In this section you will find:
Take Care of Yourself
Self care is critical to living successfully with depression or any chronic illness. Unlike some ailments that can be resolved simply by “taking your medicine,” illnesses like depression require making lifestyle changes as well. That’s because the mind, the body and the environment impact each other constantly, in countless ways. Focusing solely on “treating your brain”, without concern for your overall physical condition or your surroundings, will yield only limited results.
Depressive disorders can make a person feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Such negative thoughts and feelings make some people feel like giving up. It is important to realize that these negative views are part of the depression and typically do not accurately reflect the actual circumstances. Negative thinking fades as treatment begins to take effect. In the meantime, consider the following:
- Set realistic goals in light of the depression and assume a reasonable amount of responsibility.
- Break large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you can as you can.
- Try to be with other people and to confide in someone; it is usually better than being alone and secretive.
- Participate in activities that may make you feel better.
- Mild exercise, going to a movie, a ball game, or participating in religious, social, or other activities may help.
- Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better takes time.
- It is advisable to postpone important decisions until the depression has lifted. Before deciding to make a significant transition - change jobs, get married or divorced - discuss it with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.
- People rarely "snap out of" a depression. But they can feel a little better day-by-day.
- Remember, positive thinking will replace the negative thinking that is part of the depression and will disappear as your depression responds to treatment.
- Let your family and friends help you.
The Role You Play in Your Treatment
Depression is a chronic disease, meaning that it is persistent, and repeated episodes can occur over time. But it’s also a manageable disease. As is the case with other chronic conditions such as diabetes or asthma, treatment focuses on taking daily steps to lessen the severity of symptoms and prevent the recurrence of troublesome episodes.
Relying on the Experts
Managing depression requires a treatment plan, and a team of experts to put that plan to work. Who are the experts on your treatment team?
To begin with, you’ll be relying on your physician or health care provider to assess your situation, prescribe medication and/or other treatment options, and to monitor your progress along the way.
Family members and friends may offer unique “expertise” as well. You’ll want to identify those in your circle who you know will be able to provide the “sounding board” you’ll need, offering support and encouragement, listening objectively without judging, and, when necessary, challenging your negative thinking. Whom you choose to include in your support system is your decision. While the process of building and relying upon an active support system is not always easy, it is an important component of your treatment plan.
Resources like those discussed in this section of the website can be important tools to use in conjunction with the evaluation and recommendations made by your healthcare professional. By putting this site to work in your treatment plan, you’re leveraging the knowledge of many experts about the latest advancements to help you better understand your diagnosis and determine the best path to pursue.
But there’s one more expert to consider, without whose participation your treatment plan cannot succeed. That expert is you.
No one knows you like you. Only you know how your depression feels, and only you will know whether or not your symptoms are in check. Your doctor understands how different medications impact the chemistry of the brain, and how specific treatments are intended to work. You are the expert on whether they work for you.
You’re also the expert when it comes to self care, the process of forming healthy habits and making positive changes to your daily routine in order to improve your emotional and physical health.
Self Care Portfolio
Skills and tools to help you manage your depression
When it comes to self care, you are in the driver’s seat. The steps you take and the decisions you make in every aspect of your daily life – nutrition, sleep, exercise, relaxation, even a hobby or a friendship – will help determine how well your depression responds to treatment. In this section of the website you’ll find information on each of the key components of self-care:
Sources
The content for Taking Care of Yourself was provided by the following NNDC sites unless otherwise specified above: