Depression is a mental health disorder. It is crippling, debilitating, and pervasive. Millions of adults in the US suffer from depression, and yet this mood disorder is treatable. Living with depression is difficult. It’s like having a black cloud hovering above your head, souring your mood, sapping your strength, and silencing your essence. Depression is overwhelming – it’s not something you can simply snap out of. Sure, everyone has a bad day, or feelings of sadness – that’s not depression. This particular mental health condition continues for weeks, months, or longer.
Treatment for depression depends on the specific type of depression that you are laboring through. For many people with mild depression symptoms, antidepressants and antianxiety medication will suffice. When combined with psychotherapy, medication is doubly effective, since the licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) can oftentimes get to the root cause of the problem, address it, and help the patient to heal. This may be done through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which helps the patient to identify negative thought patterns, and change perceptions and responses.
Common symptoms of depression include the following:
- Suicidal thoughts.
- Constant irritability.
- Problems with sleep.
- Fluctuations in appetite.
- Aches and pains in your body.
- An overwhelming feeling of sadness.
- Fatigue, apathy, lethargy, and general disinterest.
Stress is a Major Catalyst for Depression
Since depression is a combination of environmental, biological, psychological, and genetic factors, it can occur at any time, to anyone. No one is immune to depression – it can occur if the ‘right’ conditions present. Cortisol is an important hormone in the body. It is secreted by the adrenal gland, and when there are elevated stress levels in the body this particular hormone increases and can cause depression to persist. Cortisol is the hormone that causes your muscles to tense up, your blood pressure to rise, and your heart rate to increase. It’s no surprise that it can perpetuate depression.
People who are depressed are stressed. One of the most effective ways to reduce cortisol is to reduce stress levels in your body. A healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes can certainly assist. But once you are depressed, treatment becomes a #1 priority. The first order of business is to determine what type of depression you are suffering from. There are many different forms of depression such as seasonal affective disorder, postpartum depression, persistent depressive disorder, atypical depression, and major depressive disorder.
MDD is by far one of the most debilitating forms of depression. It is often resistant to medication (SSRIs and SNRIs) and therapy and presents as a potentially life-threatening condition. If a patient with MDD is suicidal, immediate intervention is required. Nowadays, there is no shame in seeking treatment for depression. The stigma has largely disappeared across the Western world, with people coming forward to seek the healthcare services of their practitioners.
Self-Help Options
Dealing with depression is never easy. It feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, and it’s difficult to feel motivated to do anything. Work suffers. Study suffers. Relationships suffer. That’s why it’s so important to get diagnosed early on. If you are dealing with depression, there are activities you can perform to alleviate some of the negative thoughts and patterns you will invariably be facing. For example, you can try to take your mind off things by doing the following:
- Listen to music, watch a funny TV show, or play a game.
- Play with your pets – they’re probably sad to see you depressed.
- Get outside and feel the sunlight, smell the fresh air, and take a walkabout.
- Take a relaxing hot bath with Epsom salts, or aromatherapy oils and just enjoy the experience.
- Do something, anything – join a support group for people struggling with depression.
- Have a heart-to-heart discussion with a close friend, partner, relative, or health care professional.
One of the biggest mistakes that depressed individuals make is dietary-related. When we feel depressed, we lose our appetite, or we overeat – either way, that’s a no-no. The food we eat has a direct correlation with how our body will perform. Remember to add omega-3 fatty acids to your meals, increase your daily intake of vitamin B, eat balanced, regular meals. Dealing with depression is incredibly difficult.
Since this mental health disorder saps your energy, it makes it virtually impossible to think of things like exercising or doing something enjoyable. But that’s precisely what needs to be done – often with a little help from a professional – to put this demon to rest. When you’re feeling depressed, it’s all about baby steps towards health and wellness. It could be something as small as reaching out to someone, getting out of your room, or even seeking treatment. One step at a time – that’s what it takes to get there!
