Help for depression it may seem like the relief of your life. Nearly 15 million Americans each year are affected by a serious illness called depression. It is a proven disease. It is not a reflection of the personal attributes of the patient despite being a mental illness. Depression can affect anyone. There is no logic for its start. It can affect rich or poor. It does not take race into account. Just because you have this disease does not mean that you are less of a human being. Mental illness comes with stereotypes, ignore them. The suffering associated with this disease will only get worse without treatment. Pretending that nothing is wrong will not drive this problem away. If a person does not seek medical attention, the disease worsens until it dominates their entire life.
Depression can be due to several sources. It is not a matter of a day or two of confusion or sadness, this disease is much more. Depression can be a matter of months and even years. The worst effects of depression can be physical illness and even suicide. Regret is often a feeling associated with the early stages. It can take away the enjoyment you used to get from your favorite activities. Loneliness and despair are common. It may feel like a failure in life and you can’t see where the future will improve. Your whole personality can change over time. You will feel the effects at work, at school and at home. Expect insomnia and increased anxiety.
There are many causes of depression. Stress is one of them. Stress caused by the loss of a loved one or a serious illness that you have been diagnosed with. Genetics are important. Being abused can cause stress. Even something as simple as reading the financial news can create it. There is a lot of stress in today’s world to compete and satisfy those in our society. Do not forget that it is a serious illness. But for people who seek it there is help. Only about 4.5 million of the 15 million Americans who suffer from depression each year will admit to the problem and seek help. A loved one or you have to seek help.
Getting the help you need plays an important role in relieving the stress of depression and keeping you away. On your own, it can be difficult to maintain perspective and maintain the effort required to overcome the disorder. But the very nature of this debilitating situation makes it difficult to ask for help. However, isolation and loneliness make depression worse, so it is important to maintain close relationships and social activities.
The thought of reaching out even to close family and friends can seem overwhelming. You may feel ashamed, too exhausted to speak, or guilty for neglecting the relationship. Remember this is the depression you are talking about. Those who love you are there for you.
* Go to trusted friends and family. Share what’s happening with the people you love and trust. Ask for the help and support you need. You may have withdrawn from your most treasured relationships, but they can help you get through this difficult time.
* Try to keep up with social activities even if you don’t feel like it. When you are depressed, you are more comfortable taking refuge in your shell. But being around other people will make you feel less depressed.
* Join a depression support group. Being with other people who are dealing with depression can go a long way in reducing your sense of isolation. They can also encourage each other, give and receive advice on coping, and share their experiences. To locate a depression support group in your area, use the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance program.
Another self-help tip: take care of yourself, Dogonit!
In order for you to win, you must nurture yourself. This includes spending time on the things you enjoy, asking others for help, setting limits on what you can do, adopting healthy habits, and scheduling fun activities into your day.
Do things you enjoy (or used to do)
While you can’t force yourself to have fun or experience pleasure, you can choose to do the things you used to enjoy. Pick a past hobby or sport that you used to like. Express yourself creatively through music, art, or writing. Go out with friends. Take a day trip to a museum, the mountains, or the ballpark.
Develop a wellness toolkit
Come up with some ideas of things you can do to improve your mood quickly. Include any strategies, activities, or skills that you know you have. The more “tools” for dealing with depression, the better. Try to implement some of these ideas every day, even if it feels good.
* Set realistic goals and take a reasonable amount of responsibility.
* Break large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you can.
* Try to be with other people and to trust someone; Usually it is better than being alone and in secret.
* Get involved in activities that can make you feel better.
* Mild exercise, going to the movies, a ball game, or participating in religious, social, or other activities can help.
* Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better takes time.
* It is advisable to postpone important decisions until the depression has disappeared. Before deciding to make a significant transition – changing jobs, getting married, or getting divorced – talk to others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.
* People rarely “come out” of a depression. But they may feel a little better day by day.
* Remember, positive thinking will replace the negative thinking that is part of depression and will disappear as your depression responds to treatment.
* Let your family and friends help you.
The most productive way to help a depressed person is to help them get the right treatment. This may involve encouraging the individual to continue treatment until symptoms begin to improve (several weeks), or seeking a different treatment if no improvement occurs. At times, it may be necessary to make an appointment and accompany the depressed person to psychologist appointments. It can also mean monitoring whether the depressed person is taking medication, if prescribed.
The second most important way to help is to offer emotional support. This implies understanding, patience, affection, and encouragement. Engage the depressed person in conversation and listen carefully. Don’t belittle the feelings expressed, but point out the realities and offer hope. Don’t ignore comments about suicide. Always inform the psychologist of the depressed person. One of the main problems to overcome with depression is admitting to others that we have it. Many people will not seek help until they realize that they cannot go on without it. There is a fear that they will be seen as mentally weak, jeopardizing job prospects, career advancement, life insurance, etc.
Medication can go a long way to start healing if you are so down that you have no energy for anything else. It can make a big difference and really get you going. But it is important to consult a psychiatrist or doctor who is sufficiently familiar with the latest antidepressants; there is a great variety and something is probably helping that doesn’t cause too many side effects on your system. But you need someone who knows these things, and most internists or GPs don’t. Often times, people are given too little or too much medication, or they don’t wait long enough for things to work. Once you’re rolling and start doing some of the other things on this list, you can probably start lowering your dosage. Get up in the morning and avoid sleeping in, although, admittedly, if you are depressed, you won’t really want to. Getting up and moving helps fight depression; sleeping late feeds it.
You need to reduce your intake of carbohydrates, and especially sugar, while consuming more protein. If you’re depressed, you’ll want that quick load of energy that sugar and simple carbohydrates provide; But that same jolt of sugar floods your bloodstream, spikes, and then causes a crash, leaving you more depressed than ever. The same goes for caffeine and alcohol. If you can get moving, exercise! Don’t forget, depression is blocked or inactive energy, and you can get it moving again by literally moving more. (And, yes, if you’re depressed, you won’t feel like doing it, but it will make you feel palpably better afterward.)
The most common form of treatment for depression is “talk therapy” and “antidepressants” such as Prozac. But medications often have side effects, including causing more depression, plus they can be expensive, just like a psychiatrist or psychologist. There are natural alternatives that contain hyperforin, which is known to work just as well as antidepressant medications. Another effective treatment for this terrible disease is the support of other people who have it. Whether you want it or someone pushes you to do it, there is help for depression.
