Infano brings to you 10 Days Of Mental Health in collaboration with The Logical Indian in lieu of World Mental Health Day on October 10. This mental health warrior’s story is about recovering from depression and includes tips for everyday living. It has been narrated anonymously.
The emotional rollercoaster that is depression can be difficult to ride. The highs and lows can be all-encompassing, leaving you feeling like there is no way out. But it’s important to remember that you are not alone in this struggle. When I first started feeling the symptoms of depression, I had no idea what was going on. Looking back, I can see that there were many warning signs along the way. The following are some of the thoughts and feelings that led me to seek help. And how I started piecing my life back together.
When you experience depression, no matter how severe it might seem, there is always a chance for recovery. With the right support and treatment, you can get better. You should accept that mental illnesses are not only common but also manageable. Some of the most effective treatments for depression are medication and psychotherapy.
You are not alone
Depression is a common mental illness that affects tens of millions of people each year. Depression can vary from person to person, and it may be mild or severe. It can make a person feel sad, hopeless, or apathetic. Depression may also make a person lose interest in things they used to enjoy, such as hobbies or sports. Depression can be effectively treated with counseling and, more often, with medication.
Seek help when you need it
There are many reasons people end up in a depressive state. Sometimes life events are negative or traumatic and can lead to depression. Other times people are born with mental illnesses, like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, that also cause depression. If you suffer from depression, seek help no matter the reason for your suffering- there’s no shame in getting help when you need it!
Ways of finding the right therapist for you
It is important to find a therapist who is culturally competent, has the right credentials, and is willing to listen. There are many therapists out there who are not equipped to understand the issues of your culture or are unable to relate.
My personal experience with psychotherapy
I went through a lot of therapy to help me learn how to better manage myself and my symptoms. Therapists often tell you that you can’t make a choice for them, but I believe the process didn’t have to be either/or. There are a lot of ways to get past depression, and depth psychotherapy played an important role in my recovery. I believe that this process of deep examination can lead to a deeper understanding of yourself. It doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing choice. Most of my therapists are very sympathetic to the potential role of psychotherapy in recovery.
Recovering from depression- Creating a WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) is a simple and powerful process for creating the life and wellness you want. The WRAP process supports you to identify the tools that keep you well and create action plans to put them into practice in your everyday life. All along the way, WRAP helps you incorporate key recovery concepts and wellness tools into your plans and your life. With WRAP, you can:
Discover simple, safe, and effective tools to create and maintain wellness
Develop a daily plan to stay on track with your life and wellness goals
Identify what throws you off track and develop a plan to keep moving forward
Gain support and stay in control even in a crisis
www.wellnessrecoveryactionplan.com
It is difficult enough to manage depression, but the process of getting back on your feet post that is even more challenging. Tough times can make it feel like life is impossible to cope with.
It may not always be possible that when you get back to life, it may be as it was before. Do not have unrealistic goals. returning to the life we had before becoming unwell, exactly as it was. Make some changes to your life can help in recovering from depression.
Make certain changes, maybe even small ones, and build a healthy routine for yourself. Plan your Mealtime and set a bedtime and stick to it no matter how hard it feels. Develop a self-care routine for yourself. You deserve it.
The things that used to interest you might not any more so find a new job, vocation or a hobby if you have to.
Take it slowly one day at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed When piecing your life back together. Returning to normal may not be as quick as you think so give the process some time.
Try and rebuild your self-confidence. You might remember things that you did or said when you weren’t well. Certain memories, incidents, people could trigger some really dark thoughts. So it may not be easy to socialize and join conversations.
Try talking to yourself or your pet or have a short telephone conversation with friends or maybe that person at the billing counter or your Uber driver to help you learn to get talking and socializing or going out in public gatherings.
Our depression affects everyone around us, too. You might have pushed people away when you were unwell or even hurt them. This may have caused much friction in relationships. So start communicating and have open, honest conversations, to revive these relationships. Communication is key.
Getting back to work can be difficult. Make some changes at work include things like work from home, flexitime, reduced work hours, no night shifts, and take more breaks. Create a balance of ‘busy’ and ‘rest’ time.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all way of coming out the other side, and everyone will have their own journey to recovery. I’ve been on medication for depression for more than 10 years, and I can say without a doubt that I’m still fighting every day. But even then, as of today, I am more than able to resume my career and am feeling better than before. We’re all different so we all have different things that help may help us to stay well and work on our paths to recovery. Do what you feel works best for you. You do you.
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For more articles on mental health click here.
