Often, "Depression" is misunderstood as laziness by the people around us and sometimes even our parents. To overcome depression, we first need to understand that it's not just laziness or temporary grief but a serious medical condition that needs to be looked after. Depression can make one feel exhausted, fatigued, and empty. You can overcome depression by changing a few habits.

Before that, there are some noticeable symptoms that might help you understand your state and then overcome it.

Experiencing five or more of the following symptoms for more than two to three weeks almost daily can be considered a major depressive episode:

• Irritated mood
• Sleeping problems (sleeping too little or too much)
• Change in appetite (eating too much or too less)
• Excessive feel of guilt or low self-esteem
• Change in interests
• Suicidal thoughts
• Hopelessness
• Social isolation
• Sudden change in weight ( weight gain or weight loss)
• Lack of concentration
• Excessive crying

Not everyone who is depressed needs to be suicidal. Even if you feel the above symptoms are not persistent, you can still seek help to overcome depression. Now that you know the possible symptoms, you may have a more clear picture of your state. So now you need to know some remedies to overcome depression.

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Many people suffer from depression. So does Lina. Lina is a 22-year-old woman who recently graduated and is looking for a career option. Lina is a single child. She currently lives with her parents. For a very long time, Lina was clueless about what to do with her life. Seeing all her friends either get jobs or move out for further studies made her more confused.

But when life was already hard on her, it decided to make things worse. Lina’s father died in a car accident, and it shattered the whole world for her. Lina isolated herself and didn’t want to come out. A few months went by, and Lina lost a lot of weight, got dark circles due to lack of sleep, and is still suffering.

Soma, Lina’s best friend, now decided to bring her out of this situation, and she started to do some research to help her out.

Lina refuses to come out, so Soma went to check on her. At first, Lina was a bit hesitant about speaking up, but Soma kept on insisting, and Lina poured her heart out. Soma also called Lina’s mother because her close ones know her the best.

Your close ones may get you wrong in the beginning. But talk with them. Share your problems. Share your innermost feelings. Because your closed ones are the ones where you don’t need any filters to cover up your scars. You wouldn’t have to fear getting judged. They are the people to whom you can open up. Communication helps a lot at times to overcome depression.

Lina isolates herself and avoids spending time with others, even her mother. Soma insists on talking with her and staying with her until one day she finally smiles and talks to her and her mother. She then understood that there are people who care for her and do not think of her as a burden.

Spending time with the people you love will also help you to love yourself. Sometimes, if you feel a face-to-face conversation is hard for you, a phone call, a video call, or even chatting can help. Try to remind yourself how much these people care for you. Avoid feeling like you are a burden.

Soma learned that exercise and yoga help calm a person and retrieve inner peace. Soma took Lina to a nearby yoga center, and they both joined there. Yoga helps to uplift a person's mood and also reduces stress and anxiety. Meditating regularly helped Lina a lot to calm herself. As much as yoga helps a person's mental state, it also helps their physical health by keeping them fit.

Soma felt that there was something that Lina kept within herself and, for some reason, did not want to disclose it in front of Soma or her mother. Soma felt that maybe Lina was not comfortable telling everything to the person she knows, so Soma decided to seek help from a Therapist.

It might be challenging for some people to open up to those they know. Then you must seek out someone with whom you are both unfamiliar and who also has expertise in this field. A therapist is the best option. A therapist might be able to know the root of the causes and help you overcome depression.

Lina has lost a lot of weight in the past few months. She has lost her appetite and eats very little. Due to this, she was less energized and fatigued. Soma tried to feed Lina and talked to her about how less eating would affect her mind as well as her body. After that, Lina started to change her eating habits, and she started to eat healthy and maintain a healthy diet.

Eating healthy helps you feel good about yourself and also gives you the proper energy to start your work. Eat foods that have protein, good carbs, and vitamins. Dark chocolate might also help.

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A sense of guilt and failure constantly haunts Lina. She believes she is useless and worthless. Soma told her to set some goals regularly for small chores for which she does not depend on others but can complete herself. Starting with smaller goals like sleeping and waking up early, practicing yoga for one hour every day, and having meals on time. After that, slowly raise the bar, like studying for 4 hours every day and so on.

Setting goals that you know can be completed gives you a sense of accomplishment. But remember, if something goes wrong and you fail to complete your goal, always think about what you can learn from this and what you can do better to fulfill it. Also, never compare your deeds with others. Compare "The Yesterday You" with "the today you."

Lina is a graceful dancer. She dances beautifully. But in the last few months, she has stopped dancing. Soma reminds her about how much she used to love dancing. Lina expresses herself the most through her dance. Soma showed her one of Lina’s dancing videos and how lively and cheerful she was looking. The following day, Soma received a video of Lina, dancing again with the attached message "Thank you.".

Doing something that you are fond of will help you overcome depression. It can be anything that gives you joy. Engaging in meaningful activities helps you lift your mood and also gives you the energy to do other activities.

You may also read: Everything You Need to Know About Bipolar Disorder

Soma came into Lina’s life like an angel and helped her throughout this tough phase of her life. Changing a few habits and trying to adapt to new things helped Lina a lot to overcome depression. After three months, Lina is looking better than before. She is much more active and is now preparing for a job interview tomorrow. Soma is helping her prepare for the interview, and Lina’s mother is preparing tasty food for both of them.

So now you know that depression is an illness that can be identified and treated. One should not feel ashamed about it. Always show yourself some kindness and appreciate yourself. Depression takes time to cure. Take your time; give yourself some time.