Depression Treatment and Causes

Depression may be caused by many different factors including stress, abuse, a serious illness, a sudden life change like a move, loss of a job or the death of a loved one. Substance abuse and depression does run in some families. Sometimes people have anxiety depression, or they may be overwhelmed with sadness for no apparent reason.

We all go through ups and downs, so occasional sadness is not unusual. The downs really shouldn’t last too long, and if they do professional help is probably a good idea. Sometimes there may be a chemical imbalance in the brain causing the depression.

Some of the common symptoms of depression are having difficulty with concentration, remembering details and in making decisions. Insomnia, particularly early morning insomnia is a classic sign or excessive sleeping. Other depression symptoms are fatigue, decreased energy, feelings of guilt, hopelessness, pessimism, worthlessness, irritability, restlessness, loss of interest in activities and hobbies, overeating or loss of appetite, persistent aches and pains, persistent sadness, thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts.

Take anyone who expresses suicidal thought seriously and call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or1-800-273-TALK.

It is important to understand your personal intangible boundaries, knowing they are always present. If you have confusion about responsibility and ownership in your life, the problem is with your boundaries, and it can cause depression.

When you look at two houses with a fence between them, it is clear which property belongs to which house. People’s lives are not that clear cut. A boundary in your life should reflect where you end and where the next person begins. It is a matter of owning your own life. You make your own choices, have your own opinions and choose when to say yes or no. Having these boundaries show you what is not on your property, which means you are not responsible for another person or their choices. Personal boundaries will help you keep the good thoughts in and keep the bad thoughts out. The most basic boundary setting is saying the word “no”.

It is so easy to be pushed into doing something you really don’t want to do or don’t have time to do just because you don’t want a negative reaction from the person asking. But, how does that make you feel? Usually you feel frustrated and maybe angry.

I used to have a hard time saying no because I didn’t want that negative reaction from the other person, which was typically a close relative. Saying no to someone I am not emotionally involved with is no problem for me, but it may be for some people. I like myself much better when I say “no” and mean it. Words let others know that you exist apart from them, and that you are in control of yourself. They also define your property when you communicate your intentions such as “I like this but don’t like that”.

Sometimes boundaries can become such a tough issue that some geographical distance is necessary, which is simply removing yourself from a situation. This gives you time to replenish and nurture yourself. There are times when you might need a temporary boundary to allow yourself some emotional distance from a situation. People who have been in an abusive situation particularly need to find a safe place to begin to heal. Taking good care of yourself on a physical level is extremely important before you try to deal with a psychological problem. You need to be well nourished, well rested and have some leisure time without responsibility.

There are some simple things you can do to help pull yourself out of depression and turn off that negative dialog.

• If you don’t think you are joyful, happy and successful,then you won’t be. Practice thinking on a positive level even when you don’t feel that way yet, and you will come to believe in the possibility that you can be happy.

• Smile at everyone and people will smile back at you. There is no arguing that smiling has been shown in research to have positive psychological and physiological effects. Just try it.

• Immerse yourself in reading books, magazines and articles that help you adopt this new positive attitude. Also, watch films or listen to music that inspires you and encourages you to change.

• Change your actions by changing your routine. That will help you break away from some of the things that probably added to the depression. Doing things differently will help you start thinking differently.

• Change your environment around to make it look more cheerful. Try to create a physical space that inspires you to want to change.

• Try to find a friend that has the type of attitude you want, and learn from their example.

• Another great way to change your attitude is to do something to help others in need. It is a very good feeling to help someone or give someone something and enjoy their gratitude.

• Let your friends know what you are doing and ask for their support to help you change. The more you can feel like part of a group the more likely you are to feel happier and more successful.
• If you have a church, get some free counseling.

If you need more help, get a counselor or the help from a mentor as they will probably have new ideas to help you grow. If you want to hear someone say “poor baby”, call your mother. However, if you really want unbiased help to change, get a counselor or mentor, and they will probably have a new perspective for you. They are not emotionally involved in your situation, so they will have a different perspective that will probably help you overcome your depression.

Remember changes of character do not happen immediately. Give yourself enough time and room to make changes as they become comfortable for you. You will find that the depression will lift. If your results seem too slow, don’t quit! Try to have some patience and allow time. You are worth it! Sometimes we take two steps forward and one back, but we are still one step ahead of where we were.