How to help yourself if you are depressed

Depression in translation from Latin, in the original “deprimere”, means suppression and pressure. Seen from a psychological point of view, it indicates a state of suppressed mood and a person’s subjective feeling that he is being pressed by a burden that he cannot bear.

Igor Pavluković, body psychotherapist

Persistent low mood and mood swings that occur for no apparent reason often indicate that a person has a depressive disorder.

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The main indicators of depression are the loss of energy and motivation to carry out normal daily activities. The person becomes disinterested and generally dissatisfied, which is accompanied by withdrawal and avoidance of contact with others.

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He stops feeling joy in life, there is a loss of working ability, and appetite and sleep disorders often occur. In some cases, the person begins to think about suicide.

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The main characteristic of a major depressive episode is a period of at least two weeks when a person experiences a loss of interest or pleasure in almost all life activities.

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This can be accompanied by a dominant feeling of sadness, like a sense of great loss. In this case, there was often no real loss in the person’s life immediately before entering the depressed state. In children and adolescents, they are more likely to be irritable and not show sadness.

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– Feeling of sadness, emptiness or hopelessness

– Anger and irritability

– Insomnia or hypersomnia

– Loss of interest in normal daily activities such as: sports, usual activities, previous life interests, sexual activities and the like

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– Significant weight loss or weight gain due to changes in appetite

– Psychomotor agitation (restlessness) or retardation (slowness)

– Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day

– Difficulty thinking or concentrating or being indecisive almost every day

– Occasional thoughts of death, recurrent thoughts of suicide

– Visibly impaired social and professional functioning

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Find a trusted person and talk to them about your condition, feelings and what is happening to you. The ability to confide in others and talk to them about depression is the best strategy you can have in the fight against depression.

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Follow your thoughts and feelings. That is the beginning of facing the problem. This will enable you to develop the skill of spotting episodes of depression before it is too late. The technique of tracking thoughts can allow you to decide which of your thoughts are a reflection of the true state around you – and which thoughts are most likely unrealistic and created during the decline of the basic mood and the development of an episode of depression.

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Find meaningful purpose in your life. Having a strong sense of purpose is the most effective medicine to overcome obstacles. Activities that connect you to something bigger, such as striving to master a challenging task, will be of great help in combating depression.

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Cultivate personal connections with others (friends, family members, neighbors, etc.) Harmonious trusting relationships help reduce isolation and loneliness. Look for people with whom you have lost contact, volunteer in social actions, adopt a pet and keep in touch with family and friends.

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Develop coping skills to reduce stress. Recognizing the causes of stress and avoiding those situations will be helpful. Relaxation techniques in tense and difficult situations (for example, family gatherings) will make you less susceptible to depression.

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Allow yourself enough sleep. The importance of quality sleep is great. It helps maintain brain function. Without adequate sleep, people are more likely to have negative thoughts and anxiety, leading to depression.

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Make sure you move every day. Regularly engaging in physical activity, even a small amount, can have a big impact. Exercise not only boosts self-confidence, but also improves social connections and boosts self-esteem.

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Eat healthy. A diet that includes fresh food, a sufficient amount of water, vitamins and other ingredients necessary for the body, along with reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption can significantly contribute to improving mood.

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Be motivated to make bigger lifestyle changes by rewarding yourself occasionally with things you enjoy. Negative attitudes deplete the chemicals in the brain that create pleasure. Negativity also damages the immune system and disturbs the hormonal balance in the body.

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Contact your doctor and schedule therapy. Trust your doctor and therapist and work with them. By working together, you will achieve improvement and healing more easily and quickly.

Source: www.sitoireseto.com