How to Keep Depressive Acts from Reoccurring

Depression can take many forms. Most people experience periods at some points in their lives. The tribulations of life in losing health, security, friendships, and loved ones would not make any person happy. When your feelings become a problem interfering with everyday life, clinical depression is diagnosed if the time period is longer than two weeks. When a person feels as though he or she does not enjoy the activities they once did and are sad more often than happy, that person needs to be checked for clinical depression.

Several types of depression exist including bipolar (where the person skips from mania to sadness often very quickly), dysthymia (when the sadness is less severe but does contribute to an individual's ability to function), and major depression that is near incapacitating.

Now we have defined what depression is and realize clinical depression is often something that recurs. How do we stop this condition from recurring? I have been diagnosed with clinical depression and had it recur many times. It is tempting to wonder how medications can change the situations in life that are depressing. The medication makes a person better able to cope when life is particularly difficult. The medication also contains a chemical you may not have enough of in your brain that allows better coping.. Many people who are on medication cease taking it when they begin to feel better. Always take your medication as indicated. Often when someone ceases taking medications, the medication no longer works when it is tried again.

Here is a list of some of the things I have done to delay an episode.

1) When you feel an episode coming on, make an appointment with your therapist. If it is severe, he or she will be able to meet with you that day. This meeting is especially important if there are any thoughts of suicide.

2) One thing that has helped my depression from recurring too often is being busy. It gives me less time to think about the bad that is occurring in life and enjoy the good. Visit peaceful areas, go fishing, do activities that remind that as a person in this world we are all as one.

3) Some people who have clinical depression may be introverts like I am. If so, you may take the criticisms of others harder than they are intended to be taken. For 30 years of my life, I believed I was a freak and no one liked me. It took a long time to pull my head out of the sand and realize differently. Changing your thoughts from blaming yourself for your mistake to realizing others have these same problems is a difficult process but worth it. If you are reading this, you may be symptomatic of depression. Do whatever it takes to understand others' opinions of you don't matter-what matters is what you think of yourself.

4) I hesitate to write this here only because I'm unsure of where the line between religion and objectivity is drawn. I have always been a faithful Christian who prayed when circumstances went bad. Faith in a higher power may bring some people peace and help prevent further episodes.

5) I have no scientific proof of this fact but have found when I eat high fat, sugary foods depressive episodes increase. If you feel an episode coming on, lay off the sweets and hit the gym. A good workout will often release the same anxieties you feel toward yourself in a more positive manner.

6) Realize many people do not believe depression is a true illness. I was hospitalized for suicidal ideation when my daughter was a few weeks old and was told to "snap out of it." Obviously, this is not possible for those of us who have been in the state of depression. Do not be angry at these people-be happy they do not have to experience being in a dark hole with no way to appear out.

7) Journaling helps me control my episodes. I can often see an episode come on before it arrives. I know I will have one when my children visit the doctor for the first time since being diagnosed with Multiple Hamaratoma Syndrome. I plan to speak to my therapist the week before. Help is out there. You can find it. If you are unable to find it then feel free to email me here. My psychology degree does not allow me to practice but I can tell you what I have learned and I can be a good friend

8) Sunshine is a life saver for me in regard to depression-especially because I am seasonally affective and tend to grow depressed in the fall. I do not recommend tanning beds as was done for me but the increase in sunshine did help.

9) If you are into Christian music, put on a song that lifts you up. A few of my favorites are Kutless "What Faith Can Do," Jeremy Camp's "Walk by Faith" (since learning of my children's diagnosis of Cowden Syndrome this one has helped tremendously), anything by Todd Agnew is wonderful as is Casting Crowns. If Christian music is not your thing, look for other types of soothing music.

10) Depressive acts may recur but have heart. We have a treatable disease with depression as long as we are honest with our doctors. If yours asks if there are any thoughts of suicide, tell him or her. It may mean being observed until a medication takes place that works. So little is known in the field of psychology and psychiatry. The first psychology lab devoted to exclusively to psychological research came about in 1879 by Wilhelm Wundt. Advances are being made with each passing day. Never give up no matter how dark it seems. Take life day by day and worry as little as possible. Take comfort in many others have a similar diagnosis and can be wonderful to talk with about these issues.