Turn these 3 Depression Mistakes into 3 Depression Triumphs!
If you are depressed right now the last thing you need to hear is that you're doing something wrong - right? I know, believe me, I know.
When you're depressed you already feel like a big fat failure.
I confess that I am using the word 'MISTAKES' for two reasons.
One reason really is to help you and the other is to get your attention.
DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION?
So let me ask you this question.
Do you want to get better? Do you even believe it is possible that you could get better?
You must think there is some hope or else you wouldn't be reading this blog, right?
If your goal is to get better then avoiding these three mistakes will move you closer to recovery.
1.ISOLATION
The natural response to depression is to stay home, stay alone, don't call anyone, cancel all social engagements, don't get help.
If you have undiagnosed depression, if you have never sought help, you may think that your symptoms will go away, eventually. You are a little afraid that if you tell someone they may judge you for having such weird thoughts or being so weak. You are afraid that they won't understand and cause you to will feel even worse. And so you keep it to yourself.
If you have endured depression on and off for a long time and you have hit yet another depressive episode, you don't want to bother telling anyone either. You imagine that your friends are sick of hearing about it. (Hey you are sick of talking about it!) You figure there is no point talking to your doctor - again! Hey, if he had a solution wouldn't he have tried it by now?
However, this mistake, isolation, could actually make your depression worse.
"In depression, social isolation typically serves to worsen the illness and how we feel," Ilardi says. "Social withdrawal amplifies the brain's stress response. Social contact helps put the brakes on it."
2. INDULGENCE
When you are depressed you don't feel like doing anything. Just getting up in the morning is a huge effort.
From the bed to the kitchen to eat anything handy and comforting, from the kitchen to the couch to turn on the TV and just veg.
Going outside is an effort, going to the gym or to visit a friend, out of the question!
But before you stay glued to that couch forever you need to read something about Untreated Depression.
3. IGNORANCE
'Ignorance is bliss' has a lot of truth to it. Burying our head in the sand is tempting when depressed. Why we can hardly get out of bed let alone pick up a book or read some articles about depression which may enlighten or even help us.
But 'what you don't know won't hurt you' is just totally a lie when it comes to depression. The truth is that 'what you don't know will hurt you'.
But I can see however, that you are not making the 'IGNORANCE' mistake because you are reading this right?
Okay, lets turn those same mistakes into triumphs! Ready?
1. ISOLATION
Now you know why isolation is a mistake. So how do you turn that mistake into a triumph?
Tell someone, a trusted friend, caring family member, someone else you know who has experienced depression, or your doctor, a helpline, or even go to the emergency room of your hospital. Don't give up. If the first person you try is no help, go to the next on your list and keep going until you get someone who is willing to help and/or just listen to you.
Attending crowded noisy social events is probably not the best choice, but how about something simple like going to the store or post office or library
3. IGNORANCE
Choosing to learn more about this complicated illness can help you on so many levels.
'Knowledge is power' is true!
Power makes you feel less victimized by your condition.
How does that work?
Those options make you feel freer, less victimized, and that gives you more power.
Reading about depression will give you more understanding of what you are going through and tips on how to manage it. Reading about other people's experiences of recovery will give you hope and make you feel less alone.
All good right?
So are you ready to turn your
ISOLATION into CONNECTION
INDULGENCE into ACTIVITY
IGNORANCE into POWER?
WHAT ABOUT YOU? How are you feeling today? Are you seeing some good reasons right now to NOT isolate, indulge or stay ignorant? Are you encouraged to try some of those easy steps to stop isolating, indulging or burying your head in the sand?
Don't give up! There is hope for depression.
