Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 15)

People Who Need PeoPle the rtime "It's unbelievable how many people who are depressed have no breakfast," Schaub says. After you've fasted all night, blood sugar levels are low, and your body and brain need food to function. Physiologically, eating breakfast helps to maintain your blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels that spike and crash can wreak havoc on your mood. 2 sEt a routinE. Going on vacation, having the kids at home and changing your work schedule throw off your routine. For some people, that means feeling a loss of control, spurring depressive symptoms. Fight back by establishing a new routine: The kids can sleep in, but you still set bedtimes. 3 takE CarE of YoursELf. "Having a self-care routine is very important, especially when you're anxious or depressed," Schaub says. "When you feel like everything is about taking care of the kids, it's important to bring your focus back to yourself." 4 run awaY from dEprEssion. photo by thinkstock Exercise can be like a drug-reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol and releasing mood-elevating endorphins. Doctors are even prescribing exercise as a treatment for depression. Studies show that exercise can reduce depression as effectively as medication can for some people. Start your day with a morning jog, take a walk during your lunch break or do yoga on your patio. 5 LEan on Your friEnds. "The greatest buffer against depression is your social support network," says Shawn Achor, a co-founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research and the author of Before Happiness. "The depth and breadth of your relationships is the greatest buffer against depression." 6 fEnd off faCEbook. A study in the Public Library of Science in 2013 suggested that heavy Facebook users were more likely to be unsatisfied with life. If you find yourself struggling with all those photos of happy people or feeling disappointed when you compare your achievements with those of others, Schaub says, close down Facebook. 7 GEt Your ZZZ s . People with insomnia are 10 times more likely to develop depression than those who sleep well, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But, the organization acknowledges, the relationship is complex: Sleep problems can lead to depression, and depression can lead to sleep problems. Examine your sleep pattern, and think about changing your bedtime or installing light-blocking blackout shades. 8 foCus on thE positivE. It's important to concentrate on the good, Achor says. Make a list of things in your life that you feel fortunate about: success at work, people you love. "You have a lot to be grateful for," he says. ClaSSES 1 Eat brEakfast. If you know that a period of stress or depression is on the horizon, engage in "social investment"- that is, "helping someone else out," says Jamila Brown, CHES, health education specialist at Gwinnett Medical Center. Here's an exercise she recommends: Every day for three weeks, take two minutes to write a positive letter or email to someone. Tell someone you're grateful for her friendship, or thank a high school English teacher. "Twenty-one days later, your brain will realize that you have deep social connections," Brown says. That, she says, has a powerful positive effect on depression and brings you closer to your social support network. Work Out, Feel Better Participating in fitness classes is a good way to focus on yourself and get your exercise. Gwinnett Medical Center offers a variety of fitness classes at its Lawrenceville and Duluth facilities. To register, visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/classes and search under "Fitness Classes." SUM MER 2014 15 http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/classes

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
3 Ways to Give
Summer Numbers
Stress SOS
The Truth About Sunscreen
The Transformers
Get Your Head in the Game
The Journey Continues
On the Cover
The Foot Follies
Friendly Fat
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Back in the Swing
And the Beat Goes On
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center

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