 The arrival and spread of COVID-19 throughout the globe has shown just how important it is to have a healthy immune system. A strong immune response is especially crucial for people with depression because long-term stress and depression have been shown to seriously impact the immune system over time.
The crazy thing about depression is that it doesn't just weaken the immune system, it can also overactivate it! While a weakened immune system can make it easier for you to get sick, an overactive immune response can lead to widespread inflammation and chronic disease - both of which can wreak havoc on your mental and physical health. Here’s what you need to know about how depression impacts our immune system (and what to do about it!) Depression is linked with a decrease in your immune cells According to this study, depressive symptoms and related stress are linked to increased levels of a hormone called CRH (corticotrophin-releasing hormone). Increased CRH causes a decrease in certain types of white blood cells, which are important in fighting off outside invaders like bacteria and viruses. The bottom line: Fewer white blood cells = decreased ability to fight off infections = you get sick, easier! Depression is linked with immune system over-activation and inflammation New evidence suggests that depression is an inflammatory disease. But what does this actually mean? Simply put, inflammation occurs when your immune system attacks things it thinks are trying to harm the body. The immune system sends a signal to create inflammation, which brings extra nutrients, blood flow, and white blood cells in an effort to heal the area. A visible example of healing inflammation is an ankle sprain - you injure yourself > your body sends blood, nutrients, and healing cells to the ankle > your ankle swells up and gets hot to protect and heal the damaged tissue. Inflammation becomes a problem when there is too much inflammation for too long. The inflammation starts to spread to healthy tissues throughout the body, which can lead to disease down the road. This is exactly what happens with long-term depression. We’re now learning that depression is linked with long-term, low level inflammation. This kind of inflammation over time can be harmful for the body and result in chronic conditions like heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and cancer. So, the million dollar question: what can you do TODAY to boost your immune system and keep you healthy? Since depression is linked to a weaker immune system, it’s important you do everything possible to keep it strong. Fortunately, the best ways to boost your immune system are also the best ways to boost your mood and keep your depression at bay! Here are my must-do tips for a strong immune system:
Your immune system is the #1 defense you have against fighting disease. Depression may weaken the immune system, but you have the power to fight back! Need a little support? Book a Discovery Call with me today and find out how we can hack your health and wellness so you can feel like yourself again!
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 It’s been quite the wait but it’s finally here! The 21-Day Negative Thought Detox course is finally available for purchase! Read on to learn how all about the Negative Thought Detox - and how it can impact your life!
So what is the 21-Day Negative Thought Detox? The 21-Day Negative Thought Detox is an email course delivered straight to your inbox! It’s designed to help you ditch the depressive, negative outlook for more accurate, constructive, and positive thoughts that help you create a life you love with confidence. The Negative Thought Detox (NTD) is chock full of valuable information, including 21 days of lessons, journal prompts, videos, meditations, and more! But here’s the kicker: each day’s lesson can be completed in 20 minutes or less! That means you get super powerful transformations every day - without having to sacrifice any other area of your life. What can you expect to learn with the NTD?
So ask yourself… Are you ready? Are you ready to take control of the repetitive, pessimistic, depressing thoughts in your head? Are you ready to ditch the draining negativity for more energy and better sleep? Are you ready to boost your confidence and self-esteem? Are you ready to increase your motivation and ability to achieve your goals? Are you ready to squash your stress and constant, obsessive worrying? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then the NTD is the perfect tool for you to start taking control of your negative thoughts! Click here to learn more and to enroll in the course. Psst... for a limited time, I’ll be offering a bonus coaching package to help you boost your positive thinking power! Meet with me at the end of each week (3 sessions total) to review the week’s lessons and tailor them specifically to your life. Oh, and did I mention it’s 45% off my normal coaching price? But ya gotta hurry - this offer won’t last!  If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I talk about negative thoughts a lot. And there are basically 2 reasons for that: 1) repetitive, obsessive negative thinking can be one of the most crippling symptoms of depression and 2) our lives are shaped by the way we talk to ourselves.
If our thoughts are full of self-doubt and self-deprecation, we’re not going to feel empowered to make changes in our lives. We’re going to feel stuck, frustrated, and unhappy, which can lead to more negative thoughts about ourselves and our situation. So how can we stop this vicious cycle of negativity? And once we do, how can we adopt a more positive outlook to help us meet our goals? Read on to discover my 3 steps to taking control of your negative thoughts - and my tool for implementing this into your life for the long haul. Step 1: Notice the stories you’re telling yourself Sounds easy right? Not always! Negative thoughts can often lurk in the background without you even being aware of them. This is especially true for long-held beliefs because your mind is used to them being there - and may have trouble letting them go. If you’re having trouble tuning into your thoughts, start with your feelings. If you start feeling anxious, sad, nervous, or guilty all of a sudden, you’re probably having a negative thought that you’re unaware of. Sit with the feeling (or better yet, journal it out) and see what negative beliefs or thoughts come up for you - no censoring! Step 2: Clear your mind Once you notice you’re having a negative thought and are able to identify it, you need to give your mind some space. Do not skip this step! So often, people want to go straight to the sexy part of modifying the negative thought, but it’s important to give your mind some space first. Why? Because you need to create room for alternative thoughts. When you’re stuck in a negative thought cycle, there is little room for interpretation or other viewpoints. By taking some time to clear your head, you allow yourself to operate from a relaxed mind that is much more open to possibilities than a stressed-out mind. Some ideas of mind-clearing techniques include:
Step 3: Modify the thought to be more positive (and true!) Reframing your thoughts is not just taking negative thoughts and flipping them positive. Keep in mind that your head has been running on negative thoughts for a long time, and may initially be resistant to any changes that seem “unrealistic.” Instead, in order to modify a negative thought, you must first debunk it. Once you’ve discovered the truth - or lack thereof - behind the thought, you can modify it to be more helpful and positive. Here are the best ways to get started:
Of course, this blog post is just an introduction to the topic of addressing negative thoughts. Overcoming negative thoughts for the long-haul is truly a daily practice and takes time - but the results are so so worth it! If you’re looking to jumpstart your positive thinking practice, check out my 21-Day Negative Thought Detox! Get 21 value-packed days of lessons and action steps - delivered straight to your inbox every single day! Click here for more info! |
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