Depression - What it is and 5 Ways to Help Yourself Get Rid of It
The Meaning of Depression.
We had a look at this in some depth earlier in the month, but I want to give you some ideas on helping yourself, so a quick recap of what depression actually is, how it's caused, won't come amiss.
It's basically very simple.
It's all about dreams, remember? Depressed people dream at least three times as much as people who don't suffer from the condition.
Why do they dream? Because they brood.
There's our old friend again! Most especially if you're a depressive like I was who simply wanted to be left alone.
There I'd sit, thinking about all manner of things past.
You live in the past, don't you? You remember how someone stiffed you years and years ago, and you become angry.
Emotional arousal? Ring any bells? The viscous circle begins.
You brood on things that happened way in the past.
You go to bed.
You dream far too much, spending most of the night in the R.
E.
M.
sleep stage and not the deep, refreshing sleep you so badly need.
Then in the morning, you're exhausted, and the cycle starts all over again.
That tells you why you're depressed.
That's a very potted version, but as I said, I did write about this previously.
How You Can Help Yourself.
1.
Cut down on the brood sessions! In fact, make every effort to cut them out completely.
This is the first and most important thing to do.
Frankly, if you keep up the ruminations, you don't stand a chance.
All that'll happen will be more of the dreams, more of the exhaustion and much more of the Depression.
Now, you're not dealing with a novice on the subject here.
Believe me, I know how incredibly difficult it is not to simply sit around and think of past arguments, the 'if onlys' and why did she do that to me? It starts to be almost a sort of twisted luxury, a masochistic celebration, to re-live all the unpleasantness you encountered years ago.
But please.
Fight it with every fibre of your being, otherwise there's no point in even starting to help yourself, or even to seek treatment.
Following on from this, 2.
Don't keep thinking in absolutes.
Bring a nice shade of grey into your life.
"Life's hell," is an absolute.
"Well, it could be better, but it's the only life I have," introduces a modification.
Watch yourself and try to catch the absolutes.
3.
Exercise.
Yes, I know, it's a grim thought, especially if you're like me, who's idea of a good workout is brushing his teeth, but try at least going for a little walk.
I know the poor old body might hurt, but even if it's just to the mailbox and back, it's something.
4.
Try to work, preferably at something mindless.
Rake some leaves, sweep the driveway.
All right, so the leaves blow back.
It doesn't matter.
It's the action, not the result.
5.
Keep yourself occupied if you possibly can.
Anything to keep yourself from thinking, at least thinking in the wrong way.
Nothing I've suggested here is easy, but then how long do you want to be depressed?
We had a look at this in some depth earlier in the month, but I want to give you some ideas on helping yourself, so a quick recap of what depression actually is, how it's caused, won't come amiss.
It's basically very simple.
It's all about dreams, remember? Depressed people dream at least three times as much as people who don't suffer from the condition.
Why do they dream? Because they brood.
There's our old friend again! Most especially if you're a depressive like I was who simply wanted to be left alone.
There I'd sit, thinking about all manner of things past.
You live in the past, don't you? You remember how someone stiffed you years and years ago, and you become angry.
Emotional arousal? Ring any bells? The viscous circle begins.
You brood on things that happened way in the past.
You go to bed.
You dream far too much, spending most of the night in the R.
E.
M.
sleep stage and not the deep, refreshing sleep you so badly need.
Then in the morning, you're exhausted, and the cycle starts all over again.
That tells you why you're depressed.
That's a very potted version, but as I said, I did write about this previously.
How You Can Help Yourself.
1.
Cut down on the brood sessions! In fact, make every effort to cut them out completely.
This is the first and most important thing to do.
Frankly, if you keep up the ruminations, you don't stand a chance.
All that'll happen will be more of the dreams, more of the exhaustion and much more of the Depression.
Now, you're not dealing with a novice on the subject here.
Believe me, I know how incredibly difficult it is not to simply sit around and think of past arguments, the 'if onlys' and why did she do that to me? It starts to be almost a sort of twisted luxury, a masochistic celebration, to re-live all the unpleasantness you encountered years ago.
But please.
Fight it with every fibre of your being, otherwise there's no point in even starting to help yourself, or even to seek treatment.
Following on from this, 2.
Don't keep thinking in absolutes.
Bring a nice shade of grey into your life.
"Life's hell," is an absolute.
"Well, it could be better, but it's the only life I have," introduces a modification.
Watch yourself and try to catch the absolutes.
3.
Exercise.
Yes, I know, it's a grim thought, especially if you're like me, who's idea of a good workout is brushing his teeth, but try at least going for a little walk.
I know the poor old body might hurt, but even if it's just to the mailbox and back, it's something.
4.
Try to work, preferably at something mindless.
Rake some leaves, sweep the driveway.
All right, so the leaves blow back.
It doesn't matter.
It's the action, not the result.
5.
Keep yourself occupied if you possibly can.
Anything to keep yourself from thinking, at least thinking in the wrong way.
Nothing I've suggested here is easy, but then how long do you want to be depressed?
Source...