How do you get out of depression?

Question

My depression is gettin worse. Everytime i feel a little better something bad happens to me. It then puts me right back down. Im on tablets and having counciling, counciling helps but its not all the time its only once every two weeks. Everything is getting me down and i try and think of good things in my life but i cant stop myself thinking about the bad. There isnt one thing in my life at the moment that hasnt got a problem attached to it. What can i do to help myself?

I have a dog and take him out most days so im not sitting around on my *** feeling sorry for myself as someone said. I work full time and work 10 hour shifts and it takes me a hour to get to my place of work, so i dont ave that many free hours in a day. Im the first person to help other people thats why im in the mess that im in i think. I always do everything for everyone else and think of me last. Im a ok eater but its hard when you work shifts like i do. My life is my family and my dog. I cant ave children so thats a bit depressing but i dont ave to worry about them. Im not sitting around feeling sorry for myself and i dont think people understand it until they either go through it themselves or someone close goes through it. Its hard to get out of bed some morning but i do. I could stay in bed all the time but i do get up in the mornings and go to work so im trying to help myself.

Answer 1

Walking,fresh air,good diet .

Answer 2

Hey shaz I understand your black dog walking with this heavy burden in life seems never ending. Im sorry youre going through this.
well done for acknowledging the problem and seeking professional help thats a really great thing you've done there.
Do you have support from family or close friend?
Try looking at your diet and increase exercise, also some studies on omega 3 helping.
If there's a trigger ask your councilor about coping stratagies.
And just except you have this-most people are able to feel the low coming on so say hey its here,but know you'll come through the other side soon enough.
Sometimes it seems like bad things slways happen to you right?-Try not to let the D win think no im going to fight you and get some really positive stuff going on,but be careful not to take on too much at once or make any big changes.Just try little things that you know you can achieve so dont feel like always fail.
Finally take time to think about how great you really are-you have a choice let this evil win or not.
Right down all the things youe done,any time youve been happy and keep revisiting that memory everyday.
The black fog might clear one day and you'll feel respite but if it crashes down again try not to be disheartened-you felt happy for that one moment,could see beauty in the world for that moment. SO IT CAN be done again.
All the best with everything,you're not alone,there are some great support netwroks out there if you ask counciler they will let you know local ones.
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Answer 3

Ask to change to different medication or different dose. It takes a couple of weeks to feel the results but I promise it won't feel this gray and bad forever. I had postpartum depression after my son was born and it was horrible; the medication did start to help after a few weeks, but they had to increase the dose too. Not everyone is helped by the same medicine or the same dose; that is why there are so many different ones out there. Also, consider switching to a different therapist. I dumped one once because I thought he was just a rude jerk; maybe other people liked him but here I am three years later and doing great. Not every therapist is right for every person. Make sure you are getting enough sleep and try reading an uplifting book like, "Your Erroneous Zones" by Dr. Dwayne Dyer. I swear that book lifted me out of a depression about 20 years ago. Another help I have had along the way is my pets. I had a cat for a long time that was a great comfort to me. Just a few ideas, but again I want you to know this feeling will not be there forever, it's not normal to feel so bad, and it will get better!

Answer 4

Hi shaz, i truly cannot answer your question but i have felt the same and each of us the finding what floats your boat is different.Only you will find it, firstly though you have seen you have a problem and can admit you have a problem to yourself that is one of the most positive things you have done, also realise that being human we all have problems, everyone of us, rich, poor male, female, from the starving the ill, people going through divorce, and people who cannot even get out of their own front door to get a loaf of bread or milk, it is a matter of putting your own difficulties in an order of priority, If you did some charity work for a while helping the homeless, voluntary work in a hospital to put yourself in the front line of people worse off than yourself you will soon see how lucky you are, you may think your not but you have a computer to ask this question,,,,, many dont, mail me if you want to chat, hope that helps some, good luck.

