After a stroke, Angie Read suffered debilitating depression and anxiety. Here are the practical coping mechanisms that she adopted—and later wrote a book about.
Angie Read survived a massive stroke at age 46 thanks to her husband’s quick action to call 911 and get her to a hospital. But after the stroke that could have killed her, she faced an even more formidable opponent: debilitating depression and anxiety.
“My therapist suggested that I try it and I was reluctant, but once I got started it was easier and more helpful than I ever expected,” she says. “It’s an opportunity to write about what you’re grateful for and things you like about yourself. You can write, draw, doodle and write poems — just let your feelings out and capture positive self-talk.”
How to get started with meditation? Find a comfortable place to sit quietly and still your mind for a few minutes. Try to keep your mind focused on observing feelings and sensations. Try these phone apps to help guide you through a meditation session: Calm, Head Space and Healthy Minds Program.Research shows that people who exercise regularly have better mental and emotional well-being. Exercise also helps treat some mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
Being outside in natural light can also be helpful if you experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, a type of depression that affects people during certain seasons or times of year, especially in the winter when it’s darker outside and temperatures get colder.The benefits of music therapy have been widely studied in those living with depression.
To improve your mental health, focus on eating more fruits and vegetables and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, suggests Read. Dark green leafy vegetables are brain protective. Nuts, seeds, and legumes like beans and lentils are also excellent brain foods.Read also pays attention to how she feels when she eats. “It’s helpful to write in a journal what you’re eating to gain insight into your eating patterns.”Chronic sleep issues can impact depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.
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