Health tip: Dealing with depression

Depression can make a person feel unusually sad, worthless, uninterested in activities that used to be fun, restless or even suicidal.

Depression is a serious illness that requires professional treatment, often with a combination of medication and psychological therapy.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions for dealing with depression:

Set a realistic schedule for yourself. While you're getting better, don't expect that you can maintain a full schedule at a regular pace.

Try not to believe the negative thoughts, like feelings of failure, that depression causes —— such thoughts should ease as depression subsides.

Participate in activities that make you feel good about yourself and that you enjoy.

While you're depressed, try to avoid making any major life decisions. If you have to, ask a trusted friend or family member for help.

Don't drink alcohol or take unprescribed drugs, as either can cause serious interactions with antidepressant medication, and can exacerbate depression.

Get as much exercise as possible —— at least 30 minutes four to six times a week.

患抑郁症的人通常会感到异常忧伤、觉得人生毫无价值、对原本感兴趣的活动失去兴趣、烦躁、甚至会产生自杀的念头。

抑郁症是一种很严重的疾病，通常需要药物和心理治疗相结合的专业治疗。

美国家庭医生学会对治疗抑郁症提出了以下几点建议：

给自己安排的计划要现实合理。即使你在慢慢恢复，但也不要总把自己的时间安排得满满的。

试着摆脱由抑郁症引起的如失败感等此类的消极想法，这些想法会随着抑郁症的减轻而逐渐消除。

参加一些你喜欢的、能让自己感到愉快的活动。

当你情绪低落的时候，避免去做人生中的重大决定。如果一定要做出决定，最好向可信赖的朋友或家人寻求帮助。

不要喝酒精饮料或服用非医生开具的药物，因为这可能会与抗抑郁类药物发生严重反应，而且可能会使病情加重。

多锻炼身体，每周锻炼四至六次，每次至少30分钟。

Vocabulary:

exacerbate :to increase the severity;aggravate（恶化；加重）