According to new data from Blue Cross Blue Shield, depression is on the rise for just about everyone in the US. As such, knowing how to deal with it in a healthy way is critical. To help you find the road to recovery, here are 6 helpful and realistic tips that can make a positive difference in your life when dealing with depression:
1. Ask for help:
Depression is often treated as a dirty word. But depression is hard to deal with at the best of times, and dealing with it alone is certainly an unnecessary evil. If you are struggling with depression, talk to someone. Maybe it’s a friend, a partner, a sibling or a parent. Don’t suffer in silence. You’ll find that having someone who knows that you’re struggling can be a big help, whether they can direct you to helpful resources or just be there for you as a support system. Making sure you’re not alone can make a huge difference.
2. Find the things that comfort you:
Whether it’s taking time for meditation, enjoying a favorite movie, or snuggling up in a fluffy blanket with a hot cup of something, take some time to figure out what brings you comfort. And when you’re really struggling–don’t fight it. Trying to convince yourself that everything is fine will start an endless cycle of guilt & worsening depression. Instead, acknowledge how you’re feeling and practice some self-care by engaging in these comforting things. Recharging and protecting yourself is one of the best things you can do to help with depression.
3. Keep active and stay nourished:
It’s important to remember that health is different for every person, and when dealing with depression, your healthy practices are probably going to look different than when you’re at 100% charged. Taking extra care of your body during depression can help to lessen the severity of the symptoms. Things, like moving when you can, and listening to how your body is feeling, are extremely important. If you’re feeling depleted, you might need some nourishment! It’s easy to forget to move & eat when you’re in poor mental health, but both of these things are great natural options for boosting your mood. When your body feels good, you feel better. Try to make this a priority on your really hard days.
4. Talk to someone:
Talking to friends and loved ones is great, but they might not always have the tools to help you. While loved ones are a great personal support system, a trained professional can provide a kind and experienced ear that isn’t going to get uncomfortable if you discuss your really dark days where you’re struggling to keep on track. They’ll help you get to the root of the issues that cause your depression and provide you with tools to help you deal with it in a healthy and manageable way.
5. Remember you don’t have to be “okay” all the time:
If you had a bad day yesterday, you’re going to think that you can’t have a bad today. The thing is, depression has no timeline. You may have three good weeks in a row, then you may have a full week of bad days. You need to go with your mood and don’t punish yourself for feeling what you feel, even if the timing is inconvenient. Save your energy instead for the tools you’ve learned to use to get through the bad days, rather than putting yourself down for having bad days at all.
6. Forgive yourself:
Whether you’re dealing with depression for the first time, or you’ve had it on and off for years, a lot of us get angry with ourselves. We think we have no reason to feel depressed, or that we should be better at handling it by now. But, depression has no timeline and it doesn’t always have a clear-cut reason. It’s an illness, not a personal choice, and it may happen whether we feel it’s justified or not. Having a reason for it won’t make it easier to deal with, so focus your energy instead on finding healthy tools & support systems to manage it. Depression can be a battle, so don’t make it harder by trying to fight against yourself while you deal with it.
Depression can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be something that you deal with alone, and it doesn’t have to be something you’re ashamed of. These tips can help you take care of yourself to get your life moving forward even on your darkest days.
Pivotal Counseling Center has therapists who specialize in depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. We have locations in Woodstock, Illinois, and Lake in the Hills, Illinois. If you are in need of someone to help, please consider giving us a call at (815) 345-3400.
Pivotal Counseling Center is now accepting Medicaid including Blue Cross Community Medicaid, Meridian Medicaid, and Molina Medicaid for outpatient counseling.
