Depression is a universal emotion, and no matter how well placed or settled one may be, no one is completely immune from it. You may become the man you want to be in the eyes of the world but depression once inside will keep eating you up.
I have to speak about this today because no matter how well we let the world see us, we all have our battles and I hope someone out there gets the help they deserve.
WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
According to Wikipedia; Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings, and sense of well-being. This can be normal and clinical.
- Normal Depression.
This is as a result of an individual going through life's challenges such as the loss of their job, ill health, loss of a loved one or generally going through some very stressed up situation that won't allow them focus and in that process, they get into a depressed mood. - Clinical Depression.
aka, Major Depression. This is when an individual suffers a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. This one is severe and although it can be treated, it requires some additional cares, drugs and practice.
Depression is deadly and looking at the diagram below, you just have to be really sacred of the terrible danger it can pose to your life.
WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?
Distress is a major cause of depression.
When you constantly within a period of 14 days feel hopeless, anxious, irritable, worthless, guilty or helpless, you may be suffering from depression and you should do something about it.
Starting out as a normal feeling, depression creeps in slowly and gradually destroys the individual. Being able to identify the ways the feelings are changing is one best way to know how to tackle that aspect of your life that is changing for the bad.
Depression is the number one cause of suicide and more than 10 million people yearly die from suicide while over 100million are suicidal. This condition many have come to live with is what makes depression more like an acceptable disaster.
The number is staggering and why it is terrible is that, you may never truly know what ails your neighbor because there is this I Am Fine facade being put up to make you not see what really is wrong with the individual. Awareness campaigns are being run daily to ensure that people are protected from their own selves and also are able to come forth to speak about their problems.
GETTING UP OFF DEPRESSION.
Depression comes in two forms, the Normal one that is triggered by happenings around us and Clinical that is triggered by the normal that has become constant. When the normal become matured, it becomes a mental issue and then you become a threat to yourself and others.
You must be aware now that it doesn't take much for someone to be be depressed and if you are used to the hustle where no matter what you do, nothing ever comes to show you have put in so much, you will definitely understand the feelings that just threatens to swallow you up as depression.
So we will look at some steps we can take to get up from feeling depressed and in a bid to stay away from clinical depression. Bear in mind, these steps may sound playful, but the play is what makes it work.
a.Be unfailingly positive.
Living in a realistic mood will most definitely work against the individual who thinks he got it covered. When you are unfailingly positive in your views and approach to life, you will be able to work harder and longer and then find the results you need waiting to be scooped.
Being realistic sometimes has it pitfalls as you are mostly programmed to be fairly predictable. Predictability is one sure road to depression. You must be sure to play outside the known status and follow through with the new. Putting up a bold face for the world to see while it isn't what it is, is one sure way to go down.
b.Plug into your positive side.
Being positive is one sure way to control your low mood and overcome them. If you are able to do that, you will be able to overcome depression as is and the be more able to go forward in life as an individual who has so much to live for.
Using the light switch approach to life will help you switch from a state of depression to a state of being able to determine and control what moods you want to live by for that day.
Positivity always slays negativity and no matter how hard the tides may turn, you will come out one step better when you stay positive and depression will stay away.
c.Cry.
We all have down times in our lives and this applies to everyone no matter what you tell yourself. Many believe that crying is for the weak, but I tell you it isn't. Cry yourself a river if you can because it is only through that tear coming out of you that you can truly settle into a life that is depression free.
Create a cry time and use the tears as a punctuation time for your sadness. Do not cry like you lost something, but cry the emotional distress out and then pick yourself back up again and forge ahead by working more on your positive side.
d.Find a hobby.
To fight depression, find a hobby that will engage you in those times that you ordinarily should be down thinking about how hard life has been and is. There will always be problems as long as we live, and no matter how you think about them, there is no guarantee that it will disappear. The best part of your life should be you looking to do some new stuffs, like gardening, photography, beading, weaving, dancing etc.
When you are able to take up a hobby, you will find that these problems are actually manageable and not worth living depressed for.
e.Give yourself a treat.
Find that one thing daily that you will and can do to give yourself that extra pleasure. It is hard enough living and getting to become well formed means you must be will to change your flow pattern and become well adjusted with the day to day offing life has got under its sleeves.
You could get a massage, walk in the park and truly take in the moment, call a friend or loved one and talk for sometime, pay someone a visit if you can. Doing any of these will help you establish a positive behavioral pattern for yourself.
f.Be Happy.
