Fighting Depression by Restoring Your Routines

When we have depression, one of the things we drop from our lives is a routine. Most humans need routine as it adds structure to our lives. During bouts of depression we find it hard to go about our daily lives with a sense of purpose and direction. Restoring your routines will help to counteract this problem.

Even the simplest things can appear to be beyond us and therefore get put aside. When this happens, we are in fact, only moving further away from a "normal" life.

To reclaim a normal life, return to doing normal things.

A major effect of depression is a feeling of losing control over ones life. We start to feel that everything is happening "to us" rather than through the choices we are able to make. By reinstating your routines you can begin to regain more control.

Start by writing a list of the day-to-day activities that you may no longer participate in.

I include a few simple suggestions below and possible remedial action you might take for each.

1) Brushing your teeth. Clean your teeth twice a day and use a mouthwash. There ARE going to be times when you smile, so make sure you are prepared! Even if the smile is accidental, there is no point in having a piece of lettuce between your teeth.

2) Remain well groomed. For men this would include having a shave every day, for women, putting on make-up (I know of some men and women who need both!). Trim your fingernails.

3) Personal cleanliness. Have a shower every day and use a deodorant, after-shave, cologne or perfume.

4) Clean clothes. Put on fresh clothes every day. Make sure your clothes are ironed; even if someone else usually irons on your behalf, taking charge of your own ironing will help in your recovery.

5) Eat sensibly. A loss of ones appetite, especially for sensible foods, is very common. Make the effort to eat as much fresh fruit, vegetables, fibre and nutrients as possible. If you find that your stomach is in a knot and the thought of eating fills you with dread, try taking these things in the form of a drink. Use a food blender, juice extractor or similar. There is a wide variety of these machines on the market. Adding an appropriate multi-vitamin supplement to your daily diet can also help. Don't be afraid to allow yourself a food treat now and again, just be careful not to overdo it. "A little of what you fancy does you good", with the emphasis on "little".

6) Get out as often as you can. Even if, at times, all you think you can manage is going out into the garden, then you are, at least, getting some fresh air and a bit of sun on your face. Exercise is a great way to lift your spirits, so even going out to post a letter will help.

7) Keep in touch with family and friends. Losing touch with our loved ones leaves us feeling more isolated so make the effort to meet up with those people you care about and who care about you. Even if you feel that you can't manage to see anyone face-to-face, phone them, write a letter or use email. If you don't want discuss your life with people you know, you could consider the likes of internet forums as an outlet for expression. Talking to strangers is often easier.

8) Look after your personal environment. Housework not only improves the look of your surroundings but also provides good, low level exercise.

9) Don't get bored. Do ANYTHING to fill in that gap. Do a crossword, read a book or magazine that you find interesting, polish the silver, polish your shoes, shave the cat. Just do SOMETHING. Make it an activity you have to concentrate on so that your thoughts are, at least temporarily, distracted from the depression. Even 5 minutes of concentrating on another subject is a welcome "holiday".

Now turn your list into an action plan. Take the points you have noted down and make a chart with all the various activities you have listed. Each day, tick off each step as you go. Not only will taking positive action improve the way you feel, but by showing to yourself that you ARE taking action to defeat the depression, you will give yourself a well deserved feeling of achievement.

Allan Cowley is a Life Coach working on a one-to-one basis with clients throughout the world. He provides personalised online life coaching via his website. You can contact him through his website at: http://www.uk-success-coach.com/

