I have always dealt with a lot of anxiety in my life. Through having children, buying a home, and trying to maintain a steady income I have learned the hard way that you have to work at keeping stress out of your life. For some people medication is the answer, but for people like me, there are many alternatives.
That is why I invite you on my journey to find a routine that helps me control my stress, to deal with anxiety and to gain healthier habits that support my good mental health. I will be sharing with you a series of posts that journal the steps and treatments that I have taken (some still trying) in order to fight the blues.
WHAT ARE THE “BLUES”?
According to Google the “blues” are informally known as feelings of melancholy, sadness or Depression. For some people these feelings don’t occur often. They may surround the anniversary of a loved one’s death or after a traumatic event.
But for other’s, like myself, this is something I struggle with everyday. It took me a very long time to admit this to myself and then admit that this was something that I needed to get ahold of. When coupled with anxiety and everyday stress these feelings can become paralyzing.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to remain this way.
MEN VS Women – HOW DOES THE “BLUES” AFFECT EACH GENDER?
We all get stressed and depressed from one time or another. The thing is men and women deal differently with these feelings. So differently that there have been extensive studies into the differences in how each gender is affected.
According to this post on verywell.com women tend express signs of sadness or depression through visible signs, like crying. While men are more rigid and less likely to show outward emotions. This has been contributed to the high hormonal levels that women tend to go through.
With that being said I see one clear fact. Both genders suffer from depression in their own way. So this means that it is needed for both genders to actively try and combat these feelings.
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEEK A DOCTOR’S ADVICE?
With all things health-related I believe that you should consult your doctor. Although there are many warnings out there for what to look for if you are suffering from depression sometimes these symptoms are the result of other health issues or illnesses, such as thyroid disease. Before starting any type of regimen you should make sure that your doctor rules these out first.
“Depression Red Flags: When To See Your Doctor” is a good read on the signs of depression. I choose not to take medication because it’s the right choice for me. However, I came to this conclusion after seeking my doctor’s advice. It was then that I started my research on alternatives to medication.
In my next post of my “Fighting The Blues” series I am going to dive into using exercise as a form of therapy. I am also going to give some great tips on different exercise routines for all walks of life. I hope you enjoyed today’s post and I would to hear from you in the comments or on any of our social media channels. Thanks for stopping by!
