What is Depression?
Mental health has always been a troubling and sensitive topic for many, and now we’re gonna talk about a specific type of mental health problem called depression. Overcoming Depression has always been a struggle because of its many key contributors and causes. It has three classifications, mild depression, moderate depression, and severe depression. It is a condition that negatively affects your emotions, your thoughts, your actions, and your cognitive abilities. It doesn’t pick a target, age groups affected are mostly the young adult.
Depression also comes in numerous types which include perinatal depression, postpartum depression, and clinical depression. It commonly causes sadness, loss of interest in everything you’re used to doing, physical and mental health fatigue, eating disorders, and feelings of worthlessness which can cause self-harm or suicide. Depression is also associated with other mental disorders such as anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, and seasonal affective disorder.
Intro to Modern Day Depression
Depression or any kind of mental health condition in today’s generation is broad because of its wide range of causes and victims. Stress and irresponsible self-care are common nowadays because of the continuously shifting/changing work/study environments. People often neglect themselves in order to squeeze in more time for their work or studies, people also often ignore the red flags in a working/studying environment, both of which can trigger mental and cognitive fatigue that may lead to depression. More major contributors to depression are the upsurge of social media and its different platforms and communities, and the home environment.
Is Depression prevalent nowadays?
Mental health issues haven’t been always accepted until the early 21st century and that means mental illness/depression treatment didn’t exist back then, and it is now that people started to muster their courage to express themselves and their struggles with their mental health conditions and its symptoms. It is now that we started encouraging people that it is okay to open up on these kinds of issues that revolve around themselves, which may seem that depression is prevalent nowadays, but the truth is we only started to handle these conditions because it is real, normal, and people started accepting it.
How do you know if you have Depression?
Common depression symptoms are sometimes overlooked because of its connections with what you are usually feeling and sometimes vice versa. If you don’t want to go to a professional physically, we suggest taking an online diagnosis test provided by professionals from Mental Health America. This test will outline your personal information, usual emotions, thoughts, mental state, and symptoms of a possible depressive disorder for the past days and will provide you with accurate information about what you are experiencing.
Why people don’t seek treatment for Depression
A person suffering from depression or any kind of mental illness often avoid professional help and health care/therapy because they often feel like a burden or other possible reasons, this tendency is also one of the many symptoms of depression, cases of people with social anxiety having depression is also common and normal, the price of antidepressant medication are also one of the reasons why people avoid treatments.
People who struggle opening up their feelings also avoid professional treatment and often keep it to themselves until it’s too late. People who are from a “low health equity” society or community are more overlooked because of low opportunities. Sadly, some people from older generations also don’t realize that they are having symptoms because of their beliefs and what they’re used to back in their days.
5 self-help solutions in overcoming depression
We suggest these 5 solutions which are proven to be effective on helping overcome depression symptoms and managing depression itself, the only requirement is yourself and nothing else. It’s time to stop worrying about everything around you and start worrying about your mental health. These solutions will help you alleviate and slowly overcome depression if you are ever one of the people who don’t like or want to seek mental health professional treatment/help.
Do not be Afraid
There is nothing to be scared of, people who are really close to you will always be willing to listen if you open up to them, and in today’s generation, it is more likely that they’re your closest friends. This will help you feel less vulnerable to manifestations of negative thought and anxiety attacks, releasing all your bottled up emotions to your friends, relatives or your loved one/s will make you feel more valid and worthy. Letting them know about your mental health condition also gives them an opportunity to offer help and support that can lead to suicide prevention.
Make time for yourself
Never forget to get some time off and take care of yourself once in a while. Simple activities like cleaning your room/house, walking and playing with your pet, exercise, watering your plants, cooking and eating good food, and taking a walk can really leave a positive impact on your physical and mental health while reducing the tendencies of having negative thoughts, low mood, and other depression symptoms. It gives your mind some breathing room and helps it focus more on the beautiful side of life.
Socialize with your closest friends or relatives
Socializing can range from meet ups to online calls and chats, always remember that you are not alone in everything. This activity can improve your mood and lessen negative thinking which helps in controlling your stress levels, this will lessen or reduce depressive symptoms. Self isolation is one of the many contributors of depression and other mental health condition/s, it can be avoided by simply talking or texting with people you are comfortable with.
Try something new
One of the symptoms of depression is feeling tired of doing what you’re used to doing, now how about trying something new or incorporating lifestyle changes. This can reset a person’s productive juices and improve his/her overall well-being and can also exercise some unused parts of the brain which will reduce depressive symptoms. Examples are trying new food recipes, redesigning your room, and introducing new routines to what you’re used to.
Journaling
Writing down your experiences the whole day will help a depressed person organize his/her thoughts, feelings, and his/her overall behavioral health. It is also a way to express yourself and allow you to understand yourself better and your condition’s symptoms. Journaling gives you a sense of security, trust, and peace of mind because you’re by yourself which will help you reflect and think.
Find Hope with Milestone Health and Wellness
Get back on your feet with Milestone Health and Wellness, where we provide quality care that matters. We offer customizable services that cater to your needs while focusing on your mental and cognitive development.