What is Depression?
Depression is a very common mental health problem. Everyone can feel down or depressed from time to time, but when this thing becomes persistent it can get across the way of our normal life.
Many of us tend to blame themselves for being depressed. They also tend to underestimate their problems and the stressors that lead to their depression. One might say: "John had same problems, but he didn't get depressed. He is stronger than me. I am weak. It is my fault."
It is important to know that it is never our fault to have depression. However, we can do a lot to make the needed change and overcome depression.
Many of us tend to blame themselves for being depressed. They also tend to underestimate their problems and the stressors that lead to their depression. One might say: "John had same problems, but he didn't get depressed. He is stronger than me. I am weak. It is my fault."
It is important to know that it is never our fault to have depression. However, we can do a lot to make the needed change and overcome depression.
Symptoms of Depression
Symptoms of depression can be divided into four categories. If you have many of these symptoms then you are more likely to be depressed.
1. Emotional Symptoms:
- Sadness especially in particular times of the day
- Guilt
- Irritability and anger
- Loss of interest in things that used to be interesting
- Crying all or most of the time or inability to cry
- Discouraged
- Feeling that tasks are so hard
- Sadness especially in particular times of the day
- Guilt
- Irritability and anger
- Loss of interest in things that used to be interesting
- Crying all or most of the time or inability to cry
- Discouraged
- Feeling that tasks are so hard
2. Thought Symptoms:
- Thoughts that one is of no use
- Thoughts that one cannot do required tasks
- Thoughts that tasks are extremely difficult
- Thinking that everything is hopeless
- Expecting the worst most of the times
- Thoughts that life isn’t worth living
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Thinking that our sadness is our destiny
- Thinking that we are sad people and we will be so forever
- Thoughts that we turned out to be this depressed person
- Thoughts that there are no solutions
- Thoughts that people dislike us
- Thinking that it is better to stay at home
- Thoughts that one is of no use
- Thoughts that one cannot do required tasks
- Thoughts that tasks are extremely difficult
- Thinking that everything is hopeless
- Expecting the worst most of the times
- Thoughts that life isn’t worth living
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Thinking that our sadness is our destiny
- Thinking that we are sad people and we will be so forever
- Thoughts that we turned out to be this depressed person
- Thoughts that there are no solutions
- Thoughts that people dislike us
- Thinking that it is better to stay at home
3. Physical Symptoms:
- Getting tired quickly and easily
- Restlessness
- Appetite changes (increased or decreased appetite)
- Sleeping changes (increased or decreased sleeping)
- Getting tired quickly and easily
- Restlessness
- Appetite changes (increased or decreased appetite)
- Sleeping changes (increased or decreased sleeping)
4. Behavioral Symptoms:
- Delaying decisions, or having difficulties to take them
- Delaying tasks and retreating from doing them
- Seeking loneliness
- Liking to stay at home
- Avoiding sports and physical activities
- Delaying decisions, or having difficulties to take them
- Delaying tasks and retreating from doing them
- Seeking loneliness
- Liking to stay at home
- Avoiding sports and physical activities
Thoughts and Depression
>> Thoughts have the main role in our depression. Gloomy thoughts contribute to increasing our depression, and escalating our sadness. These thoughts will generate feelings that will add to our depression. Actually these thoughts have only one role, making us sad.
>> Feelings are the natural results of our thoughts. If we have good thoughts, we will be happy. If we have negative thoughts we will naturally get sad. While it is impossible to change our feelings, it is very feasible that we change our thoughts.
>> Thoughts are not easily stopped or prevented. It is so hard that we stop thinking about something, but it is certainly very practicable that we force ourselves to think about something. Our "Depression" will always try to drive us away from our positive thoughts, and try to distract us. Our determination is the tool that will make us try even hundreds of times to think in good things.
>> Many of us mistakenly try to argue with thoughts. While this is always possible and can be beneficial in normal cases, it is not a tool that we can use in our fight with depression. On the contrary, arguing with thoughts is like offering the "certificate of validity" for depression.
>> When we are depressed, we tend to over generalize things. Failing in a task will mean that we are failures. We will also tend to exaggerate things, and reactions of people. A friend who was in a rush or had a problem and did not greet us will turn out to be an even that assures us that we are lonely, and friends do not like us anymore.
>> During depression, our thoughts appear to be so true, and we always tend to believe them. We will also think that we will always be depressed. Sometimes we try to think of our future, and we are not able to see anything good, and sometimes, we will not be able to see anything.
>> It is hard to believe this, but, believe it or not, you will get out of your depression in a matter of a few months if not treated.
Depression and Behavior
>> As we are depressed, our depression will tell us many things, and guide us to actions that contribute to worsening our depression and increasing our sadness and despair.
>> Many of the things that we used to do easily will appear hard to us. Our distress will tell us to delay, and will make us not do our tasks. This will revert back to us with additional sadness and lower our self esteem and worsen our view to our selves. So it is a key thing in our course of healing to work on not responding to what our distress asks us to do. You might find it hard in the beginning to do it, and your distress will tell you that this is hopeless and shall not work. These thoughts are normal to have while depressed. But do not et fooled. Try to do the opposite of what you distress is trying to tell you, and you will gain a lot on the long term.
>>Your distress will ask you as well to be lonely, sometimes to sit in the darkness alone. Your normal response is accepting such requests. More, you will not be able to differentiate between 'You' and 'The Disorder'. It is normal to get fooled, and cease seeing or being among people. You might think that you need to stay alone. This is not true. Do not get fooled! Just move on, no matter how difficult it is, and try hard to be with people, and see as much people as you can. Your mind might warn you from the consequences, so make sure to accept any of the results that you will fear. It will seem hard and unrealistic in the beginning, but act as if you believe that things will be ok, and they will turn out to be just ok in the near end.
>>Our distress will make us hesitant to make sports, and participate in physical activities. It will tell us even that we are not in the mood of doing such. Again, do not get fooled. Do sports ESPECIALLY when you do not feel like it. The most time you are in need of sports is when your mind tells you not to. Your mind will mistakenly tell you to rest, while it will be time for physical activity. In fact, making out, running, swimming, or doing a long fast walk alone is able to shift your mood without using any therapies.
Treatment of Depression
In order to download the guide that will help you in treating depression, click here.
In order to download the guide that will help you in treating depression, click here.
