Maintaining the Right Mindset
Learning how to deal with depression is difficult. However, keeping the right mindset can make a significant difference. Keep reading to learn how I manage my depression.
The Struggle of Depression
It’s easy to get lost in depression when it hits. Not only are you suffering, but you also face misunderstandings from friends and family. They might call you lazy because they don’t understand. But you do, and that’s what matters.
Common Experiences with Depression
From my experience, two things always happen when depression strikes:
- I feel like crap, and it’s inevitable.
- This feeling manifests in many forms, such as:
- Mental pain
- Physical pain
- Fatigue
- Lack of caring
- No emotion
- Self-doubt
- Regret
- Intrusive thoughts
- Nausea
- Suicidal ideation
- Dizziness
This list is endless because depression is a stressor, causing numerous disruptions in the body. Symptoms manifest differently based on factors like weight, genetics, hormones, gender, or underlying causes.
The Reality of Fear
We forget that it’s okay to be afraid. Fear often leads to poor, irrational choices, including self-harm or suicidal thoughts. Think about a specific time when you were afraid, like during a panic attack or when startled. Your reactions—fight, flight, or freeze—are natural but can have severe consequences if misdirected.
The Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response
Imagine this: You’re listening to music with earbuds, crossing the street. A distracted driver speeds towards you. You look up in time to move but freeze in fear. If your flight response had kicked in instead, you might have avoided the danger.
In depression, when faced with terrible feelings, our natural fear response can lead to poor choices. The best thing you can do is fight through it by understanding your depression’s cause and addressing it.
Self-Reflection and Symptom Tracking
During depressive episodes, try to figure out what your mind is doing. Are you:
- Reminiscing about past events?
- Putting yourself down?
- Experiencing joint or bone aches?
- Having digestive issues?
- Sleeping too much or too little?
- Fearing lifelong loneliness?
- Stressed from your job?
- Feeling worse after eating carbs or sugars?
Write down your symptoms to identify key factors, then address them. Share your notes with your doctor to help find the root cause.
Managing Symptoms
Controlling symptoms can make depression more manageable. Here are some discoveries that helped me:
- Chronic Fatigue: Look up treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome. I found monolaurin (a coconut extract) helpful for my fatigue caused by EBV.
- Racing Thoughts: Practice mindfulness meditation for 10-20 minutes a day, gradually increasing the duration.
- Self-Deprecation: Try positive self-talk and limit social media use, which often brings self-doubt.
Social Media and Self-Perception
Social media can negatively impact your self-esteem. Remember, friends and family often portray an idealized version of their lives. If social media makes you feel worse, limit your usage or take breaks.
Finding Hope
Your depression will get better. You’ll find the cause and an answer for you. Ride the waves of your day-to-day life until you get some answers. Be diligent and don’t ignore the clues your body provides.
Medication as an Option
Medication can help with depression but isn’t the only option. If you’ve tried medications without success, you’re not out of options. Conditions like copper toxicity, mercury toxicity, or an underactive thyroid may require different treatments. Only you can document your symptoms and research potential causes, as most doctors may not.
Conclusion
When you’re depressed, you feel like crap and scared. It’s normal to feel this way. Avoid making irrational decisions and ride the waves for now. The goal is to find and fix the cause of your depression, which takes time.
Keep your eyes open and follow your breadcrumb symptoms to reveal your depression’s cause. Don’t ignore them; address them individually. If the depression gets too overwhelming, reach out to hotline resources.
Keep pushing through. Go out and kick depression’s ass today!
