Understanding and Seeking Help for Depression
UNDERSTANDING AND SEEKING HELP FOR DEPRESSION
By Jessica Grogan | MSW, LICSW
Depression or “depressed” can be a common word or diagnosis used in our society. In part, this can be helpful because the familiarity with it may encourage someone to seek help. However, it can also cause some confusion around knowing what depression is, what to do if you may be experiencing depression, or when to seek help.
WHAT DEPRESSION CAN LOOK LIKE
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) lists the following as some of the possible signs and symptoms of depression, if they are consistent in your life for at least two weeks:
Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood
Feelings of hopelessness
Irritability
Decreased energy or fatigue
Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
Thoughts of death or suicide
Physical symptoms without clear physical cause
Depression can look different for each person. It can come on suddenly following a traumatic event, post-partum, sickness, or in response to grief or loss. It can also come on slowly and feel more subtle until you realize it is affecting numerous areas of your life. Depression can stay for weeks or months, feeling like it might never lift. It could be present for only a season and lift, not to return for a while, if ever.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
These descriptions of depression can sound scary and maybe even a little hopeless. Maybe it is spot on for you and you aren’t sure what to do next. The reality is, that it is never too early to seek help and healing.
If you have any symptoms that concern you, you can begin seeking out ways to work through it. More specifically, if your symptoms are getting in the way of your daily functioning, it is best to go ahead and reach out for help.
SEEKING HELP
The treatment for depression can take energy and time. It is important to remember that you are not alone! Below, you will find four helpful tips for seeking help with depression.
Give yourself permission to ask for help. You don’t have to wait until it feels too hopeless to seek help. Wherever you are, however you feel, you can take steps towards feeling better.
Tell someone. Depression likes to hang out in the dark shadows and cause isolation. The first step in seeking help is to share what you are experiencing with at least one supportive person. This might be a family member or friend. If you are too nervous to share with someone close to you, reach out to your doctor or a counselor.
Eat, Sleep, and Move. It might seem simple, but our bodies, our minds, and our emotions need these basic things to start feeling better. Often, our eating, sleeping, and exercise patterns are the things that go first when we are not feeling well. It can be difficult, but make sure you are feeding yourself regularly, getting adequate rest, and moving your body.
Seek medical or professional help. Most of the time depression will need to be treated with either medical or therapeutic help. This does not mean you are weak, or that something is wrong with you. It means you are brave enough to fight for and restore your mental health. Reach out to your doctor, as they can discuss different options of treatment with you. They will have information for medication treatments, and they might have referral resources for counseling. A counseling appointment provides a good opportunity to have a safe place to talk and an ongoing resource where you can process as you heal.
There is hope for healing from depression. If this is something you may be dealing with, I encourage you to not be scared to reach out for help so that you can begin living your life fully again. You are worth the fight to find healing, and you deserve to feel better.
Resources and References:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255