With the ups and downs of life (not to mention the holidays!) come lots of emotions. One of them can be times of sadness which is perfectly normal, but when does sadness fall into depression? Do you feel like you are depressed or are your friends saying you might be depressed? If so, you are not alone. Depression is a common problem but there is also a lot more help with depression than you may realize.
To begin, what is depression and how do you know if you have it? It is hard to say since it affects everyone differently. There are some basic similarities though. It can come on subtly or with an overwhelming trauma. It can even come on with a memory.
Depression can come on and you may not even notice it. Because it comes on slowly, little by little it may have taken it's toll with you unaware. It is similar to the way we don't notice how much our kids have grown but a distant relative who doesn't see the child everyday notices the growth spurt significantly. So is depression unnoticed by the person experiencing it. You see it everyday yet it goes by unnoticed.
Anxiety, fear, sadness, and pain are all the beginning stages of what can lead into depression. It slowly becomes worse and become severe. Sleeping, eating, basic everyday tasks is a challenge. You may feel numb or unmoved and your weight may change one way or another. Your concentration is nil and you avoid groups, social activities and become more alone.
Things that you used to do at one time are no longer enjoyable. Easy jobs are avoided and simple things like opening the mail, answering phone calls or daily chores become monumental.
First, what does depression feel like? It is hard to pinpoint the feelings of depression because many people experience it differently. Some basic similarities are: 1. You are experiencing feelings of consistent irritability, sadness or anger. 2. Nothing seems interesting or fun anymore. 3. You feel bad about yourself feeling worthless, guilty and "wrong" or you don't fit in. 4. Your sleeping habits are all messed up. You sleep too much or not enough. 5. You have a lot of unexplained headaches or other physical problems. 6. You cry easily. 7. Your weight is different. You are either losing or gaining without any effort. 8. Your concentration is poor and your work habits are poor. 9. You are helpless and hopeless and your general outlook on life is negative. 10. You may be thinking about death or suicide or some way to escape. Second, if you have thoughts of suicide or have a tendency to want to escape, what do you do with those thoughts and what answers are there if you are feeling them? Sometimes these thoughts can be scary and overwhelming. If you feel you are thinking in this way, and do not see any solutions you should get help right away. When in this state of emotions it is hard to talk to others, but it is well worth it to reach out to a pastor or counselor in your area to talk through your thoughts and feelings and to get a professional, objective opinion and help!
Talk to Someone about your depression. Just talking to a counselor, someone that is sworn to confidentiality, can really ease a lot of the stress and irrational thoughts that come with depression. Things may seem hopeless, but rarely are.
When you write a diary, or journal or a note to yourself, you can help mend those negative feelings in your head. It is therapeutic to take those thoughts out and have them in front of you on paper to read. If you are concerned someone may read them, throw them away. It is still going to benefit you by allowing you to see more objectively. Soon, by doing this, healing takes place say the one's who have experienced this first hand. It also helped them love themselves again once they spent some time getting those hurt feelings out in the forefront.
Identify your thoughts, emotions, and actions. This is a simple exercise used in counseling. This is where you take one issue that is bothering you and break it down into 4 categories. You must keep it to one issue.
First, describe the situation. For example, I am angry that my husband is late again for dinner.
Second, write about your thoughts of what happened. For example, "if he loved me he would not have been late."
Third, write down things you are actually feeling. Your emotions of hurt, sadness, fear of abandonment, guilty, etc. Or write a sentence like, "I am angry because he acts like he doesn't care about me as much as his career."
Finally, explain on paper the path you are choosing to act out. For example, I am choosing to isolate myself because it makes me feel better about myself. The honesty in which you do this will unveil a heart you can view and start to heal.
Those that chose the path to end their lives yet failed were sharing how they became hopeful only after their thoughts were shared and they grew to understand the depression. They realized their feelings were temporary and easier to deal with.
You have heard that time heals but only if you are healing. Time can make your heart harder and you become more and more withdrawn and indifferent. Take the challenge to help your healing grow stronger.
PS. If your depression has gotten to the point where you are having thoughts of ending your life, please call 911 and get some help immediately. Or call a counselor, who will know how to help.
To begin, what is depression and how do you know if you have it? It is hard to say since it affects everyone differently. There are some basic similarities though. It can come on subtly or with an overwhelming trauma. It can even come on with a memory.
Depression can come on and you may not even notice it. Because it comes on slowly, little by little it may have taken it's toll with you unaware. It is similar to the way we don't notice how much our kids have grown but a distant relative who doesn't see the child everyday notices the growth spurt significantly. So is depression unnoticed by the person experiencing it. You see it everyday yet it goes by unnoticed.
Anxiety, fear, sadness, and pain are all the beginning stages of what can lead into depression. It slowly becomes worse and become severe. Sleeping, eating, basic everyday tasks is a challenge. You may feel numb or unmoved and your weight may change one way or another. Your concentration is nil and you avoid groups, social activities and become more alone.
Things that you used to do at one time are no longer enjoyable. Easy jobs are avoided and simple things like opening the mail, answering phone calls or daily chores become monumental.
First, what does depression feel like? It is hard to pinpoint the feelings of depression because many people experience it differently. Some basic similarities are: 1. You are experiencing feelings of consistent irritability, sadness or anger. 2. Nothing seems interesting or fun anymore. 3. You feel bad about yourself feeling worthless, guilty and "wrong" or you don't fit in. 4. Your sleeping habits are all messed up. You sleep too much or not enough. 5. You have a lot of unexplained headaches or other physical problems. 6. You cry easily. 7. Your weight is different. You are either losing or gaining without any effort. 8. Your concentration is poor and your work habits are poor. 9. You are helpless and hopeless and your general outlook on life is negative. 10. You may be thinking about death or suicide or some way to escape. Second, if you have thoughts of suicide or have a tendency to want to escape, what do you do with those thoughts and what answers are there if you are feeling them? Sometimes these thoughts can be scary and overwhelming. If you feel you are thinking in this way, and do not see any solutions you should get help right away. When in this state of emotions it is hard to talk to others, but it is well worth it to reach out to a pastor or counselor in your area to talk through your thoughts and feelings and to get a professional, objective opinion and help!
Talk to Someone about your depression. Just talking to a counselor, someone that is sworn to confidentiality, can really ease a lot of the stress and irrational thoughts that come with depression. Things may seem hopeless, but rarely are.
When you write a diary, or journal or a note to yourself, you can help mend those negative feelings in your head. It is therapeutic to take those thoughts out and have them in front of you on paper to read. If you are concerned someone may read them, throw them away. It is still going to benefit you by allowing you to see more objectively. Soon, by doing this, healing takes place say the one's who have experienced this first hand. It also helped them love themselves again once they spent some time getting those hurt feelings out in the forefront.
Identify your thoughts, emotions, and actions. This is a simple exercise used in counseling. This is where you take one issue that is bothering you and break it down into 4 categories. You must keep it to one issue.
First, describe the situation. For example, I am angry that my husband is late again for dinner.
Second, write about your thoughts of what happened. For example, "if he loved me he would not have been late."
Third, write down things you are actually feeling. Your emotions of hurt, sadness, fear of abandonment, guilty, etc. Or write a sentence like, "I am angry because he acts like he doesn't care about me as much as his career."
Finally, explain on paper the path you are choosing to act out. For example, I am choosing to isolate myself because it makes me feel better about myself. The honesty in which you do this will unveil a heart you can view and start to heal.
Those that chose the path to end their lives yet failed were sharing how they became hopeful only after their thoughts were shared and they grew to understand the depression. They realized their feelings were temporary and easier to deal with.
You have heard that time heals but only if you are healing. Time can make your heart harder and you become more and more withdrawn and indifferent. Take the challenge to help your healing grow stronger.
PS. If your depression has gotten to the point where you are having thoughts of ending your life, please call 911 and get some help immediately. Or call a counselor, who will know how to help.
About the Author:
If you need Counseling on depressionfeel free to go to Chuck Sugar.com If you needfree worksheets that help that can help.