Don't worry, be happy! You simply need not worry because there is no sunlight for the one who worries. The expression on your face can help you summon a positive attitude. The face being able to relax will help you bring healing to your heart.
If you put some efforts to smile despite the cloudy face you bear, you will be able to force your heart to smile along and push away the dark clouds that threaten to destroy you.
g.Reduce the sugar.
I think this is true to stopping depression because, if you have a large enough amount of sugar in your system, it will help give your emotions a dive in the wrong direction. Stress will thrive in a system that is purely sugar coated. Too much sugar in the system cause an increased release of insulin which results in low blood sugar, and low sugar will lead to depression. Learn to do away with it.
h.Check your medication.
Sometimes, depression is caused because we are unknowing taking the wrong drug that causes us the harm that we face. Many have lost their lives due to the usage of drugs they had no idea was working against them.
Ask your doctor about your drug intake and medication. Know what works and what doesn't and be sure to monitor your moods when in medication.
i.Be your own self-booster.
Low self-esteem is one other major cause of depression and when you are on a low self-esteem, you will nor be able to escape depression. Get into self-talking yourself so that you reverse what is happening or what is being said about you.
Encourage yourself with the tides of the moments that will suit you make you stand out. Rush into your inner self and love that you are yourself and refuse to be lacking in self-esteem.
j.Make a list.
Making a list of your daily challenges and accomplishment will help you forma track of your activities. When you make a list of your challenges, fails and accomplishments, you will be able to see for yourself where you got it wrong and where you need to make it right.
Writing it down makes it possible for you to lay claim to what needs to be held and pursued. Look into what the true state of your life is and what it should be. To do lists helps us meet our targets.
Depression is a killer and is known to slowly creep in and take away a once healthy life and squeeze the juice out of it.
I am not depressed and I am doing whatever it takes to make sure I provide value to every and anyone I meet.
Remember, talking to someone about yourself and how you feel when you feel out of place surely will help you run through your day winning against life's battles.
I hope you have been able to get something out of this piece? And if you or someone you know is depressed, do well to talk, check your medication, talk to someone, be happy etc and you will be making the world filled with some more happy people.
Image source.
Everyday Health Onhealth
Pixabay
Wow...depression starts to set in for me when I am kinda inactive. I always feel I am stagnant and not progressing like I should no matter what I have achieved.
Adding to the list, set a new goal and get busy. It necessary does not need to be financial or career goals, like @ejamai said a hobby is a way of killing off depression.
Add Steemit to the list, it keeps you busy you forget to get depressed.
I like this..
I think you are right. Thanks for sharing.
What a fully packed article on depression and how to overcome it. This article will help quite a number of people because a lot are passing through such position. Thanks @ejemai for this piece. Good morning
Yes yes i agree.... Alot of people battle with depression these days and its nice that someone cares enough to talk bout it... Good one @ejemai
I hope it does offer some help because I had to drop this after listening to an old friend's ordeal last night. You never know what it does to you until it is too late. Thanks.
i have a question that has been bothering me,
can someone be depresed for a good course
Nice vibes bro
I am a Ghanaian and i am very new on this platform, i just followed and viewed so posts of you.
Erm... Can i get you following .
Together we promote steemup in Africa.
Thank you boss
When you anything with more than think not. And tension not immediately depression will be. Depression from far having one way you think of free will be. As for example, you fun his tension reduced can bring
Only the depressed knows what he or she is going through and that is why you need to seek help and be willing to discuss with a professional. I went through depression couple of years back after the loss of my dad and some of the things you wrote actually helped but most importantly don't ever give up on life. Cry and process things naturally.
Professionals often don't help. I've been on over 20 pharmacy prescriptions and none of them every helped. Turns out cannabis oil is what stops all the madness but it's illegal here. The one thing that takes the constant feelings of needing to die to escape this is illegal and hardly anyone cares. I've been poisoned for decades for their profit. Anti-depressants never help anyone. I haven't had one day I wasn't depressed since age 14 when it started and gets worse every year.
Most doctors don't have a clue what to do. All I know is synthetic pills never help anyone and will destroy the mind and body. It's all a big scam to make billions. I gave up on life a long time ago. I just don't want my parents to have to bury me. It's because of those doctors I'm stuck on 5 prescriptions I can't get off. The DEA and FDA could care less about public health; they try and ban all these natural medications while in the background making synthetics of them so they can profit. The world is so screwed up. I wish I could cry, I'm dead inside.
