Getting over depression is more easily said than done. Millions of people suffer from depression to varying degrees every day. Some individuals deal with clinical depression, the most serious form, while millions of others deal with lesser forms of depression.
Regardless of the intensity of your feelings of depression, though, the situation is still very real for you. The pain of your depression is very real. Depression does not have a permanent state of mind for you, though. Nevertheless, there are ways of getting over depression.
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Getting Over Depression: Admit It!
Admitting that you are depressed is the first step toward feeling better. Most people think that if you admit that you are depressed, you will officially become depressed. If you are depressed, you are depressed whether you admit it or not. If you feel drained of your energy, hope, and motivation, you are depressed to some degree.
Once you admit it, though, you can begin to find ways to solve the problem. If you do not even admit that you have a problem, then the problem will continue to grow worse beneath the surface.
Getting Over Depression: Baby Steps
When you are feeling depressed, taking on a large obstacle seems impossible. In reality, it probably is impossible in your current mindset. That is why it is important to set small goals to help yourself recover. For example, suppose your depression manifests in a lack of motivation to clean up and straighten your house, then set yourself a small goal of tidying one room. Reward yourself when you reach that one small goal, and you will be encouraged to do more the next time.
If you have found yourself avoiding going out with friends since you have become depressed, invite a friend out for coffee. Spend an hour being social and positive. You will feel invigorated and empowered after taking control. Think of one small thing that you feel your depression has affected and determine to reverse that one small thing today.
Avoid Making Big Decisions
When you are in a depressed state of mind, it is not the best time to make big, life-changing decisions. Give yourself the time and space to get better before making big changes. This may be inconvenient to you, but later on, down the road, you will be thankful you took this step. Decisions made during a time of depression are almost always irrational and out of character. Making bad choices will only increase your reasons and feelings of depression.
Get Healthier
Depression very often goes hand in hand with bad health habits. Poor food choices and lack of exercise can make you feel sluggish and hurt your confidence in your physical appearance. Both of these will contribute to a sense of depression. Exercise is scientifically proven to improve one’s mood through the release of endorphins.
Eating a better diet can also improve your mood by giving you more energy and improving your immune system. If you are already feeling depressed, continuing an unhealthy lifestyle will make your depression worse no better.
Journaling
Journaling is a powerful tool to help you in getting over depression. Journaling allows you to see and read your thoughts rather than ruminate over them in your mind. So often, when you see your negative thoughts on paper, you can immediately see ways to challenge that negative thinking. Journaling is also a great means of venting without causing pain or discomfort to others.
Nix Negative People
If there are people in your life feeding or adding to your depression, you should consider limiting your contact with those people. The individuals in your life that want to see you get better will bring positive energy into your life. They will be the ones willing to listen and willing to help and support your efforts. Evaluate your relationships and decide who is helping and who is hurting.
Get a Routine
Maintaining a routine can help with depression symptoms because you are keeping yourself motivated with specific goals in sight. Knowing what is next in your routine each day can give you the sense of control you may lack since you became depressed. Maintaining a sense of control is very important while getting over depression.
Make Good Choices
Making good choices can help you get over your depression by reassuring yourself that you are in control of your own life. Bad choices such as using drugs and alcohol will only reinforce the negative image of yourself. Now is the time to prove those negative thoughts wrong. You are a good person who can make good choices.
Prove it to yourself. Drug and alcohol use during depression will stunt recovery dramatically. It is a good idea to avoid all alcohol use during your recovery as alcohol is often a form of escape from depression and does not help in getting over depression at all.
