| Having discussed the types of depression and | | | | genuinely connected) separately. A way of |
| the possible cause, in the previous article, | | | | doing this is to think of each problem as |
| it now seems appropriate to discuss how | | | | having a separate box in your mind that you |
| sufferers can help themselves. Remembering | | | | keep them in. Then decide to only tackle or |
| that help for chronic, clinical and manic | | | | think about opening one box at a time in |
| depression should be sought from your doctor. | | | | order to tackle them one at a time.Now this |
| Indeed it is your doctor who would diagnose | | | | does not mean that you have to see through |
| these types of depression and so even if you | | | | one problem to completion until you tackle |
| feel you have mild depression it is still | | | | the other problem. It means that you think |
| important to seek your doctor's help | | | | about and take action on one problem, take it |
| first.Causes and Solutions to Depression | | | | as far as you can and then start on the other |
| | | | problem. You may have to take a number of |
| Some of the possible causes of depression | | | | bites at a problem before it is dealt with. |
| have already been listed. The list is not | | | | Some problems may involve waiting for others |
| definitive but it is a useful start. If you | | | | to do something and come back to you before |
| know the cause of something then at least you | | | | you can do the next step in resolving it.It |
| have a target for your energies and focus. So | | | | can help to have a separate notepad for each |
| if the cause of your depression is work | | | | problem. Then write down the main points of |
| related, then this should be the focus of | | | | the problem. Write down the realistic outcome |
| your energies with the aim of reducing or | | | | you would like. Then write down the steps you |
| completely eliminating the cause.In very few | | | | need to tale for that outcome to be realised. |
| instances do matters change through inaction. | | | | Again keeping a note of any dates and |
| If you do nothing about something than that | | | | interactions you have with anyone. You may |
| also tends to be the result, nothing. Taking | | | | need to combine your notepad with a diary to |
| positive action can produce benefits on a | | | | remind you have a future date for further |
| number of fronts such as: -1) You feel better | | | | action.Keeping unrelated problems separate in |
| because you are doing something as opposed to | | | | your mind by thinking of them as being stored |
| just accepting your situation. | | | | in separate boxes can ease the sense of being |
| | | | unable to cope. Then tackling them one at a |
| 2) Doing something or taking action means | | | | time can boost your confidence as you start |
| that it is more likely that there will be a | | | | to take manageable bites out of each.No one |
| change in the situation. | | | | eats a piazza in one bite. Now one goes from |
| | | | one floor to the next floor in one step. Each |
| 3) Your options automatically increase if | | | | bite or step you take are small enough to be |
| you take action because in doing so you are | | | | manageable and yet you know with each one |
| looking at what choices you have. Looking for | | | | that you are getting closer to finishing.If |
| something, whether that is your options or | | | | you need professional help then seek it out. |
| something else, means you will discover more | | | | You cannot know how to do everything and an |
| than if you just did nothing. | | | | expert might know how to resolve easily what |
| | | | for you has seemed complex.To summarise: - |
| 4) The feeling of being trapped starts to | | | | |
| dissolve as you realise the only person | | | | 1) Focus your energies on the cause |
| keeping you trapped is you.Even if the action | | | | |
| you take is to discuss the situation with a | | | | 2) If you need to unload, tell a good friend |
| close friend, partner or relative at least | | | | about it |
| you get a chance to let it out. Often this by | | | | |
| itself will help you feel better.Changing the | | | | 3) Keep different problems separate from |
| Feeling of being Overwhelmed or Unable to | | | | each other in your mind |
| Cope | | | | |
| | | | 4) Write down the steps you need to take to |
| People with depression talk about feeling | | | | resolve the problems |
| overwhelmed or unable to cope with what has | | | | |
| happened in their life. Often this occurs | | | | 5) Remember one step at a time |
| when more than one of the major areas in a | | | | |
| person's life produces a problem.You might | | | | 6) Don't be too proud to seek professional |
| say that there are 5 major areas in a | | | | help with any steps you have to take.Exercise |
| person's life: -1) Health and well-being | | | | of any sort is a useful addition to getting |
| | | | back control of your life. Whether it is |
| 2) Work (or anything that occupies your | | | | swimming, running or even line dancing, do |
| time) | | | | make sure your physical body gets exercised. |
| | | | For when we exercise the body a number of |
| 3) The personal relationship with another | | | | positive things happen: -1) The 'feel good' |
| person (wife, husband, partner) | | | | hormones are released lighting our mood |
| | | | |
| 4) The home (rented or bought, living with | | | | 2) Any stress or tension is released from |
| relatives, friends) | | | | the muscles |
| | | | |
| 5) Anything else (wider family, friends, | | | | 3) Our sleep is likely to be improved |
| social aspects etc.If you get a problem in | | | | |
| one area of your life then you can probably | | | | 4) Energy levels will increase |
| cope. If you get another problem at the same | | | | |
| time as the first issue and both of these | | | | 5) You will feel healthier |
| last for some time then this is when a person | | | | |
| may start to feel overwhelmed, unable to cope | | | | 6) Your motivation levels will |
| and therefore depressed.A change of how you | | | | increase.Lastly, but by no means least, find |
| view your situation when you have more than | | | | a relaxation regime that works for you and |
| one problem is the first thing to do if you | | | | you enjoy. This might be meditation, yoga, |
| feel overwhelmed. Often the feeling of being | | | | self hypnosis or any practice that helps with |
| overwhelmed happens because you are viewing | | | | stress release will be more than helpful. You |
| the two (or more) problems as one. You then | | | | can learn meditation from books or cds. |
| may start to think and say that everything is | | | | Likewise self hypnosis can be easy to enjoy |
| wrong with your life and even good news may | | | | from an appropriately titled self hypnosis |
| be turned into negative news.So start by | | | | cd.Above all else, be kind to yourself. |
| keeping the problems (unless they are | | | | |