What depression is and what you can do about it.

Written by Emily Celis, MS, LMFT

Depression. Did you know that you only have to be experiencing depressive symptoms for 2 weeks for it to be considered Major Depressive Disorder? 

5 Symptoms of Depression:

Pessimism/hopelessness

Constantly feeling tired or having insomnia

Isolating from friends and family

Feeling helpless, worthless or guilty most of the time

No motivation to do anything

Tricky thing with depression is that EVERYTHING we will suggest below that CAN help will feel like THE VERY LAST thing that you would even consider doing.  We?re here to tell you that is depression talking and you are going to have to push it right out of the way to get to the other side of this.

When do you need to seek professional help? Contact a therapist if you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, if you are not functioning in your daily life, or when you are feeling so low and hopeless, worthless that each day is a struggle. If you immediate support for suicidal thoughts call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1.800.273.8255.

How can you manage these symptoms?

Vigorous exercise (if medically permitted). Your body needs a pick-me-up; endorphins and serotonin is just what will help. NO, it won’t make it go away, but you’ve gotta remember, feeling 5% better is 5% better and that can add up.

Talk to a friend. Yes, we want you to push through those uncomfortable thoughts and feelings that are stopping you from being social right now and call them anyway. You need to change up the conversations that you’re having in your own head and get some other thoughts and perspectives.

Start a morning ritual of saying 5 things you are grateful for out loud. It can be that you?re thankful you have clothes, a roof over your head or that you have a meal in front of you. Just say it out loud and hear that there are some things that are going well, even if you don’t feel like they are.