Tips to over come anxiety and depression

Most people are anxious or depress because of negative habitual thinking. So the idea is to amend negative thoughts into positive or at least neutral thought pattern, where by the mind can achieve a sense of peace, calmness and a more natural undisturbed state.Here are some useful tips although it may or may not help:

Changing negative thought patterns:
1) Stop regretting once repented: Stop regretting (saying what if) and holding on to the past, as long as you learn from your lesson you can move on. Everyone makes mistakes, that's a part of being human, but as long as their is a will to change there is hope. Don't be too hard on yourself if it doesn't help, it's OK to let go.
2) Remove inferior or superior complex: Let go of the sense of low self worth. Do not overly compare to others (especially those with lower standard) and feel inferior. At the same time, do not feel superior than others and become arrogant. "You are not inferior". Everyone has potential and light within which is special as everyone else's, yet do not feel arrogant. Stay true as humble. NB: feeling superior/inferior of the bases of physical appearance or materialism will only confuse the mind more, as greatness should be based on the persons' noble character.
3) Remove failure complex: Past failures are just events, they are not our identity, it doesn't mean you are a failure as a human. Failure belief which is consolidated by failure events is a dangerous cycle which strengthen the false belief. Everyone has their own strength and weakness, everyone have failed and succeed in something, which is perfectly normal. Most importantly, try not to fail in being a good human.
4) Don't be "self" consumed: Stop thinking about yourself and your pain or hardship as it will intensify your own suffering. Help "others", like get involve with charity or helping others in whatever ways you can, in that way, when the sense of selfishness cease the self pain also cease, and the mind would feel more happier and fulfilled knowing you did something helpful, positive and meaningful to others.
5) Be less/remove paranoid or self conceited: Do not concern your mind in what others think of you, be less self conscious, less conceited and less egotistic. If other people have some constructive criticism to make, then take on board as it would help, but not react to their negative and irrational emotional behaviour. Being concern by what other people think will bring unwanted pressure and emotional baggage.
6) Be less passive to yourself: passive mind puts the mind in a confuse and uncertain state, sometimes uncertainty brings nervousness. Be honest and direct to yourself, as it will help having a clearer thought process and become  less nervous uncertainty. Yet do not get confuse between being honest to yourself and being bluntly expressive or trying to prove a point to others.

Positive thinking:
1) Learn to let go: With the help of meditation, mindful practice and positive thinking, it would help to let go of negative thoughts, phobia or traumatic experiences. Let go of negative emotions and be free in spirit.
2) Acceptance of past mistakes/problems and non-concluded decision: sometimes problems can't be fixed so the mind would have to let go. Sometimes decision can't be made straight away, no matter how we analyse or think it still is blurry. Learn to let go and come back to it later, time will reveal in the future, for now just accept and move on until the time is ready. Let go and be patient until the time is right.
3) Simplicity and prioritizing reduce scattered confused mind: from seeking and greed lead to many options, with many options the mind becomes scattered, indecisive and confused; basically confused.The Zen/Chan Buddhist got it right, simple life will lead to happiness and contentment. If you are anxious and stressed over with many thoughts, decision or task in your daily life, perhaps you may need to consider simplifying your life and options. Consider prioritising what it important, take the best action you could think of, start weighing the pros and cons and eliminating options which you do not need to do. Start from basic and simplicity again.
4) Kindness and compassion matter: Under stress, depression or anxiety, interacting with someone who is kind and compassionate helps bring peace, calm and settle the heart. Wise one says compassion is like a light that dispel darkness or the warm of sun light which melts the frozen winter ice. It is understandable that we may not always be surrounded by kind and compassionate individual, but we can always become one ourselves and be more kind and compassionate to yourself, being your own good friend!  
5) Will power and the right to be at peace: It is important to remind yourself not to be consume by negative thoughts and inferior projection of self. That everyone has the right to be at peace which is what the heart really wants, that is the natural state. Have the will power to escape from the negative cycle of depression and anxiety as you have the right like everyone else to be at peace.

Psychological therapy:
1) Learn to relax: Relaxation is related to the state of our body and breathing  Take a few slow and deep breath and learn to relax your muscle. Relaxation therapy may includes tai chi and yoga helps.
2) Meditation and mindfulness; Don't let the mind drift off mindlessly into the negative cycle. Meditation is a good practice draw the mind back into the present or mindfulness, away from negative emotion. If you can focus the mind in the present moment or a meditation topic (breathing, Buddhist mantras, awareness of body etc...) the mind won't wonder off into the painful regretful past or the anxious worried future, nor would it dwell on negative emotion. When the mind is still, peace arise.
3) The dispassionate observer: Know that the stirred up afflicted mind and negative emotions are not the true mind and not the true you; it is just a state triggered due to external stimulation and internal distress mechanism. Many people mistake their emotional reaction to be their true self which is not the case. Do not cling on and embrace these emotional states, yet do not be repulsed, reject and feel bad when these states arises. Just watch these negative states from a distance, without passion nor embrace it, then watch it come and go like passing clouds of illusion. In time, the mind stills down and peace arise.
4) Mindfully recognise negative states ends negative state: When the mind recognise negative thoughts, the thought often disappear, which is one strange thing about the human mind. Not knowing what is bothering you would generally let the state continue unnoticed.
5) Positive distraction: The idea is to keep the mind from dwelling into the negative cycle of thoughts by distraction it with something positive. Exposure to positive stimulate or setting will naturally make the mind positive. Change of scenery helps to take the mind of, go to different places, especially see nature and beautiful landscape. People say how nature speaks our inner tranquil heart. Other positive distraction may includes relaxation calm music, positive films or documentary and so forth.

Positive lifestyle changes:
1) Healthy eating: Improve lifestyle by eating healthily so the body isn't malnutrition or over eating. Malnutrition can affect nerves systems and metabolism, generally cause anxiety or depression.
2) Avoid excessive caffeine: as it will contribute to anxiety.
3) Exercise: is probably one of the best way to over come depression as it stimulate endorphins hormones which makes us naturally happier, as well as more relaxed and calm.