---

Google News Updated : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:51:50 GMT Florida Teen's Suicide Streamed Live On Internet - InformationWeek ABC News Florida Teen's Suicide Streamed Live On Internet InformationWeek - 1 hour ago Some thought the event a hoax until Adam Biggs, Jr.'s body was found by police. By KC Jones A Florida teen who intentionally overdosed streamed his death on the Internet while it occurred Wednesday. Florida teen kills self in front of live webcam Reuters Florida teen commits suicide in front of webcam The Associated Press ABC News - WTTE - TG Daily - FOXNews all 461 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:33:26 GMT NPR Radio Host's Conflict With Drug Makers Exposed by Sen. Grassley - InjuryBoard.com InjuryBoard.com NPR Radio Host's Conflict With Drug Makers Exposed by Sen. Grassley InjuryBoard.com - 2 hours ago Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) just keeps uncovering all kinds of skeletons in the closets of influential people. This time he has found that a popular National Public Radio (NPR) host of the health and science show, “The Infinite Mind,” has a ... NPR doc didn't disclose pharma payments FiercePharma Grassley Knock NPR Host Goodwin for Drug-Industry Conflicts Wall Street Journal Blogs Pharmalot - Nature.com (subscription) - New York Times all 9 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:29:51 GMT Inside the Kobe-Shaq feud - SI.com TVNZ Inside the Kobe-Shaq feud SI.com - 5 hours ago By Mark Heisler This excerpt from Madmen's Ball: The Continuing Saga of Kobe, Phil, and the Los Angeles Lakers is printed with the permission of Triumph Books. Daily Dime: Shaq and Kobe play nicely - NBA ESPN Lakers roll past Suns Sports Network FOXSports.com - The Associated Press - Denver Post - East Valley Tribune all 645 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:36:50 GMT Congressional Leaders Vow Support for Carmakers - New York Times Vancouver Sun Congressional Leaders Vow Support for Carmakers New York Times - 1 hour ago By DAVID STOUT WASHINGTON - A day after declaring that American auto executives had failed miserably in making their case for federal aid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sought to encourage them on Friday, saying that “we don’t have any intention of seeing ... Bailout debate simmers as GM pares output Reuters Hill to Detroit: You Want Money? Play By Our Rules. Washington Post Detroit Free Press - Indian Express - FOXNews - WIS all 3,012 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:00:15 GMT Globe Magazine preview: Chuck Turner on race, ethics - Boston Globe WHDH-TV Globe Magazine preview: Chuck Turner on race, ethics Boston Globe - 1 hour ago For an essay in the Boston Globe magazine that will appear this Sunday, freelance writer (and former Boston city councilor) Tom Keane conducted an e-mail interview with Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner. Turner released on $50K bond in bribery case Boston Herald Boston politician Chuck Turner accused of taking a bribe NECN The Associated Press - Bizjournals.com - WBUR - WBZ all 375 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:32:45 GMT UN: Gunmen kill woman while trying to rape girl at camp - CNN International WELT ONLINE UN: Gunmen kill woman while trying to rape girl at camp CNN International - 1 hour ago (CNN) -- Armed men entered a Congolese camp for displaced people Friday to kidnap and rape a girl, but when the girl screamed, the gunmen fired shots, killing a 20-year-old woman, a UN spokesman said. DR Congo rebels say Hutu militia heading to evacuated zone AFP Rebel violence is latest in string of plagues afflicting Congo's Goma Los Angeles Times Sydney Morning Herald - Whitman Pioneer - BBC News - Reuters all 1,940 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:44:05 GMT Small blaze erupts in Malibu, but winds are helping firefighters* - Los Angeles Times Small blaze erupts in Malibu, but winds are helping firefighters* Los Angeles Times - 57 minutes ago The Los Angeles County Fire Department estimated the blaze has burned about two acres but appears not to be spreading. Wind conditions were favorable for firefighters, who were on the scene. Brush Fire Ignites in Malibu LAist Brush Fire Breaks Out In Malibu CBS 2 Ventura County Star - San Luis Obispo Tribune all 5 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:53:56 GMT RSS to HTML Increased Website Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Cure Against Depression and Low Self Confidence

Depression strikes most of us and it can make us... Read More

Depression and EPA Fish Oil - Does It Really Work?

It is now no secret that people all over the... Read More

Are the Benefits Worth the Costs?

Schizophrenia suffers around the world have benefitted greatly with the... Read More

Depression

The 'experts' have tried to evaluate me as a sufferer... Read More

Depression Mantra

Depression is the most prevalent of all the emotional disorders.... Read More

Depression and Procrastination: Twins in the Job Search

My definition of procrastination is that a person delays and... Read More

Stress and Depression are Killing Us!

A short generation ago, families could set their watch by... Read More

Recognizing Depression?s Warning Signs

Depression is a serious illness, not a harmless part of... Read More

FDA Nears Completion of Review of Vagus Nerve Stimulation For Chronic Depression

On June 2 at 8:00 pm ET, Reuters news service... Read More

What?s Causing My Depression and Fatigue?

Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Depression are absolutely systemic in our... Read More

Senate Finance Committee Delays FDA Approval of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy for Depression

On June 15th, 2004, FDA's Medical Devices Panel recommended that... Read More

Omega 3 EPA: Natures Very Own Anti-depressant

Since Dr Malcolm Peet, a consultant psychiatrist at Sheffield swallow... Read More

Ten Tips For Beating Depression

I heard about a woman who was suffering from depression,... Read More

Control Your Own Level of Motivation

When I first mention this to most people, they really... Read More

Depression And Celiac Disease

Depression is a condition which affects about 15% of the... Read More

New Treatment for Chronic Depression

Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Treatment-Resistant Depression About Vagus Nerve... Read More

Depression: Bringing Yourself Down

Sometimes it's hard to see the forest from the trees.... Read More

Sources of Online Suicide Help for People Suffering from Severe Depression

There are Many Resources for Online Suicide HelpFirst of all,... Read More

Depression: What It Is and What You Can Do About It

There are three basic ways to treat depression: psychotherapy, self-help,... Read More

Major Symposium About Vagus Nerve Stimulation & Depression at the American Psychiatric Association

A major symposium about vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment... Read More

Surviving the Storms of Life

August in Florida has a daily ritual that Floridians take... Read More

Change Your Life Forever with New Medical Breakthrough Treatment for Depression

With the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to... Read More

I?m Not Depressed; I?ve Just Been Having A Lousy Conversation With Myself

Not long ago, I attended a mastermind group. During the... Read More

Depression Series: Why Don?t I Respond to Medications? (Part 1)

Maria has been feeling depressed for at least two and... Read More

5 Ways to Transform Your Struggles Into Victories

Have you read the famous quote, "Every struggle is a... Read More