How To Help Yourself If You Are Depressed
How to Help Yourself if You are Depressed
Depressive disorders make one feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Such negative thoughts and feelings make some people feel like giving up. It is important to realize that these negative views are part of the depression and typically do not accurately reflect the actual circumstances. Negative thinking fades as treatment begins to take effect. In the meantime:
* Set realistic goals in light of the depression and assume a reasonable amount of responsibility.
* Break large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you can as you can.
* Try to be with other people and to confide in someone; it is usually better than being alone and secretive.
* Participate in activities that may make you feel better.
* Mild exercise, going to a movie, a ballgame, or participating in religious, social, or other activities may help.
* Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better takes time.
* It is advisable to postpone important decisions until the depression has lifted. Before deciding to make a significant transition change jobs, get married or divorced discuss it with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.
* People rarely "snap out of" a depression. But they can feel a little better day-by-day.
* Remember, positive thinking will replace the negative thinking that is part of the depression and will disappear as your depression responds to treatment.
* Let your family and friends help you.
How Family and Friends Can Help the Depressed Person
The most important thing anyone can do for the depressed person is to help him or her get an appropriate diagnosis and treatment. This may involve encouraging the individual to stay with treatment until symptoms begin to abate (several weeks), or to seek different treatment if no improvement occurs. On occasion, it may require making an appointment and accompanying the depressed person to the doctor. It may also mean monitoring whether the depressed person is taking medication. The depressed person should be encouraged to obey the doctor's orders about the use of alcoholic products while on medication. The second most important thing is to offer emotional support. This involves understanding, patience, affection, and encouragement. Engage the depressed person in conversation and listen carefully. Do not disparage feelings expressed, but point out realities and offer hope. Do not ignore remarks about suicide. Report them to the depressed person's therapist. Invite the depressed person for walks, outings, to the movies, and other activities. Be gently insistent if your invitation is refused. Encourage participation in some activities that once gave pleasure, such as hobbies, sports, religious or cultural activities, but do not push the depressed person to undertake too much too soon. The depressed person needs diversion and company, but too many demands can increase feelings of failure.
Do not accuse the depressed person of faking illness or of laziness, or expect him or her "to snap out of it." Eventually, with treatment, most people do get better. Keep that in mind, and keep reassuring the depressed person that, with time and help, he or she will feel better.
Psychotherapy requires significant commitment whereas treatment of depressive disorders with medication requires less effort.
For the small number of people for whom MAO inhibitors are the best treatment, it is necessary to avoid certain foods that contain high levels of tyramine, including many cheeses, wines, and pickles, as well as medications such as decongestants.
Clinical depression - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clinical depression (also called severe depressive disorder, major depressive disorder) is a state of intense sadness, melancholia or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an ...
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Alternative names Return to top. Blues; Discouragement; Gloom; Mood changes; Sadness; Melancholy. Definition Return to top. Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable ...
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Reducing the burden of mental illness and behavioral disorders through research on mind, brain, and behavior
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