Help With Depression
By: Clarice Stout, MA
Depression can have different symptoms such as low mood, irritability, fatigue, sadness, feelings of hopelessness, crying spells, and others as well. Depression can also differ depending on the level of functioning that the symptoms make the person feel. Here below are some reminders and tools that can help with depression. Tool number one is to reach out and get support, because getting support is important in overcoming depression. For someone with depression it may feel hard to reach out to loves ones, but reaching out is not a sign of weakness it can help in so many ways! Being connected with friends or family can boost your mood and can make a difference in your outlook.
Another tool is doing things that you like and that make you feel better/good. Even though with depression it can feel hard to do things you once liked you may find it surprising that you may feel better after you get back out there doing something you like whether its going out with friends, walking, working out, or even going to a store. Tool number three would be to support your health in all ways that you can such as getting enough sleep or having a sleep schedule, check in with yourself about stress, practice mindfulness, and relaxation techniques, and it never hurts to have a checkup with you doctor for your overall psychical health.
Tool number four would be to build a list of things that can be a quick mood booster and really help with your self-care. Things to add to that self-care list might be to take a long hot shower, watch a positive movie, listen to music, or simply do what works for you! Tool number five as a recommendation would be to go outside and get some sunlight. There have been many studies of how sunlight in appropriate time limitations can boost our overall health. Lastly, tool number six would be to challenge any negative thoughts in a way that works for you. One way to challenge those thoughts that don’t serve you is question those thoughts back such as, “where is the proof that this thought is true? And or not true?”, “are there other ways I can look at this?”. Professional help with a therapist can also help in many ways to decrease and treat depressive symptoms. You are never alone and asking for help at any time is very powerful. Depression can look and feel different for everyone, so do not be afraid to ask questions about your mental health!
Written by: CLARICE STOUT, MA, IS A REGISTERED ASSOCIATE MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST #107743, WORKING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF DR. KARLA HEREDIA, PSYD, LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST 92394.