Answer 5

Change the way you look at life and things that happen in life. Why does everything have to be bad or negative? Why not look at problems as a challenge to overcome and succeed at rather than a bad incident that you are helpless to change. Maybe you need better or new coping skills, maybe you don't have the mental tools to deal with things that upset you, learn new coping skills in therapy and apply them to real life challenges. I am guessing that there are good things in your life, you have computer access, which means that you are fairly intelligent, might have a computer, a place to live with electricity, you don't have to worry about feeding yourself like the poor and homeless, you are probably healthy - all these things mean that you have supports to help you succeed in life. You do have good things going for you. Stick with counseling but find someone new if you do not have a trusting relationship that you find beneficial with your therapist, you are wasting your time if you don't have that kind of relationship. Adjust your medication if it is not helping, most of the time that has to be done to find the right medication and dosage. You are always going to have bad things happen to you in life, the trick is to not to let them bring you down, but to view them not as something bad or depressing. Of course there are bad and depressing things in life but most of them don't need to be. Also, use supports in your life like family, friends, clergy, counselors to talk to and ask help and advice. That is why they are there and that is what they want to do for you, use them. Make new friends, find a job that you like, find new hobbies where you can meet new people, new and more relationships will help you somewhat with what is going on in your life. Keep busy so you do not sit around feeling sorry for yourself and thinking about your problems and how bad things are. Get out there and enjoy life while you can, there are tons of free things you can do. Read a book, go to the museum on a free day, go for a walk at a park, take the bus somewhere new, go to church or a church group - you don't have to practice but people there are ALWAYS friendly and accepting, even if you believe differently. Just smiling has been proven to relases endorphines that make you feel better, Exercising is a good one too. Ride a bike, do volunteer work somewhere, you would not believe how good that will make you feel, go somewhere you are interested in or do something fun. Sometimes volunteer work pays off in cool responsibilities or a paid position. Don't withdraw from others put yourself out there and interact with others. Read inspirational books on beating depression. Good luck.

Answer 6

Apparently getting more good sleep is the answer. Unfortunately I can't remember the authority, so I can't give a website or other reference, but the gist of it is that you need a good period of deep dreamless sleep. It seems that if you are not geting enough and only getting bouts of REM or dreaming sleep you are likely to get depressed.

Also not all counselling is good counselling. From what I remember from what I was taught many moons ago, friends and family, and social structures, clubs, societies, church groups that you belong to are of more use than professional counsellors. Like if they're not working there is little that can be achieved.

So that is it. Sleep more, and be a better friend.

You also need to have a 'deal with knocks of life stragegy' You can't bear everyones burdens. You need to learn to unload cares.

Christians, for example, are urged to cast all their anxiety on God because he cares for them.

By the way God cares for all his children, not just the hangers on.

Answer 7

Keep going to counseling, maybe even more often if you need to. And maybe ask your doc about a medication change. I had to tinker with my meds for months before I found the right one. Depression can be caused by different chemical deficiencies in the brain and there are different drugs to deal with those different deficiencies. Two major classes are MAOIs and SSRIs. If you need an MAOI and you are taking an SSRI then you won't get better. Good luck and take care of yourself. Things will get better!!!

Answer 8

depression has been noticed as a mental -health issue. and with proper counsiling and sad to say medication ,things work if you set your mind to make it work ,the thing is you are in charge of how you react to certain right or wrong things that happen it all determines how strong or weak you are and babe never let it get you down, we all have problems its all in how you deal with it and i believe you will tackel any thing that comes your way. do what you can do and the rest can wait one day at a time thats all we can do we are only humans not perfect and not machines. just each day with a smile ok? just do your best @everything.

Answer 9

Exercise, eat well, try to get a good sleep pattern (I know how hard that can be when you're depressed), try not to isolate yourself - spend time with people when you can, treat yourself with your favourite books/music/dvds etc.

Maybe you could see your doctor or psychiatrist about changing your meds, if these ones aren't working for you? If you haven't been on them for long, wait a while because many antidepressants take weeks to start working.

Answer 10

Continue:
1) Therapy
2) Medication.

Add:
1) Volunteer work
2) Daily exercise, even walking
3) Go to www.Dailystrength.org for support
4) Healthy diet
5) Plenty of sleep.

Answer 11

Put on some Music and Dance Hard, Laugh Loud and Love Strong!

Look in the mirror and giggle!