Many people believe that being depressed means that there is something wrong with you. The truth is that depression can happen to anyone, and anyone can learn effective techniques for dealing with depression. However rather than searching for an immediate fix for depression, it is important to recognise that each person experiences these feelings differently, and there is no standard generic experience of depression. Likewise, there is no standard cure.
In this article we will talk about some of the methods for dealing with depression that people use, such as becoming mindful of their feelings, self care, and changing negative thinking. However it is important to remember that rather than seeing these approaches are solutions it is best to see them as potential tools that someone who is depressed might be able to use in their own way for their own benefit.
It is it fall into the trap of thinking that something is wrong of us when we experience depression. Some people believe that they are the depression, so to speak. I believe an essential step in overcoming depressing feelings is learning to recognise that you are not just the depression. In fact, you are an individual and worthwhile person, who is presently overwhelmed by the feeling of depression. Separating our identity from our feelings is one of the first crucial steps to finding freedom from depression.
In terms of self care, some research studies have found that exercising three times per week and looking after your diet can be even more effective than using antidepressant medication. The amount that we look after our bodies has a direct link to the health of our minds. Therefore, a large part of treating depression can start in the body.
People who experience depression may find that their perspective of the world and themselves is more often negative than positive. This perpetuation of negative thinking is often selective rather than realistic and can often make negative feelings originating from depression worse. An essential step that many psychologists recommend is changing the way we think about the world and ourselves to be less harsh on ourselves.
In this article we spoke about free factors that are important for dealing with depression – learning to distinguish between who we are and what we feel, taking care of ourselves, and working towards changing our perspective about ourselves and the world. Although these techniques are generally helpful, remember that everyone experiences depression differently, and there is no ultimate single solution for depression out there.
Find out more about dealing with depression, on Alexander De Foe’s HubPage article about methods of dealing with depression which discusses this subject at greater length.