Battling clinical depression can be a very scary thing for anyone who is not familiar with the symptoms and treatments of the condition. Fortunately, there are many ways to cope with and offer support for someone who is fighting depression, whether that person is you or someone close to you.
If you are depressed, you should try to work on something productive for at least 30-60 minutes per day. Doing absolutely nothing all day can cause a vicious cycle where you not only have your “base” depression symptoms, but also depression because you are unable to get anything done.
Look into taking an antidepressant. Antidepressants can help someone who is depressed find happiness again. Lots of different drugs exist, so it make take some experimentation to get the right one.
One way to deal with depression is to “fake it till you make it”. This means to act, walk, talk, and eat as if you were not depressed. If nothing else, faking it will mean that other things in your life are not neglected while you are depressed. At best, the behaviors will help re-route your brain and actually help cure your depression.
Balance your diet to control your depression. If you go too long between meals, you’ll end up tired and irritable, which makes your depression worse. Eating too much, however, will make you feel sluggish and guilty. Eat small meals on regular intervals to keep your energy levels up and your brain operating at its peak.
Don’t be afraid to get help when you need it. The perfectionist thinking that goes along with depression, can often drive people to think that seeing a therapist for depression is a sign of weakness. But in fact, it’s just the opposite. Seeing a therapist means you’re facing the problem head-on and seeking a solution.
Become more physically active. A healthy body is a necessity for a healthy mind. In addition to the obvious health benefits, exercising releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It is these chemicals that give rise to the term “runner’s high”. It is a natural high, one that is safe and even healthy to become addicted to!
Work hard to keep a wide circle of supportive friends. If you are depressed it might rub off onto your friends, so it is best to speak with many different people so you aren’t bringing them down too.
If you are a parent, and you start to feel a bout of depression coming on try to find a way for your children to not be around you. If they are older, you can leave them home alone, but if they are younger children, you should have a close friend on standby to watch them.
With the information in this article, you will be more informed and better prepared to offer help and reassurance to someone who is suffering from the symptoms of depression. Always understand that there are many resources available for anyone who feels that they are unable to cope with the effects of this debilitating and misunderstood diagnosis.