Coping With Depression

You Life’s Not Over

sadness

What Is Depression?

It’s impossible to escape life’s ups and downs. Feeling unhappy or sad in response to the disappointment, loss and frustration of a divorce is normal. Many people use the word “depression” to explain these kinds of feelings, but that is really situational depression, which is a normal reaction to events around us.  Clinical depression, though, overwhelms and engulfs your day to day life, interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. It is unwavering, with little if any relief.

Accept Your Feelings

Many people in society view depression as a sign of weakness and excessive emotion. This is especially true with men. Depressed men are less likely than women to acknowledge feelings of self-loathing and hopelessness. How is depression expressed in men? Frequently, it comes out in more “socially acceptable” forms. Anger, aggression, reckless behavior and violence, along with substance abuse, can be signs of an underlying depression. You might hear complaints about fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, and loss of interest or sudden excessive interest in work and hobbies. Even though depression rates for women are twice as high as those in men, men are a higher suicide risk, especially older men.

Don’t Give Up

Suicidal thoughts are a symptom of severe depression, and must always be taken seriously. If someone you know is threatening suicide or talking of wanting to hurt him/herself, seek professional help right away. If you are feeling suicidal, know that there are many people who want to support you during this difficult time, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Reach out for help.

If you are considering suicide see Coping with Suicidal Thoughts and Feelings or call 1-800-273-TALK now!

Getting Better

Over the past few years, doctors have made lots of progress in dealing with clinical depression, and they now believe that almost all people who suffer from it can be helped.

• Medication – One important way that doctors fight depression is through medicines called anti-depressants. There are many different kinds of anti-depressants, and each one works a little bit differently. These medicines are not right for everybody, but if your doctor decides to try them to treat your depression, they can make a big difference. They are not “happy pills” that magically turn you into someone new, but they can help balance out the chemicals in your body and, hopefully, take away some of the worst parts of sadness or anxiety.

• Therapy – Another very important part of treating depression is therapy. Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors are men and women trained to talk to people about the things that are bothering them, and help them find ways to work out their feelings. By talking about your feelings, you will begin to understand them more, and once you understand them, you can begin to control them better or get past them. A therapist is someone who will listen when you have things to say and try to answer any questions you might have about what you’re dealing with. Therapists are people you can trust, who you can talk to about anything and everything that’s on your mind. Because they have lots of training and experience, it’s likely that they’ve already dealt with other kids who have gone through the same thing. Whether you understand what’s causing your depression or not, talking about it is key to getting better.
  

• Exercise – It sounds so simple, but it’s true. Doctors often suggest regular exercise as part of treatment for depression. Why? Exercise — and that’s ANY kind of exercise that gets your body moving and heart pumping — helps release “good” hormones to the brain which will boost someone’s mood. Talk to your doctor about how this can help you with depression. Of course, exercise also helps you feel better even if you’re just feeling a little sad or down. It’s one of the quickest and easiest ways to bounce back from the blues!