This post provides helpful answers to the question, ‘What do I do if I feel depressed?
It outlines seven empowering steps to help you beat depression and find happiness.
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Feeling depressed is a challenging experience, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone, and there are things you can do to help yourself feel better.
Following a fatal car accident, a failed engagement, and work-related stress, I was diagnosed with double depression and felt utterly hopeless. But by implementing these seven effective strategies, I could heal and recover.
Today, I’m happily married with a 2-year-old son and fulfilling my dream of writing about mental health and depression to help others on their journey to recovery.
In this post, I will provide seven steps to help you manage and overcome your depression, so you can find hope and move forward with your life.
What do I do if I feel depressed?
1. Talk to Someone: Reach Out for Support and Connection.
Feeling depressed can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. One of the most important things you can do is reach out to someone you trust. This could be a friend, family member, or mental health professional.
For me, having my best friend on speed dial was a lifesaver. I could call her whenever I felt low or had something to celebrate. Just having someone to talk to made me feel less alone.
You can feel heard and understood when you talk to someone you trust. They may even have advice on how to cope with your depression. They can also help you take the next steps, such as seeking professional help. My friend encouraged me to see a therapist, one of the best things I could have done for myself.
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2. Practice self-care if you ask yourself, ‘What do I do if I feel depressed’?
Taking care of yourself helps to restore balance to your mind and body. When we are depressed, we feel out of control and off balance.
Prioritising self-care activities like getting a fresh haircut, a massage or taking time in nature can also help you feel more grounded and centred.
My favourite thing when I had double depression was to take a nice warm bath. I would put scented candles on and listen to my favourite podcast. It was brilliant! It helped me to focus less on my worries and more on myself.
3. Keep A Regular Day to Day Routine.
When you’re feeling depressed, it’s essential to try and stick to your daily routine. This means doing the same things every day, like getting up at the same time, eating your meals at the same time, and going to bed at the same time.
Following a routine can help you feel less worried and more in control. It can also help you feel better about yourself when you accomplish small tasks, like making your bed or brushing your teeth.
You see, when you’re feeling depressed, everything, absolutely everything, feels overwhelming and challenging. I recall experiencing double depression, where even the simplest things like getting out of bed, showering, brushing my teeth, or taking a short walk felt like monumental achievements. But I found that I could feel a sense of accomplishment and empowerment by committing to these small daily routines.
Remember that every small step towards self-care is a victory worth celebrating, even on the most challenging days. It’s incredible how these little actions can boost your confidence and help you take charge of your day.
So keep taking those little steps; before you know it, you’ll find yourself progressing towards a happier, healthier you.
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4. What Do I Do If I Feel Depressed? Seeking Professional Help Can Bring Hope and Healing.
If your depression is severe or persists for a long time, seeking professional help is essential. It was the best thing I did to aid in my recovery. I felt secure knowing that my psychologist did not judge me but helped me.
A mental health professional can provide the tools and resources to manage and overcome depression. They can also help you identify any underlying issues contributing to your depression and develop a treatment plan that works for you.
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5. Meaningful Activities Can Help With Depression.
When you’re feeling depressed, finding activities that make you happy and give you a sense of purpose can be helpful. This can include things like volunteering, learning a new skill, or pursuing a hobby you enjoy.
Doing things that bring you joy can boost your mood and make you feel accomplished. For example, when I had double depression, I attended a weekly dance class. It was so much fun, and dancing has always been a great hobby of mine. Doing the class each week meant I could do something for myself that made me feel happy.
Even if I wasn’t feeling great then, I eventually started feeling happier by doing something I loved regularly. It might not work immediately, but if you stick to it, you will see the difference in your mood over time.
Keep doing what you love, and remember that every little step counts towards feeling better.
6. Challenge Negative Thoughts.
Negative thoughts can feed into depression and make it worse.
I remember my thoughts just spiralling out of control. I could not get a grasp on thinking anything positive; I had to train the pathways in my brain to help me feel a little better. Positive affirmations and talking kindly to myself definitely did help with that.
Challenging negative beliefs and replacing them with positive, realistic ones is essential.
Try keeping a gratitude journal, focusing on your strengths, or practising positive affirmations to help shift your mindset. Here is an example of an affirmation you could say daily: “I am strong and capable of overcoming this feeling. I am worthy of love and happiness, and I will take steps to care for myself and improve my mental health”.
7. Take It One Day at a Time.
Overcoming depression is not a quick or easy process. Taking it one day at a time and celebrating small victories is essential. Remember, healing takes time, and taking things slow is okay. Be kind to yourself and trust you can find hope and healing with time.
Even if you feel you are taking two steps forward in your healing and then get triggered and take a step back, you are still progressing. Don’t give up!
Hope and healing for depression are possible. Take steps today to care for yourself and seek support.
This post was about answering your question, ‘what do i do if i feel depressed’?