Depression in Plain English

Depression, mild or sever, is on the rise worldwide. Why? Contribution from pressure from work, speed of life, finances, family issues, and societal/technological changes add to our ability to cope with and effectively process the mental, emotional, physical, and psychological demands on us. The good news is that these are triggers that can be eliminated.

The purpose of this blog is to share the techniques and tips that have worked for me and others I know who live with depression and their loved ones who support them.

Functional but Blue

Many of us with depression are highly functional which makes it even more difficult to decide on getting help. You don't have to go very far to see what I mean. Michael Phelps is arguably the greatest swimmer in history and also a spokesperson for talkspace , an online platform that offers convenient and affordable therapy. Functional doesn't mean healthy! Finding joy in our everyday activities, looking forward to the next hour and things that are coming, waking up with drive, and feeling no dread/fear/anxiety about what's coming is where your life could be... so start walking the depression road one step at the time. Tip: Put yourself to the test! 1. Ask yourself each evening what portion of the day you spent feeling that you did chores (this is not the activity but the general feeling of having to do rather than wanting to do). 2. Keep tabs for two week. 3. If you spend more than half of your time this way, it is time to change something and feel better. Only

Depression with Bidirectional Illnesses

Depression with Bidirectional Illnesses I've said this before... depression doesn't walk alone in most cases. The importance of this cannot be emphasized enough because the coexistence of conditions often lead to worsening conditions. The constant exposure/experience of the simultaneous illnesses often end up in competition for attention which feed the cycle and make things worse for both (or multiple conditions). While I cannot list all combinations in this post, I'd like to illustrate the point with some common occurrences. Depression and Insomnia It has been proven by research that insomnia is a huge risk factor for depression as well as a consequence of depression. This is not hard to understand. In layman terms, those of us who don't get enough sleep often experience lack of energy, memory problems, and a host of other symptoms that make normal functioning of body and mind difficult on a daily basis. The frustration with not being able to do all the thing

Break the Negative Cycle

Part of why depression is so debilitating is the vicious circle of negative thinking. It goes something like this: I feel down > I'm lazy > I don't deserve ______ > I feel guilty/anxious/stressed/pain/paranoid/whatever > I should _____ > I'm tired > I don't care > leave me alone > REPEAT Here are some techniques I used to break this cycle: Listen to comedy - not the sarcastic type but pure funny stuff Search for quotes on life wisdom - ponder its truth and how (if at all) you can apply it Clean something - it is amazing how focusing on a simple task can give your mind a break Write a note of appreciation - like smiling, using positive language raises your spirit/mood Breath - if you don't know how, look up yoga/meditation/mindfulness The possibilities are endless. The main idea I am highlighting is to FOCUS on something for a little while (15 minutes) to give your mind a break from negative thinking. This will allow you to s

Depression Road

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