Dealing With Depression

Dealing with depression means taking control of a condition which can often seem to control our lives.

The very first step in dealing with depression is to acknowledge the fact that the way we are feeling is more than just ‘the blues.’

Once we can recognize that we are suffering from a genuine medical condition, we can start figuring out the causes of depression and how to manage it.

Contrary to popular belief, depression is not all in our minds. It is a very real medical disorder, caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. We can no more ‘snap out of’ depression than someone can snap out of diabetes.

When we can accept that we are suffering from a medical condition, and it absolutely does not mean that we are weak or crazy, we can focus our energy on dealing with depression.

In my goal of learning to live a happy, healthy life with depression, I have found that there are five things that helped me greatly in gaining control of my condition.

The first was medication. Don’t be afraid of taking medication if it is prescribed for you. People willingly take medicine for high blood pressure and asthma, but balk at antidepressants. This is another sign of our incorrect belief that we should be able to control depression with will-power.

Taking medication allowed me to face my depression and its effects on my life from a level playing field. By correcting my serotonin imbalance which is the medical cause of depression, I was able to deal with the causes and effects of depression without the intensity of emotions clouding my judgment.

The next step was therapy, which is something I have continued at various times that life circumstances made me feel that I could use some help in dealing with depression. I am very much in favor of therapy. I could not have pulled myself up by my bootstraps, and I see no need to struggle trying.

Asking for help when it is needed is a sign of empowerment not weakness. It means taking control of your own future happiness by getting what you need, rather than passively waiting for a miracle, or needlessly struggling to do it all alone.

While talking to an objective professional can be extremely helpful, it is also important to get support from people you are close to. Confiding in a close friend or family member can help in many ways. A problem shared always seems to become less of a burden. A friend can offer encouragement and help you to keep things in perspective.

Perhaps you can also help them to understand what you are going through. For anyone who hasn’t experienced depression, it is very difficult to understand the intensity of what we go through.

Another important source of support is from people who do understand what you are feeling. Depression can be very isolating, even though it is a condition shared by millions of people. We sometimes feel that we are alone, but this is far from the truth.

Support is available through groups and forums, as well as reading articles and books. My bedside collection of self-help books is one of my most treasured possessions, and I can always find encouragement at my fingertips. I have found ‘The Zen Path through Depression’ by Philip Martin, and ‘Undoing Depression’ by Richard O'Connor, to be of particular help.

My quest to handle depression and the shame I felt at my condition also led me to write my own book, ‘Freedom from Shame; Overcoming the Stigma of Depression.’

The fifth very beneficial thing we can do to help ourselves is exercise. Exercise encourages feel-good, depression-fighting endorphins to be released into the body, helping to counteract the effects of our condition. Exercise is the closest thing to a healthy ‘high’ you can get.

I know that in the depths of depression, dragging yourself out of bed can seem impossible enough, let alone to the gym or such. Once you start receiving treatment though, and the worst stage passes, exercising, even gently, can greatly assist your progress.

Finally, be gentle and patient with yourself. Amazing improvement can be made in effect of depression on your life. The frequency and severity of episodes of depression can be greatly reduced with correct treatment and management. It takes time though, and persistence.

During an episode of depression, however, all you can do, aside from seeking help, is to be kind and tolerant with yourself. Try to remember that you have felt better in the past, and you will feel better again. While you are suffering, try to take things easy, and rest as much as you can. Remember that you are unwell. You have the emotional equivalent of a terrible case of the flu.

Health and happiness are possible, no matter how unlikely that may seem at times when you are dealing with depression. Just hang in there, and you can reach the light at the end of the tunnel.