For real though, no one cares. No one has in my 35 years of this hell. I have to suffer mentally and physically while knowing what stops the madness but it's just out of reach. Cannabis is a MIRACLE for autism and nerve pain but 20+ pharmacy meds not working is still not enough for me to earn the right to take low THC cannabis oil that doesn't even cause a high. It's insanity and not one person protests.e I don't think most people realize what's been going on. Most people only care about their own interests. The public doesn't want to deal with the disabled or Veterans. How on earth is any Veteran homeless? How are they still denying them cannabis when they have been protesting over this for decades?
If we can't take care of our heroes or handicapped we are in major trouble. No one is fighting for the homeless and I have no idea why it's never talked about and swept under the rug every year.
I've been screaming at the top of my lungs on the Internet for years and nothing ever comes of it. No one cares if I suffer and die. All I want is relief and to get to neutral from the negative 5-10 I wake up with every morning and it takes 3-4 hours just to get where I can start to relax and use the internet.
Sorry for ranting, I know I'm an idiot and self centered. I just don't know why cannabis oil is so much to ask after so many years. It's all around me, people smoking it in a 5 mile radius I bet but the disabled can't up and find random dealers, or afford it without insurance covering it.
You are not an idiot and definitely not self centered, you've been through a lot. Unfortunately there has always been politics in the health sector since time immemorial. I need to read up on this cannabis oil. I do hope you find solace soon.
Very amazing. Thank for sharing.
Health is wealth. So informative. It is important we share or talk to the right person about our situation. Thank you sir. I'm a big fan
I like that you decided to write on this topic. They can look completely okay on the outside but dead on the inside 😥. They pass each day convincing themselves to find a reason to survive and keep breathing and not take their lives especially teenagers and young adults. And most times the society we find ourselves in do not understand depression especially in Nigeria. Parents will be like "what could you possibly be depressd and thinking about?, your unborn children or your future family??" 😂😂
Thanks. It happens to the best of us because we find nothing similar to happiness except pain. When no one talks, it takes root but by being able to talk and listen to someone in that state, you will save a life.
crying is a major means to get off depression easily but like you said most people see it as weak i myself i cant really remember the last time i ever and lol am not planning to anytime soon... So how do i get off depression? yeah i tend to feel depressed a times but the for me being positive is key
You can imagine that most people dwell in thoughts of their fears and most times that fear comes to reality and depression sets in. its very important to maintain a positive mind set at all times no matter the situation.
The most important way getting off depression is believing and having the knowledge Christ and him crucified.
You are right, thinking about the situation gives no guarantees it will get better. Just focus on the good light and let no news be too hard to take.
We are face depression nearly on a daily bases at one point or the other. How frequent you easily get depressed could also be as a result of your temperament.
Those with melancholic temperament tend to be more prone to easily give in to the state of depression when not checked.
Thank you for the health tips... I wish to understad the sugar cause Didn't really get the realtion with insulin and depression.
Thanks @hillaryoki, too much sugar intake can tender the mind.
Thanks @hillaryoki, too much sugar intake can tender the mind.
I wish i could take full control of my emotions dam it!
Don't know what next to do!!💔
Hi @ategun. Take a deep breath and tell yourself you are awesome have what it takes to be the better version of yourself. Then, strap your earphone on and play your best track on repeat and take a long walk...to freedom.
I believe I can do better than this
feeling better now!!!
One of the bad things about depression is that the victim may not even be aware he/she has fallen into depression until it has eaten deep
I fell into depression a couple of years back, to be sincere it was not a wonderful experience.
People must make deliberate effort to overcome this menace.
Good morning
People who are most prone to depression are the ones who have a lot of free time in their lives. no sport still have no hobbies and they don't spent time with their families and lovers. closing on themselves in the bubble. they care to much about What will people say about them if they do this or that. So the best solution is to trust themselves and explore themselves.
That is shocking. I didn't know that being depressed would make brain scans look different.
depression leads a person to become suicidal. So, if a person is depressed, he needs someone to cheer him up or a time to relax. This article is very informative and useful to everyone. thank you for sharing @ejemai
For the past years, this has been my way out of depression(though it's a reflex action). You can't imagine how fast and magical it works. Thanks for this article @ejemai, cos I used to think it was abnormal when I cry like that... I can still use other ways of getting up off depression mentioned above and also mention it to people when needed
Depression might be noise mentality... It' could be waste anything...Still i'm depressed but i don't found hapiness.... It's so painful...
