Depression symptoms are not always the same person to person, but can be identified as feeling some of the following: a state where you could feel less energetic, increased fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, loss of appetite, loss of motivation, loss of enjoyment in things that previously gave you joy and feeling angrier or overall irritable. Those who are depressed could not shower as regularly, eating more (or less than usual), sleeping less (or more than usual) and not connecting with friends, their partner or other important people in their life. Internal realities of depression can be a little nagging voice that tells screams “you are never enough” or “you could never do that” or “you can’t do that”. Those who are depressed can sometimes find it hard to talk about their feelings or internal experience because it can be overwhelming, a little ambiguous and is a heavy burden to them. The point is that the intensity of such symptoms can range person to person, but changing the state of depression are not as clear cut as “just change” or “just get over it”, which is the message that many of us receive from our employers, loved ones and other areas where we are relied on or needed to perform in.

“People who are experiencing depression are experiencing it for a reason and it is valid.”

Depression can be a common side effect for those who are experiencing transition, and those who have recently found out about a change in medical status or health and when something favorable or unfavorable happens in life. After all, not all of life is as perfect as Instagram and Facebook make it out to be. People who are experiencing depression are experiencing it for a reason and it is valid. Some reasons that people can be depressed, could be related to thought patterns and beliefs that perpetuate problematic thinking. For those who are depressed, their thoughts often are the primary battleground where feelings are derived. I would propose by identifying and challenging beliefs/thoughts that are so effortless to have, the reason(s) for depression can be found and liberated.

Time and time again, people who are wrestling with depression do so on a daily basis. These effortless thoughts are psychological jabs at the person’s mood and experience and it can be validated by the real world that they live in. Maybe their boss actually hates them. Maybe their marriage is actually in crisis. Maybe the symptoms of being so sad that it causes one to not eat and sleeping creates more real problems for them. Being sensitive to depression can be one of the best gifts you can give to someone who is wrestling with it.

What to do next?

In the event that this blog post hits a little close to home, here are a few action steps that you can take to better manage symptoms of depression:

1. Ask yourself about your thinking: “What thought is going through my head right now?” or “What’s going on in my life that inspired me to think this way?”

a. Once you have an idea of what is actually going through your head, take the thought seriously and evaluate it: “How true is this thought?” and “If this thought is true, why?” or “If this thought is rooted in something untrue, what is actually true about me/others/situation?”

2. Consider talking to a trusted friend/mentor/counselor about your thinking.

3. Practice self-care. Notice that some of the symptoms of depression include not taking care of yourself.

This post originally appeared on www.GraysonWallen.com/blog/DepressionDiscussion

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