Finding the right treatment for depression can take time, and antidepressants usually take four to eight weeks to work, per the National Institute of Mental Health.<\/p>\n
For those struggling with the condition, clinical psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen \u2013 founder of Amen Clinics in California \u2013 says avoiding the following habits may help to manage symptoms and support mental health<\/a>.<\/p>\n IS DRINKING EVERY DAY ALCOHOLISM? EXPERTS EXPLAIN WHERE CULTURE AND ADDICTION COLLIDE<\/a><\/p>\n No. 1: Drinking alcohol<\/p>\n Alcohol may offer temporary relief from depression symptoms, but as its effects wear off, mood can worsen.<\/p>\n Dr. Daniel Amen (right) is the founder of brain scan company Amen Clinics in California. (Katie Levine; iStock)<\/p>\n As the brain adjusts to alcohol\u2019s relaxing effects, it can leave people feeling more anxious and restless after the buzz fades, making them feel “worse than before,” Amen warned.<\/p>\n Drinking can also disrupt sleep<\/a>, adding to next-day fatigue, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.<\/p>\n No. 2: Staying in bed<\/p>\n It might be tempting to linger in bed when you wake up, but Amen encouraged people with depression to get up and start their day.<\/p>\n “When people are depressed, they tend to have pretty low activity, especially in the front part of their brain, but burying yourself under the covers just makes things worse,” he said. “Get up, get out.”<\/p>\n SCIENTISTS REVEAL SURPRISINGLY EASY EXERCISE THAT MAY BOOST YOUR MOOD IN JUST 10 MINUTES<\/a><\/p>\n Amen’s advice aligns with a broader approach called behavioral activation, a type of therapy that helps people gradually return to meaningful activities rather than withdraw from them.<\/p>\n Behavioral activation has been shown to be beneficial for treating depression, according to a 2020 Cochrane review of 53 studies involving 5,495 adults.<\/p>\n “Burying yourself under the covers just makes things worse,” Amen said in reference to depression. (iStock)<\/p>\n No. 3: Believing your negative thoughts<\/p>\n A negative mindset can make it easier to believe things that aren\u2019t true \u2014 or, as Amen puts it, every “stupid” thought. He refers to these as “ANTs,” or automatic negative thoughts.<\/p>\n “The thoughts that come into your mind automatically and ruin your day \u2013 they drive depression,” he said.<\/p>\n “Burying yourself under the covers just makes things worse \u2026 get up, get out.”<\/p>\n When feeling strong emotions \u2013 such as sadness, anger, anxiety<\/a> or just lack of control \u2013 Amen recommends writing down what you\u2019re thinking and then asking yourself if it\u2019s true.<\/p>\n “My favorite part \u2013 and there’s a whole method to this \u2013 is flipping the thought and actually meditating on the opposite of the thought you have,” he said. “So, taking each thought captive.”<\/p>\n No. 4: Isolating yourself<\/p>\n Depression can lead people to withdraw from others, but social isolation<\/a> may worsen symptoms, Amen said.<\/p>\n “The more isolated you get, the louder the ANT chorus gets, and it makes [depression] worse,” he cautioned.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n A 2025 study published in General Hospital Psychiatry tracked more than 339,000 U.K. adults for roughly 12 years. Loneliness was associated with a 77% higher risk of developing depression, while social isolation was linked to a 14% higher risk.<\/p>\n No. 5: Eating highly processed foods<\/p>\n Eating more ultraprocessed foods<\/a>, including many fast-food items, has been linked to a higher risk of depression, Amen said, although research has not established cause and effect.<\/p>\n “There’s actually a lot of consensus now among psychiatrists that inflammation drives certain types of depression,” the doctor told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n A negative mindset can make it easier to believe things that aren\u2019t true \u2014 which Amen refers to these as “ANTs,” or automatic negative thoughts. (iStock)<\/p>\n A 2025 review in the American Journal of Psychiatry supports inflammation\u2019s role in some cases, but notes that elevated inflammatory markers occurred in only a subset of people with depression.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n Amen recommends adhering to an anti-inflammatory diet emphasizing “vegetables, healthy protein<\/a> and healthy fats.”<\/p>\n A 2024 review of five randomized trials involving 1,507 adults found that Mediterranean-style diets reduced depressive symptoms compared with control groups, although results varied considerably among studies.<\/p>\n No. 6: Taking medication without a proper assessment<\/p>\n Depression treatment is individualized, so not every medication<\/a> is right for everyone \u2014 and not every patient requires medication.<\/p>\n Amen emphasized the importance of receiving a thorough assessment prior to receiving antidepressants, which he said can be “lifesaving.”<\/p>\n Some supplements, like omega-3 and saffron, have been found to be more effective than antidepressants in recent research. (iStock)<\/p>\n For milder depression, psychotherapy is often the first approach. People with moderate or severe depression are usually prescribed medication as part of their initial treatment plan<\/a>, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n For those who have done “all the right things” but still struggle, Amen encouraged seeking further medical evaluation. Depending on symptoms and medical history, a clinician may order blood tests to check for conditions such as anemia or thyroid disease<\/a> that could contribute to symptoms.<\/p>\n![\"doctor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/daniel-amen-alzheimers-split.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Person's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/person-arms-bed-duvet-morning.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Couple](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/couple-dealing-with-depression.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/yellow-capsule-health-supplement-fox-news-001.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n