Depression is a much more common illness than many people realize and affects two out of every ten people sometime during their lifetime. It can involve feelings of low self-esteem, hopelessness, exhaustion, insomnia and actual physical aliments. Feeling 'blue' can be considered a normal response to upsetting or difficult experiences, and these feelings will usually pass. Feeling down or completely out of energy for extended periods of time, however, is not normal.
Keep in mind that we often want to solve difficulties in life that we have no control over. It is important, in a preventative sense, to find ways of managing difficulties so those difficulties do not totally overwhelm our lives and rob us of vital life-energy.
Feeling Alone
Depression sometimes causes a person to withdraw from others. This, in turn, creates an ugly cycle of lessened self-worth, lowered confidence, and increased isolation from the outside world. "The world doesn't feel safe anymore and I can't stand to be out in public...," was something I heard from a client just recently. Fortunately, she realized that she needed to seek medical help and make some changes.
Alleviating Depression
First of all, if the blues have lingered for more than a few days, a visit to the doctor is in order to determine if you are clinically depressed. In addition to professional support, there are several self-help strategies that can be used to make life happier:
· Self care
Looking after general health can maximize the chances of feeling better sooner and is an important part of self care. It is difficult to feel an overall sense of well-being if sleep is disturbed or inadequate, or if the individual is avoiding healthy lifestyle habits.
· Physical exercise
Although depressed people often don't feel they have the energy to exercise, it is well documented that endorphins-which create positive feelings of well-being--are released into the body during exercise.
· Creative activities
Creative activities such as drawing, writing, or painting can lift the mood by giving a sense of release, control over one's time, and a sense of accomplishment.
· Reaching out
By contacting a friend or relative, individuals can engage with other "safe" people. A small but doable gesture for someone who is suffering from clinical depression may be that of sending a greeting card to someone they care about as a way of reaching out.
· Finding pleasure
Taking time for simple pleasures will often lighten and lift one's mood. Something as simple as buying a bouquet of fresh flowers, watching the sunset, or spending time with a pet can bring about a great deal of relief. "I forget to take time for me," is a common complaint among those who suffer from depression.
· Fake it till you make it
Occasionally, just acting as if one is happy and confident can have the effect of changing the down-and-out feelings. People around us react more positively to a person who is more cheerful and upbeat.
By: Laura Garrison
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Keep in mind that we often want to solve difficulties in life that we have no control over. It is important, in a preventative sense, to find ways of managing difficulties so those difficulties do not totally overwhelm our lives and rob us of vital life-energy.
Feeling Alone
Depression sometimes causes a person to withdraw from others. This, in turn, creates an ugly cycle of lessened self-worth, lowered confidence, and increased isolation from the outside world. "The world doesn't feel safe anymore and I can't stand to be out in public...," was something I heard from a client just recently. Fortunately, she realized that she needed to seek medical help and make some changes.
Alleviating Depression
First of all, if the blues have lingered for more than a few days, a visit to the doctor is in order to determine if you are clinically depressed. In addition to professional support, there are several self-help strategies that can be used to make life happier:
· Self care
Looking after general health can maximize the chances of feeling better sooner and is an important part of self care. It is difficult to feel an overall sense of well-being if sleep is disturbed or inadequate, or if the individual is avoiding healthy lifestyle habits.
· Physical exercise
Although depressed people often don't feel they have the energy to exercise, it is well documented that endorphins-which create positive feelings of well-being--are released into the body during exercise.
· Creative activities
Creative activities such as drawing, writing, or painting can lift the mood by giving a sense of release, control over one's time, and a sense of accomplishment.
· Reaching out
By contacting a friend or relative, individuals can engage with other "safe" people. A small but doable gesture for someone who is suffering from clinical depression may be that of sending a greeting card to someone they care about as a way of reaching out.
· Finding pleasure
Taking time for simple pleasures will often lighten and lift one's mood. Something as simple as buying a bouquet of fresh flowers, watching the sunset, or spending time with a pet can bring about a great deal of relief. "I forget to take time for me," is a common complaint among those who suffer from depression.
· Fake it till you make it
Occasionally, just acting as if one is happy and confident can have the effect of changing the down-and-out feelings. People around us react more positively to a person who is more cheerful and upbeat.
By: Laura Garrison
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
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