Depression
At some point in our lives we have
all felt depressed. A sadness or an overwhelming feeling due to changes we
are experiencing, or even due to lack of change in our life.
These intense feelings can often
result in a difficulty to deal with even the basic functions of daily
life. Even things like brushing your teeth, hair or putting on clean
clothes can just be 'forgotten'.
The first step in dealing with your
depression is to recognise the symptoms. Common symptoms are :-
- inability to feel happiness
- not enjoying the things you used
to enjoy
- feeling tired, experiencing
insomnia
- feeling guilty
- feeling isolated (or isolating
yourself)
- feeling worthless
- lack of concentration
- being unable to make up your mind
- loss of appetite
- feeling irritable
- self harm
Starting to cope.
You do not have to resign yourself
to feeling depression. Although you may be lacking in energy to do much,
it is important to set a little bit of structure into your day.
Set yourself
just 5 simple tasks to complete every day, differing these tasks on a
daily basis. Ensuring you complete each of these tasks, can help you to
feel a sense of achievement, and can help you feel as though you are
gaining some control back into your life.
These 'tasks' can be simple. For
example.
- Reading a chapter of a book.
- Taking a 30 minute walk
- Cleaning a cupboard or a small
area (one that won't take more than 15-30 minutes)
- Writing a letter
- Telephoning a friend or family
member
- Taking a long bath, instead of a
shower
- Fixing something you've long put
off
- Eating a healthy meal (even a
small one)
- Meeting a friend for a coffee
- Visiting a friend
You should also try to ensure that
these tasks include things that have the potential to bring some fun
into your day. If you include 'chores' on your list, ensure that they are
small tasks which will not take too long to do. Clearing out the garage
could bring you down further, than say filling just ONE box with junk from
the garage.
Try to ensure at least one of the
tasks include something which will require you to expend some energy, even
if that is just a short walk. Try to find a purpose for that walk, for
example instead of taking the car to the shops, walk there.
Try to keep regular sleeping
patterns, if you can't sleep, then try to at least stay in bed for what
would be your usual sleeping time. This helps your body to relax and also
will stop you expending energy at night time which you will need the
following day.
Your emotions
If you want to cry, shout, scream -
do so. But please refrain from harming yourself or any material items in
the process. It is important that we allow ourselves to express our
emotions.
Try not to focus on the negative things. Keep a
notebook by your bed and each night, write down 5 things that you are
happy with, are grateful for, and your list of 5 things you'd like to be
grateful for. These could coincide with your to-do list.
Remember, it is NOT wrong to feel the way
you do.
Remember, it is NOT wrong to feel
the way you do. It is not wrong to feel guilty, sad, loss, regret, sorrow,
anger, fear.. Your feelings are ALWAYS valid.
Anyone who tells you to 'snap out of
it' needs a reality check themselves. But if you DO wish to snap out of
it, you need to try to do two things.
1/ Take small daily steps at putting
some structure and routine into your life.
2/ Look at the triggers, what caused
the depression.
Triggers
It is also a good idea to keep a
journal or diary, write down how you feel and why. Write down what
triggers a good day and what triggers a bad day.
Look back to a point where you were
NOT depressed and work forwards as to when, what and why this depression
started. It would have likely involved either a 'change' or
'inaction/boredom' in life.
Look at the times 'during' your
depression, where you were happy, where you laughed and find a way to
bring more of these moments into your life.
Look at all the things which hinder
your depression and try to avoid these moments in your life.
Often our depression lingers due to
unresolved issues. It is very important to try to find a way to resolve
these issues if you wish to make a speedy recovery.
Asking Questions
The following questions will be
useful to address in starting to unravel how you are feeling. Some will be
a clear NO. Other's will be a 'maybe', others will be a definite Yes. It
is important to work through the Yes and the MAYBE answers in further
detail.
Are you having trouble accepting something?
Are you acting/have you been acting selfishly?
Are you/have you been feeling superior?
Are your judgements based on facts?
Are you hoping for a different outcome to something?
Are you feeling alienated from someone or something?
Are you feeling let down with 'life' / unsatisfied?
Physical Effects of Depression
Depression effects our
crown chakra, Which governs Spirituality, Trust, Fulfilment, Truth, Peace &
Oneness.
Prolonged depression can lead to Parkinson's disease, Schizophrenia, Epilepsy, Senile dementia, Alzheimer's
and many mental disorders.
On a short term level, depression
can cause confusion (mental and physical), dizziness, and even just feeling as if
one has a muzzy head. Headaches at the crown of the head.
Recommended Reading - Depression.
Further website resources
