Last update: 27 March, 2016
Being depressed is an unpleasant and painful feeling. You feel unmotivated, without energy, without the desire to be with other people. In addition to being desperate, feeling guilty, hopeless, hopeless and physically and mentally exhausted.
In these circumstances the way of thinking and seeing the world changes, which looks like a hostile and inhospitable place. Fear does not allow you to think clearly
You can regain control
Many people believe that depression can only be resolved with pills or specific treatment. However, to get to clinical depression, the situation must be very serious and a lot of time has to pass. If you are able to fight your depressive states in time, you can regain control and get through this phase.
Everyone goes through dark times. The problem is that it often doesn't seem appropriate to us to say that we feel bad, that we are depressed and sad. However, sadness is not negative, even if it is frowned upon. In any case, overcoming it or not is your choice, which you cannot leave in the hands of others or wait for it to pass by itself, as if it were a matter of luck.
Depression as a life lesson
Attitude towards life is something you learn, something cultural or socially related. Stereotypes, the education received from parents, the observation of what surrounds us or the beliefs we assimilate play a fundamental role in our way of acting.
If we add to this the stigma that depression presupposes for many, we are faced with a bomb, difficult to manage and defuse. To regain control, we must re-learn to be critical, learning new ways of behaving and reacting to circumstances, as well as loving ourselves.
How to help yourself if you are depressed
When it seems to you that everything is missing, it is easy to let go and medicine is often used. Medicines, however, do not solve your problems. When their effect passes, the problems will continue to be there; indeed, they could get worse. In any case, drug treatment must be prescribed by a specialist and accompanied by appropriate therapy.
You may not be able to control events, but you can decide what to do about their occurrence. Here are some strategies for overcoming depression that will help you feel better.
1 - Accept it
Do not be ashamed, and acknowledge that you are ill, to be sad, not to know what to do. You don't need to blurt it out from the rooftops, just accept it. It's natural, and there's nothing wrong with that.
There are those who will tell you not to cry, that nothing happens, and those who will console you with other clichés. But you have a right to feel this way, because you are like that. You don't have to be ashamed. Also, going through a bad time doesn't mean you're depressed.
It is you who must find the tools so that this does not happen and so that the situation does not get worse. In any case, the first step is to recognize how you feel.
2 - Don't focus on the negative things
Once you recognize that you are depressed, you can begin to free yourself. During depressive states, we tend to focus on negative things, as if they were permanent, and to view positive things as temporary and ephemeral. Now that you know, change your attitude.
If you feel bad, the bad things will occupy your mind. Do not focus on these, just let them pass, and try to discover what is around you, even if it may seem ephemeral and imperceptible. Show yourself grateful for the little things. This will help you not focus on the negative ones.
3 - Get moving
Depressive states invade us with great weight, which almost prevents us from moving and being active. We want to hide, but this attitude only fuels our negativity, and worsens our mood.
However, if we fight against this reaction and move, the depressive state will begin to fade. In fact, intense physical activity has been shown to be much more effective than drugs to combat depression, especially when practiced outdoors and in sunlight.
Physical activity not only helps us to oxygenate the brain, but also to produce hormones that make us feel good and that help us fight the effects of negativity and sadness, and fill us with energy.
4 - Practice techniques to manage stress
The accumulation of stress exhausts us to such an extent that it makes us feel depressed. We could say that a depressed brain is a stressed brain. In this sense, the depressive state would not be the result of negative thinking, but of the prolonged accumulation of negative and stressful thoughts.
For this, applying stress management techniques can be particularly beneficial in overcoming depression and get better in no time.
5 - Make decisions without thinking about why
Don't fall into the trap of trying to rationalize your feelings or how the following tips might help you. The reasons that led you to this state are indifferent. It's water under the bridge. Now you have to overcome it. Don't even try to understand how exercise or gratitude, or any other advice we've given you, can help you. Simply put it into practice. It sure won't hurt you.
In any case, it is normal for you to feel this way. The depressive state closes our minds and makes us distrustful. However, if you look deep into your heart, you will find a light that will tell you "try it, you have nothing to lose".