I never knew sugar, or excess of it got one depressed . Its time to drop down on the Coke,
"Create a cry time and use the tears as a punctuation time for your sadness. "
That's something I should try...
Anyway, thanks for your post. It's good that we've began to talk about it. I remember when depression was thought to be a spiritual affair and all.
Steem on!
Hahaha, depression has never been spiritual, ignorance made many see it that way and that ignorance had sent many to their early graves.
It's a good thing awareness is been created so we are well protected.
M actually going through this right now.
It all started yesterday evening, i actually thought when I sleep at night I'll get over it.
Right now i think I'll just follow your procedures.
Thank you
Hi @utomobong, make your mind a win mine and the minute you are able to successfully program it, you will find the tools to overcome these little shocks that dislodged our foundations.
There is so much to live for, so live and Steem with love!
You’re are indeed a role model. We all love you @steemibadanmeetup
Keep steeming and touching lives. More grease to your elbow
Thank you very much sir for this.
I really do hope depression is taken more serious in this part of the world where most don't believe we here can be depressed.
Its even more sad when most men are told to suck up their emotions and "man up" that's why we have so many violent men these days. Thanks for your tips; its a process,would try not to get soaked back in. Cheers!
Thank you. Growing up in a society where it forbidden for a man to cry has its various disadvantages. Learning to live for good helps the person who finds themselves in such states of depression.
Stay alive and happy.
Thank you. Growing up in a society where it forbidden for a man to cry has its various disadvantages. Learning to live for good helps the person who finds themselves in such states of depression.
Stay alive and happy.
an important article!
i believe everyone can go thrue deppression by been happy!
you must do thing that make you feel good about yourself !
wake up in the morning and smile even if you dont have any seen reason!
Thank you for this...
If we learn to live this way, we will live free and long.
What a timely piece.
We'll keep working to
Great one there @ejemai
STEEM ON!!!
Wow, we really needs write up like this especially at this time of economy melt down. So thoughtful of you to put this piece together. I must resteem this please.
True @ejemai. Was a victim April last year. Had a whole lot going on in my life, tried everything I could but failed and as a result I became depressed. Could remember the day I considered committing suicide. Thank God for the word of God I must say. That was one of the reasons I joined steemit so as to be occupied, apart from the financial benefit.
The truth is an idle mind is the devils workshop.
I wish I found this post when I was depressed. These are some very educative tips
For the past few weeks I have been feeling really depressed due to the fact that whatever I do, it just doesn't seem to work. I pushed people away, my friends especially I felt that I would drag the down with me, I felt useless I even gave up on trying, I even felt like ending it all in one occasion. But as I was reading this post I felt a warm feeling in my heart. I don't know why because the are other posts about overcoming depression but this one feels so special probably because I know you and have heard you speak a few times. But the fact still remains that this post helped me to start feeling better about myself. Just know that today your post has inspired someone that lost all hope in going on. So to that I say a very big thank you @ejemai
Very nice article, very much true. Depression is hard to deal with. I think anyone should read this, depressed or not. It will help you or your close ones.
Interesting!
Knowledge- most times it our lifestyle that triggers it.Thank you for this overwhelming article.
@ejemai i want to agree with you that this inner conflicts,is very dangerous and a silent killer that kills softly.
Thanks for this information.
Nice Article @ejemai, for me... I examine the "depression" is a kick-back of a decision that had we run, to manage depression with both my never attended training "ESQ" (Emotional Spiritual quation) where we were able to manage the "Depression" wisely
Good morning boss @ejemai...tganks for the stach hub once again....
Depression depression depression.......
It's not actually a good thing..... Bow there is a disease called clinical depression.....infact Nigeria records about 1.5 million cases of depression every year........ And it is caused by common things like depressed mood or lack of interest in activities...... And this leads to impairment in daily life.....
So fellow steemians behaves......
As a great man once said...... "greatest harms can come from simple things".......keeping yourself depressed can lead to something you might not be able to handle.......
Good post man. I've been very clinically depressed for 20 years. I honestly struggle with not wanting to die, but starting to believe I have no way of being able to go on much longer like this. I have zero purpose in life and in a lot of pain. I know everyone has problems though. I'm just very tired of fighting and things just are getting worse.
Depression is a silent killer. It throws people over the board.
I particularly like this point you made:
One top good thing to do is blog on Steemit.
That surely heals.