Statistics show that almost 20% the population will suffer from depressionat some point in their lives. So odds are you may suffer from depression at some point or at least know someone who will. Depression isn’t just feeling bad or suffering from temporary anxiety while dealing with a problem or a tough decision. It’s a medical condition, a serious situation that can increase if it lingers too long. Here are a few tips about depression, and some therapy options you may want to explore for solving the problem.
Someone saying he or she feels depressed short-term may not actually suffer from depression. Being in a true depression means you’re behavior, your thoughts and feelings, and perhaps your sleep and energy levels are affected on a more long term basis. Depression is often attributed to a mood disorder, which is typically triggered by circumstances or a negative life changing event, but is often heavily influenced by genes or your social environment. Before even thinking about treatment, it’s important to realize whether you’re truly depressed, or just in a bad mood or experiencing temporary sadness. This usually involves waiting at least a few days, and reflecting upon your life and recent events to assess what’s actually causing your depression like feelings.
Once you have been diagnosed with depression or a related mood disorder, then it’s time to think about solving the problem. There are many therapies available, and effectiveness varies based on each individual. Some are fairly simple, like music therapy or art therapy. They may involve starting a new hobby, or making some subtle or drastic lifestyle changes that will hopefully affect your mood in a positive way. Some people find relief in exercise or losing weight. It’s no secret that being overweight or obese is one well-known cause of depression. Feeling better about yourself or your body can be a powerful solvent. Sometimes engaging in therapy to talk about the problem may help as well, which is why group therapy is fairly popular, and often offered at local clinics or church events.
For more serious cases, cognitive therapy may be applied or antidepressants may be prescribed as deemed necessary by a mental health provider. Usually, a series of different therapies are tried first, from the simpler ones to the more invasive ones, to see what works. There are no side effects to taking up art or music or cognitive therapy, but some depression medications can have side effects which should be avoided if possible.
Oftentimes people can work through depression in a personal manner, but there’s no shame in reaching out for help. You should consider seeking the opinion of a qualified doctor, therapist, or mental health professional if your situation if it lingers more than a few weeks. Depression is the number one cause of suicides and if untreated, can lead to other health problems or at the very least, an unhappy life. That’s why it’s important to take an honest assessment of what you’re going through and seek a professional opinion from a qualified Mental Health Professional or Psychiatrist when in doubt.