Everyone sometimes feels sad, but those feelings will pass within a few days. However, if you can’t seem to rally, and it’s starting to interfere with your daily life, it could signify depression.
Depressive disorders can affect anyone. Feelings of intense sadness or hopelessness may mark it, and some find that they lose interest or pleasure in activities they used to enjoy. In addition, people with depression can experience guilt, unworthiness, or low self-esteem, and they may start avoiding being around people.
Depression is a common but severe disorder that may require treatment. The good news is that even the most severe cases of depression are treatable either through self-help or the help of a professional.
Know the signs
The signs and symptoms of depression may be hard to notice at first, so it’s essential to be aware of your thoughts, moods, and behaviors and note if they start to change.
A person may be battling depression if they find that they have:
- Sadness that does not go away
- Little to no interest in daily activities
- Little to no interest in hobbies or interests once found enjoyable
- Weight loss or gain that isn’t affected by diet
- Little to no energy
- Confusion regarding decisionmaking
- More days feeling fatigued
- Uneasy feelings, restlessness, or irritability
People living with depression can also struggle with feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. They may appear to speak slower or move slower than others and have a hard time thinking, making decisions, or understanding or following what others say to them during a conversation. They may also entertain thoughts of suicide or self-harm or even death.
What causes depression?
Relationship problems, changes in life circumstances, genetics, and trauma can all precipitate feelings of depression. In addition, drug and alcohol abuse can cause depression. The condition can occur spontaneously and may also run in families.
Can depression go away on its own?
Depression can come and go, but treatment or therapy may be necessary to reduce symptoms. Depression can recur, sometimes triggered by the same problems that led to it in the first place. Some people can manage the signs on their own if not too severe or stop treatment once they’re symptom-free for several months, while others require ongoing treatment.
Consequently, everyone’s solution to getting over depression differs, and there is no fixed template to follow. However, deciding to make an effort to overcome depression is the first and most important step you can take in the right direction.
Since depression can be a weighty topic, it isn’t advisable to tackle it as a whole, but rather divide it into different parts and deal with each one. Depression usually affects three parts of your being: your actions, emotions, and mind. So let’s tackle them step by step.
Start with your actions
We are defined not by what we think or feel but by what we do. So if unhealthy habits aren’t helpful to your recovery, like overstimulation, dopamine overdose, and even addiction, create an action plan to correct your lifestyle. Good habits, once reinforced, help you steer clear of further harm. Although depression affects the body, the body can be healed if you take the right actions regarding food, exercise, and abstinence from bad habits.
Know your emotions, but don’t let them overpower you
Emotions are potent and should be given the recognition they deserve. Unfortunately, controlling your feelings is very difficult, but there’s another way for you to both feel those emotions and remain functional. First, give yourself a time or period where you are allowed to listen to your feelings. It could be a few hours or minutes, or a couple of weeks. During this period, it is essential to give yourself a timer; when that time hits, you are to stop what you are doing and start focusing on recovery.
Give yourself affirmation
Changing the narrative of what your mind thinks of yourself is difficult. Many people struggle with self-image, and because of this, they often find it harder to get over depression. The best way to start is by giving yourself affirmation. Create a simple mantra based on what you want to achieve, and instead of leaving it dangling, claim it and use it as affirmation.
An example of this would be saying: “I am successful,” “I am at peace,” or “I love life” every day at a specific time. Although this might take a while to get used to and may start as insincere, the more consistent you are with your affirmations, the more you will begin to believe in yourself.
Give yourself time, but seek professional help if necessary
If five or more of the above symptoms persist for more than two weeks nearly every day despite your best efforts, then it’s probably time to consult your doctor — especially if these symptoms interfere with your daily life. Your health care professional will screen you for depression and talk to you about the best course of action.
The story’s writer is not a medical professional, and the information in this story has been collected from reliable sources — and every precaution has been taken to ensure its accuracy. However, the information provided is for general purposes only and should not be substituted for professional health care.
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