How to cope with existential depression? 5 ways
By now, you’re probably aware of the importance of living life to the fullest, but there are still some people who just can’t seem to let go of their past, including a large number of people with mental illness.
In a study published in the journal Psychological Science, researchers from the University of Washington analyzed data from over 20,000 people who were diagnosed with major depressive disorder and asked them to describe their mental health and how they were feeling.
They found that people with major depression tended to have higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and they were less likely to be able to get their minds off of their thoughts.
“We also found that depressed people were more likely to have suicidal thoughts,” the researchers wrote in the paper.
“This suggests that people who have a history of depression may be more prone to try to avoid thinking about or dealing with negative emotions.”
The study found that the more people had depressive symptoms in the past, the higher the odds they had suicidal thoughts.
It was unclear if the higher anxiety and depression rates were the result of past events, as some researchers suggested, or if people with depression were more susceptible to these triggers, like a breakup.
There is currently no cure for major depression, but experts say it can be treated with a variety of therapies.
For instance, research has found that meditation and mindfulness can help people cope with depression, as well as medications such as lithium, which is used to treat depression and bipolar disorder.
However, there is also some evidence that there are ways to reduce the negative emotions associated with major mental illness, including taking cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people deal with negative thoughts.
Here are some tips on how to cope if you or someone you know has major depression.
1.
Make sure you are being honest and accountable for your thoughts.
If you or your loved one has major depressive episode, make sure that you tell your loved ones about it.
“You can’t just ignore the diagnosis and the symptoms, you have to have an open and honest conversation about what’s going on with you,” said the study’s lead author, Jessica Cramer, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the University at Buffalo.
“The more you can get out of the conversation and the less you can hide, the better.”
2.
Recognize the role that your environment plays in your depression.
“It’s not just about what you do or say,” Cramer said.
“Some of the things that people say are a lot more relevant to depression than just what you put on your Facebook page.”
For example, if you have depression and you have a significant other who has it, you should talk to them about it, Cramer explained.
Also, if your loved-one has a history or a history with substance abuse, the treatment can help.
Cramer also suggests talking to a friend or relative to help you deal with the stress of depression, such as taking a walk to relieve stress and anxiety.
3.
Talk to a psychologist if you feel anxious, depressed or feel like your depression is affecting your social relationships.
“A lot of people have depression when they’re depressed,” C,R,M,S said.
They may be thinking about their feelings or even their plans, which could be affecting your mood and making you feel worse.
“Psychologists and counselors can be helpful, but it’s important that you speak with someone who knows you,” C said.
4.
Talk with your doctor about medication options.
“Medication is an option that may work in the short term, but if you get depressed and feel like you need to take medications, you may not be able,” C.S.M., PhD, said.
If that happens, you’ll need to consider taking a drug called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are used to manage depressive symptoms and may help with the symptoms of major depression in some people.
They’re also sometimes prescribed to treat people with bipolar disorder or bipolar II disorder.
5.
Ask for help when you’re feeling down.
“When I was depressed, I would go into the bathroom, and my depression would come back,” C.,M,L said.
But now that I’m depressed, the depression comes back.
If the depression is severe, C., M,L will ask for help from a psychologist, who can offer a prescription for antidepressants.
“I’m not a big fan of prescription drugs,” C.; M, L said.
C.; C., L, and others said they were often told that they should wait until the person is “well enough” to get the medication, because of concerns about side effects and possible side effects of the medication.
But they also said that if they don’t have a prescription, they can take the medication without waiting for an appointment.
“That’s not always true,” C; M, S said.
6.
Talk about the people who love you.
“People are more likely than not to get in touch with each other, so I try to find ways to connect