How Stress and Depression Are Connected: Lifestyle Factors

There’s a deep connection between stress and depression but the connection is complex. Individuals who experience stress very often lead unhealthy lives – they neglect their health and resort to unhealthy practices like smoking, drinking, substance abuse and do not indulge in exercise. This is one of the reasons why depression therapy also accommodates stress management. Stress and activities that follow may lead to problematic behavioral patterns that ultimately lead to chronic stress and puts an individual at a risk of major depression. 

The brain is complicated and interestingly, the changes that occur in the brain during an episode of depression majorly resemble what happens in the brain when it has suffered prolonged and severe levels of stress. 

How can one build resilience towards depression and stress?

Apart from stress management therapy and depression therapy, there are many other ways to guard yourself against depression and therapy. Building resilience is of primal importance when you are experiencing chronic stress following a particularly mentally draining event for if it gives rise to depression, it could become a serious mental health problem. 

Here’s how you can reduce stress on a daily basis by making changes to your lifestyle to reduce the risk of depression. 

• Exercising on a daily basis or at least five times a week can improve your mood and keep you mentally and physically healthy. It stimulates hormones and endorphins that significantly reduces stress. 

• Supportive peers and family members can keep you mentally healthy. If you surround yourself with individuals who are positive, happy and have your back then it keeps you happy and keeps risk at bay. 

• Therapy of any kind can keep your brain healthy. This doesn’t just include formal therapy – it includes yoga, meditation and even prayer – whatever suits an individual and gives them peace. 

• Healthy eating and drinking habits can keep you fit and going. Avoiding alcohol, smoking and drugs can significantly help boost mood and keep your brain healthy.