Depression

Our lives can be really tough and it’s perfectly normal to feel sad or irritable every now and then. But if these feelings don’t go away or become so intense that you feel overwhelmingly hopeless and helpless, you may be suffering from depression.

First and foremost, what is depression?

Depression is a serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and unimportant and often is unable to live in a normal way.

Depression involves sadness, pessimism, a preoccupation with personal problems, and perhaps feeling sorry for one's self, anguish, crying, and hopelessness. Depressed people often lose interest in many activities and social contacts because of loss of pleasure in and enthusiasm for their usual activities. They may become apathetic or socially withdrawn. Low energy, chronic tiredness, excessive sleeping, and insomnia are common. Other possible symptoms of depression include poor appetite, heavy eating, weight loss or gain, feelings of inadequacy or worthlessness, anxiety, regrets, decreased productivity, poor concentration, or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Depression may occur without any loss or great stress to trigger it. However, Personal problems often lead to depression. The chronic use of alcohol or other drugs often leads to mood swings, personal problems, and depression. Using alcohol or other drugs to improve your mood is especially risky because addictive substances often intensify pre-existing mood or personality problems. Even prescribed medications may lead to severe depression.

Many factors increase the risk of developing or triggering depression, including: Having issues that negatively impact self-esteem, such as obesity, peer problems, long-term bullying or academic problems. Having been the victim or witness of violence, such as physical or sexual abuse

However, there are effective ways to overcome depression. Fortunately, we can control our thoughts and feelings much more than most people realize. With enough work and effort, you can change habitual thoughts and feelings.

First, find motivation. Of course, depressed people often find it very difficult to motivate themselves and often reject new interests and activities without trying them or after one attempt. Instead, it may take time to become accustomed to a new activity and for interest and pleasure to grow. You may need to learn to relax in the new situation or to develop some skill before you can learn to enjoy it. Don't reject new activities before giving them a chance. Try any new activity at least several times, with an open mind. Motivate yourself with rewards for engaging in new activities and getting things done. Ask friends and family members to help motivate you, too.

Second, keep positive attitude. Depressed people tend to minimize their accomplishments, talents, and qualities. Their thinking habits focus on or exaggerate problems and faults and minimize or fail to see the good things in their lives. Instead of always looking negative things, try to look at bright side of each life. Happy people experience failure, negative emotion, rejection and disappointments but they keep a positive attitude by gracefully accepting sadness and suffering as normal parts of life, while doing what they can about their problems.

Third, Change your environment. Maybe because of your environment that's why you're experiencing depression. You're surrounded by judgemental and bad people that may cause or trigger your depression. Instead of sticking to your unhealthy environment, Choose a different one, surround yourself with a good and healthy friends. Having someone to talk to and release all the emotions that you are going through is a big factor of overcoming depression. What you really need is a person who will understand you, encourages you, and motivate you to do something that will keep you away from your the negativities that surrounds your thoughts. Also it doesn't mean you have to rely on them, of course you have to help yourself too.

Lastly, Seek professional help. Living with depression can be difficult, but treatment can help improve your quality of life. Talk to your healthcare provider about possible options.