Many of us experience depression.
These tips may help you better manage it.
Talk therapy can help. Cognitive therapy will provide a way to look more closely at your thoughts. Sometimes we get into habitual thought spirals that can take us down dark alleys. Learning to identify the start of a spiral and replacing it with other thoughts can really help. A classic book on this technique is Feeling Good by David Burns,
Exercise, omega-3s, and sunlight or vitamin D can help alleviate depressive symptoms.
Before starting a medication, get a DNA test for psychotropics. Any medical doctor can arrange it. This takes the guesswork out of finding a medication that works for you.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is easy to diagnose. If you feel more depressed on cloudy days or in the winter, you may have it. It tends to run in families. I use a sunlight-replacing light by Verlux called “Happy Light.” The light needs to sit at a 45-degree angle so that it hits the eyes like sunlight would.
St. John’s Wort is a natural herb that is helpful when depressive symptoms occur. I do not find the tablet effective, but like the tea leaves. Like any herb, dosage must be monitored if used with other substances, such as marijuana.
Treatment for traumas, recent and distant, can be useful. In Kansas City, we have MOCSA, a non-profit with skilled practitioners to help individuals process childhood sexual abuse. We also have a number of domestic violence shelters that offer free outpatient services.
Grief can result in depressive symptoms. Crossroads Hospice is a good place to start to find help. Illnesses, like cancer, can cause depression. Gilda’s Place would be the place to go for that. Other specialized organizations are around town for other diseases, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Many have literature along with individual or group support.
If you or someone you know has symptoms of depression, reach out to any of the services mentioned above to get help.
Referrals Welcome.
Want to talk? Make an appointment with me – phone, teletherapy, or in person.
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Source of photos: monkeybusiness(Monkey Business) – Image file – via depositphotos.com; and Milkos(Prostock Group – Image file – via depositphotos.com
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