Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Although almost everyone knows someone who has suffered from depression at one or mor...
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Although almost everyone knows someone who has suffered from depression at one or more times in their life, it is by no means a small matter, but a serious and sometimes life-threatening illness. A hallmark of depression is that sufferers often find it difficult to pull themselves out of their dejected and hopeless state.
Fortunately, with the right therapy, the disease can be treated well. But finding a place for therapy is often difficult – sometimes it takes months to find the right therapist. In the meantime, however, there is much that sufferers can do to help themselves.
Rule out physical causes
Depression is often triggered by stressful life events or chronic stress. However, psychological challenges are not always the reason. So before you start psychotherapy, which may last for many years, it is advisable to first have it clarified whether physical causes are the reason for the symptoms.
For example, depressive moods are often favored by hormonal changes during menopause. Depression during menopause is not uncommon - it is believed that at least one in five women suffers from it. Other possible physical causes are diabetes, multiple sclerosis, strokes, an underactive thyroid, or previous flu infections.
Talk and keep in touch
Many people who have depressive symptoms withdraw from social life. There can be various reasons for this: Sometimes they just don't have the strength, and sometimes they don't want to be a burden to others with their mood. In the long term, however, symptoms often tend to get worse when you feel lonely. It is best if you have familiar people in your own environment with whom you can talk openly. It is important that friends and relatives also have a good feeling about their own limits or can learn from them.
If you can openly tell the person suffering from depression that you also need a break, this usually relieves both sides. And it doesn't have to be a loud social night out for those suffering from depression. It often helps to send a short voice message or make a phone call to feel more connected again. Sometimes you just feel the need to talk to an empathetic stranger who doesn't even know you. In this case, the telephone pastoral care and other helpline hotlines offer a good contact point. The telephone counseling service is staffed around the clock – those seeking help can also call there at night.
Consciously do something good
Depression is often characterized by the fact that you can hardly enjoy anything and your self-esteem plummets. Doing something for yourself seems all the more difficult: on the one hand, those affected often think that they don't deserve to experience something good - on the other hand, things don't seem to be fun anymore anyway. Nevertheless, it is all the more important to create good experiences for yourself - without the pressure of necessarily having good feelings.
In this way, you show yourself that you take yourself seriously and want to take care of yourself. If you can't think of anything you'd like to do, it can help to think about what you enjoyed before you got sick. It also helps to remember who you were and who you can be again.
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