body afterward.
6 – Read an Inspirational Book
Cozy up to a book that will inspire you when depression sucks. A few of my favorites are: You Can Heal Your Life, The Four Agreements, and Becoming Supernatural. I refer back to these books often when I’m feeling low. They are classics that can be read over and over again.
7 – Start a Gratitude Journal
When you’re feeling depressed, it’s easy to lose sight of all the good things in your life. No matter how bad things are, there is still always something to be grateful for.
Get your mind off of what’s going wrong by focusing on what’s going right. Start each day with a grateful heart by writing in a gratitude journal. Giving thanks at the beginning and end of your day helps rewire your brain to see more of the good.
Mindset is a muscle and it gets stronger as you work it, just like going to the gym. Retraining your brain takes time, so daily practice is the most beneficial if you truly want to feel better fast. Scheduling time for this practice in your calendar will help you stay consistent. Consistency is the key to creating a new brain pathway of positivity.
8 – Morning Meditation
Starting out with a morning meditation in conjunction with a gratitude practice helps to clear negative energy and set a positive intention for the day. Meditation doesn’t have to be intense or intimidating.
For beginners, try setting a timer for 5 minutes only. Make sure your phone is on silent, or better yet, airlane mode.
Focus only on your breath during this time. Breathe in for 5 seconds, hold it for 5 seconds, breathe out for 5 seconds, hold it for 5 seconds. Repeat.
This gives your mind something to focus on other than your thoughts. You can do anything for 5 minutes. If 5 minutes feels good and you want to go longer, then just repeat the same process until it feels complete.
When you take the pressure off of yourself, you’ll see how easy it is and you’ll likely want to go longer, just keep committing to 5 minutes at a time. Add in some calming music or aromatherapy for an extra boost of happy.
9 – Creative Visualization
Focusing on what you don’t want brings you down and keeps you feeling depressed. So now’s the time to focus on what you do want, and visualize yourself having it.
Creative visualization is the practice of visualizing what you’d like to have in your life and let me tell you, it’s extremely powerful! I’ve created some amazing things in my life this way.
Close your eyes and visualize the life you want with as much detail as possible. The trick is to make sure it evokes emotion. You want to feel it all through your body.
You can do this for 5 minutes at a time; the same way you do your meditation. Here’s a workbook if you’re new to this and need some extra guidance.
10 – Aromatherapy
I love adding aromatherapy into my day wherever I can. It’s an instant mood booster and as a bonus, it makes any room smell amazing. Just add a few drops plus water into your diffuser or even to a warm bath. A few of my favorite happy scents are lemongrass, bergamot, lavender and of course serenity.
11 – Take a Warm Bath
Play some calming music and soak away your stress in a warm bath. Sprinkle in some Himalayan bath salts to absorb healthy minerals or go tropical with some coconut bath soak while you relax. Light a candle and set an intention to feel better while you soak for 15-20 minutes.
12 – Increase Your Magnesium
Magnesium is a natural way to reduce anxiety and depression. You can eat foods high in magnesium like avocados, dark chocolate, and nuts, or you can take a supplement.
Research shows that magnesium supplements have significantly improved depression within just two weeks of everyday use.
Adding Epsom salts to your bath is another way to absorb a high amount of magnesium through your pores. Plus you’ll be relaxed and your skin will be ultra-soft.
13 – Laugh
When depression sucks the joy right out of you, laughter is the best medicine. A great way to feel better fast is to distract your mind with a funny movie or a comedy show. Go out to a comedy club and laugh until your cheeks hurt.
14 – Cuddle an Animal
Animals are a bundle of unconditional love, so snuggle away. Pets can also help ease loneliness when you’re feeling depressed. They encourage exercise and provide the best companionship. My little Rascal always makes me feel better when I’m feeling down.
15 – Help Others
A great way to get your mind off of your own problems is to focus your energy on helping others. There is always someone less fortunate than you. Making a positive difference in someone else’s life is very rewarding and can help you feel better about your own situation.
Think of ways that you can add value to others with skills that you already have. Help out a friend, perform a random act of kindness, or volunteer your time.
You can start by sharing this post to help others beat depression naturally.
What tips would you add to the list? Share what has helped you feel better in the comments to help others reading this post.
