Today, more and more often you can hear the phrase:I have depression. Does everyone know what it is? Let's try to figure out what kind of animal it is and how to fight depression. After all, without knowing these features, treating depression will be like fighting windmills. We will tell you how to fight depression on your own. After all, unfortunately, not all people agree to seek help from a specialist.
What is depression?
Depression is a mental disorder andhas certain signs. Therefore, before looking for an answer to the question of how to deal with depression, make sure that it is indeed it. Symptoms of depression include:
- A depressed mood that does not depend on the circumstances and persists for two weeks or more;
- Lack of interest in any events;
- Increased fatigue and "decline of strength", which lasts steadily for a month.
- Insomnia or, on the contrary, excessive drowsiness;
- Thoughts of suicide and death;
- Low self-esteem;
- A groundless feeling of fear and guilt,
- Increased anxiety;
- Increased appetite or a decrease in appetite;
- Low concentration and inability to make decisions.
- Depression can be a response to stimuli –external events that occur in a person's life. As a rule, these events are negative - the loss of a loved one, a change in social status, loss of a job - which lead to a feeling of sadness and hopelessness. Everything around becomes gloomy, and many events are simply distorted to exaggerate their sadness.
Such depressions are called reactive.And any of us will involuntarily begin to worry, seeing a person dear to us lying on a bed facing the wall, who leads an almost vegetative existence. And the question arises - how to fight depression?
What do we have to do?
Many psychosomatic diseases beginprecisely because of the emotions driven inside. In such states of your loved one, you can simply be present next to him, even silently. And this will be a serious support and consolation. The person will see that you are nearby and ready to come to the rescue. Sometimes this is enough to help a person get out of depression. For a person in any state, the support of loved ones and friends is important. Sometimes it is important to say out loud what happened. And also to voice all the fears and worries associated with this. And it is in your power to listen carefully to the person. It is imperative to maintain contact and relationships with the person, even if they are stalled at the moment. Most often, communication with the family is reduced to a minimum. At work, a person still tries to maintain contact, at home there is simply not enough moral strength. Whatever happens, it is very important to make the person understand that the loss of a job or social status is not the end of life. A person must understand that losing his job does not make him less valuable and dear in your eyes. Sometimes it is this fear and concern that he has become worthless that is the trigger for the onset of depression. It is also important to draw a person's attention to the positive things that are in a person's life now, though without unnecessary pathos. Excessive affectation will definitely catch the eye, because depression does not deprive a person of the ability to think. And such attempts to support a person can lead to a completely opposite result. Feigned cheerfulness and vigor in the presence of a patient, retelling gossip will not help either. It is important to remember that during depression, a sense of humor often disappears. When communicating with a person who is depressed, it is very useful to encourage and encourage his creative self-expression in any form. Physical activity also helps very well, which almost always raises and improves mood and gives additional energy, so necessary and absent in people suffering from depression. Scientists have noticed that people who do aerobics come out of a state of depression much faster than those who do not do any kind of sports. The choice of physical activities is huge now. You can always find something to your taste, whether to go to the gym for group classes or to work out at home alone, the choice is only yours. It could be just walking – a stroll down the street.
What can not be done?
Now let's try to figure out whatshould not be done under any circumstances. Firstly, you should not let the person lie in bed or go to bed early, and also leave him alone for a long time. Although this is the desire that people with depression most often express, "to hide in a corner somewhere and for everyone to leave you alone." There is no point in appealing and appealing to the will of the patient, uttering platitudes like "pull yourself together" and that "pull yourself together, you can do it" because most often the patient cannot do this, and with these words you will simply add to his feelings of guilt and failure. Reproaches and comments are not what is appropriate for this situation. The person most likely already treats himself as a loser.
Additional treatments for depression
There are also the following effective methods of treating depression, which are successfully used by psychologists. However, they are also quite feasible at home.
- Light therapy
One of the simple and inexpensive methods of treatmentdepression is when a person simply goes outside to the sunlight or looks at the sunrise. Doctors talk about what is good to do after waking up in the morning.
- Music therapy
This is treatment with musical works.A sick person can take a passive position of a simple listener or a more active position – singing along or playing an instrument, dancing to music or even drawing music.
- Meditation
Techniques that allow a person to control their emotions and develop control over their thoughts. Meditations are recommended to combat stress, to relieve tension.
- Aromatherapy
Helps relieve mental fatigue and helpsrestore sleep. Rose, chamomile, basil and jasmine oils are recommended. So, now you know what depression is and how to fight it. But remember that if the patient’s health does not improve within a week, you need to seek help from a psychologist or psychotherapist. After all, depression is not just a bad mood. Depression is a serious illness that can lead to very sad consequences. We recommend reading:
