Why Is This the Last Thing People Try For Anxiety And Depression?

What do most people do first? … Everything else possible!

https://www.pexels.com/search/confused/

Here is a list of things friends may suggest to you, if you confide you are anxious or depressed:

• Have a drink
• Cheer up
• Get busy, get involved, take up a hobby
• Exercise
• Do breathing exercises (such as box breathing)
• Meditate
• Talk to someone
• Reduce caffeine
• Sleep well
• Journal
• Limit social media
• Get professional help
• Stay connected with friends, family, and community groups
• Grounding Techniques like the “5–4–3–2–1” method (name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, and 1 you can taste) which claims to help in moments of acute anxiety. (but, I think, is just distracting you.)
• Say “No” when you really want to, and set boundaries to reduce stress and overwhelm.

These things may be good things to try (except for drinking alcohol!). They can be included in your arsenal of coping mechanisms. But they are not going to heal the root cause.