9 Tools to Limit Anxiety and Avoid Depression

2. Listen to what people say about you.

The percentage of adults with recent symptoms of anxiety or depression increased from 36.4 to 41.5 percent in the U.S. between August 2020 and February 2021, with the largest increases among adults 18 to 29, according to the CDC

Researchers also estimate that around one in three women and one in five men in the country have an episode of major depression by the age of 65.

Numerous papers have been written on how to treat anxiety and depression but many fewer address prevention.

How do you prevent anxiety and depression from happening in the first place? And, if you’ve had anxiety and depression in the past, how do you prevent anxiety and depression from reoccurring?

When people ask for my opinion, I tell them about these nine tools.

1. Know your own warning signs. Know your body and be aware of your physical feelings, which can be early signs of anxiety and depression.

People often describe a feeling of tension like a coiled spring in the belly, often accompanied by deep emotional discomfort. Others describe a hollow feeling in the abdomen, also accompanied by deep emotional discomfort.

Because every person is unique, different people will have different warning signs that they need to be aware of. For some people, there is an appetite warning sign, so also be aware if you eat more than usual or less than usual. Other people are unusually tired, have trouble sleeping, trouble focusing, are more irritable, or are more drawn to alcoholic beverages or drugs.