Are You Feeling Depressed? Get The Help You Need.
Depression is a complicated, difficult condition. It affects more than 17 million adults each year according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. It’s a debilitating condition that makes it hard to function and gets in the way of your everyday responsibilities and activities.
Fortunately, no matter how bad your condition is, there is hope for relief thanks to treatments, lifestyle changes, at-home remedies, and support systems. Continue reading to learn more about how to get help for your depression.
How to get help from depression
Find Social Support
Depression robs you of your joy, your motivation, and your comfort – but most of all, it robs you of your sense of perspective. With its socially isolating effects, depression makes it difficult to reach out for help and makes it difficult to stay connected to your loved ones.
If you’re going through a depressive episode, you likely feel things like guilt or self-blame. It’s easy to feel ashamed, but that is just how depression makes you think. The truth is there is nothing to be ashamed of – your depression is not your fault. Don’t be ashamed to talk to others about it. In fact, it may be a great way to find relief from the symptoms.
Just take some time to vent to someone you care about. Make sure they know that they don’t have to fix your situation, they just need to be there to listen in a respectful and nonjudgmental manner.
There are lots of ways to stay connected socially. Maybe meet an old friend for lunch, or join someone for a walk somewhere nice. You can check out a local depression support group, or perhaps meet new people by finding hobbies or clubs that you enjoy.
Take Care of Yourself
During a depression episode, this may be the last thing on your mind, but it is indeed essential. You need to put yourself first, even if your symptoms of self-blame and guilt make it difficult.
Everyone should aim for somewhere around eight hours of sleep at night, as well as physical activity for at least 30 minutes three to five times a week. In addition, you should eat well-balanced meals.
This means not just eating healthy or exercising, but also taking some time to engage in old hobbies or anything that you think might distract you for a little while.
Treatment Options for Depression
There’s no shame in getting treatment for any sort of illness or condition, mental or physical. A condition like depression may only get worse if left untreated.
New treatments like ketamine infusions for depression may open the door to many who had previously treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine was once used only as an anesthetic, but research in recent decades indicates that it may be an important new option for the treatment of not only depression but all mental health conditions.
Other treatments include traditional options, like antidepressants or psychotherapy sessions.
