Am I going to be okay?
Most cases of depression don’t get nearly as dire as some of the things we’ve talked about. For most people, a little bit of therapy and a round or two of medication can help immensely. You may need to take medication for a long time. That’s okay, too. People with diabetes have to take insulin for a long time. There’s nothing wrong with it. It can just be frustrating, sometimes. Famous, successful people from Buzz Aldrin to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have struggled with depression in their lives. Just because depression can make you feel hopeless doesn’t mean that you are hopeless. You have options. There is help. There is hope.
Image: Aarón Blanco Tejedor via Unsplash.
Did you know...
- Starting to feel claustrophobic? The smells of apples may help keep your claustrophobic feelings at bay according to a 1995 study by Dr. Alan Hirsch. Green apples, specifically, helped people change their perception of their space. Maybe they thought of expansive apple orchards? Cucumbers and barbecue made the feelings worse.
- Just saying the words "thank you" can measurably improve your mood. Researchers can actually measure happiness and changes in brain structure when people practiced regular "grateful thinking." This included things like writing thank you notes, writing gratitude journal entries, mindfully counting their blessings, and thanking friends. It may be helpful in overcoming depression!
- Need a quick cool down? Try drinking some hot liquid. It's true! As counterintuitive as it may seem, the heat from hot liquids will raise your body temperature. This will heat you up and cause you to sweat. The increased perspiration will wind up helping you feel cooler as it evaporates. Try it out!
- There are many factors that contribute to your body odor, but one of the strongest links is our diet. This may be some bad news for meat-lovers because many studies have shown that those who refrained from or ate less red meat were judged as being more pleasant smelling. The meat sweats are real, and they don’t smell great!
- Have you ever told your husband something and he promptly forgets it? It's not his fault, actually. It really is because he's a man. The hippocampus (the part of the brain that deals with memory) begins to shrink with age faster in men than it does in women. That's why you can remember everything, and he can't!