April is Physical Wellness Month, and when your mind and body are in sync, happiness is the natural result. Research can back up the connection between ‘mind’ and ‘body’, placing a growing importance on harmonizing your mental and physical health.
If you are suffering from depression, physical exertion may be the last thing on your mind. It’s a catch-22. Poor physical health can lead to an increased risk of developing mental illness, while poor mental health can negatively impact physical health. But studies show exercise helps improve mood and reduce anxiety.
Although the link between depression and exercise isn’t entirely clear, the feel-good endorphins released during physical activity can help ease depression symptoms and keep your depression and anxiety at bay. Physical activity also takes your mind off worries, helping you cope with issues in a healthier way. And when you meet exercise goals and conquer challenges, it has a way of boosting your self-confidence – not to mention the physical changes that make you feel better about your appearance!
Other lifestyle factors play an important part in your physical wellness as well. To live your best life, follow these tips for improving your physical wellness:
- Eat well-balanced meals of mostly whole, unprocessed foods.
- Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.
- Embrace physical activity. Start small by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and taking the long way around when walking somewhere. Gradually build your endurance with more activities – especially activities you enjoy doing such as dance or yoga as opposed to logging hours at the gym.
- Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
- Make a routine out of daily personal hygiene tasks, such as showering, brushing your teeth, etc. But also don’t forget to setup regular preventative medical care appointments.
- Schedule ‘you’ time where you can use that time for relaxing or doing something you enjoy for fun.
Check with your doctor first before starting a new exercise or diet program. While following these tips may help your symptoms of depression, or even help keep your depression from returning, it may take some trial and error to find the treatment that works best for you. Many people who suffer from major depression have severe difficulty eating, sleeping, and doing many of the physical wellness tips mentioned above.
If you feel your treatment-resistant depression is preventing you from taking the steps to live a healthier, happier life, you may be interested in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy (TMS).
TMS is an FDA approved, non-invasive treatment for major depression disorder. By stimulating small, underactive regions of the brain that control mood, TMS reduces depression symptoms. Studies have found TMS has an 82% success rate in treating people with resistant depression.
If you’re unable to function normally due to depression, contact the TMS Neuro Institute in Los Angeles to schedule a free consultation. We’re one of the earliest adopters in using the FDA-approved TMS Therapy to treat depression in Southern California. Call 323.655.3747 or take our Free TMS Therapy Self-Assessment here.