How to deal with depression with folk remedies

Bad mood, melancholy, depression, irritability, anxiety - such states are familiar to absolutely every person. This is normal, because life cannot consist only of positive experiences and positive impressions. Emotional ups and downs are sure to be replaced by downturns. Problems begin when, over a long period, the ability to rejoice, to enjoy events, as well as things that you liked before, is lost. IN similar cases depression may be suspected.

In order to know how to deal with depression, it is first important to understand what the symptoms of this disorder are and how it can be triggered. Only an objective understanding of the essence of this disease will help restore inner harmony.

More than just a bad mood: the main symptoms of depression.

Many people think that depression is just a bad mood. However, such an opinion is overly simplified, and therefore erroneous. When it comes to the clinical syndrome, it negatively affects all areas of life at once.

Symptoms of depression appear on four levels simultaneously:

Emotions - covers a bad mood, exclusively negative experiences, melancholy, sadness, inability to enjoy anything, irritability.
Thoughts - negative thinking prevails, pessimistic thoughts haunt, the past, present, and the future seem unpromising, a person begins to think very slowly.
Behavior - apathy, motor retardation, refusal of food or its excessive consumption, sleep disturbances.
Physical condition - headaches, memory problems, exacerbated chronic diseases.

For those who have never experienced such a state, it may seem that it is far-fetched. But the depressive syndrome leads to an imbalance in the cerebral cortex, which entails listed symptoms. A person affected by this syndrome really cannot work and rest. He has no desire and strength to even get out of bed. This is a serious disease that requires professional treatment. The sooner competent treatment begins, the sooner it will be possible to return to normal life.

Depression is recognized by experts as the most common mental disorder. Statistics say that every tenth inhabitant of the planet is exposed to it, and this trend is only increasing. Forecasts World Organization of health care is shocking: until 2020, this disorder will lead the ranking of diseases, ahead of even infectious diseases.

Express diagnostics of depression.

Diagnosing depression is very simple. It is enough to pass a small test.

It consists of two lists that list the symptoms of this mental disorder:

The main ones are a bad mood, increased fatigue, loss of interest in any activity (communication, work, entertainment).
Additional - low self-esteem, anxiety, worthlessness, pessimism, inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, insomnia or excessive sleepiness, indecision, thoughts of death, suicide.

If there are two main symptoms, as well as three additional ones for two weeks or more, then the person is in a state of depression. Experts consider a steady predominance of negative experiences and the presence of two more conditions from those listed above to be an alarming signal.

A person suffering from this syndrome needs immediate help. It must be provided by qualified professionals..

Causes of depression.

The causes of depression are divided into two groups:

Internal causes - a violation of neurochemical processes in the cerebral cortex (problems in the exchange of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin). Often the main internal cause is a genetic predisposition that some people suffer from.
External factors - the death of loved ones, a painful break in relationships, the inability to achieve a goal, social failure, problems at work, a serious illness (one's own or relatives).

Depression can be provoked by one strong shock that happened absolutely unexpectedly for a person, or a series of negative events. In the second case, the principle of "last drop" applies. Nobody is immune from this. Scientists, however, have found that women are more prone to experiencing this disorder.

Regardless of the cause that provoked the formation and development of symptoms, a person needs competent treatment for depression. If you do not resort to the help of professionals, this disease will drag on for months or even years. It is impossible to predict the consequences. It could even be suicide.

Ways to deal with depression.

The fact that help for depression should be professional is beyond doubt. A psychiatrist and a psychotherapist will help to cope with this disease, return the opportunity to feel positive emotions and enjoy life to a person.

Specialists use two methods of treatment:

Medication - the patient is prescribed a course of taking antidepressants. Drugs, as well as their dose, are selected strictly individually.

In modern medicine, three groups of drugs are used - inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and second-generation drugs. They help restore communication between brain neurons, which relieves symptoms. Taking antidepressants is effective in 60% of cases. Since the use of these medications is often associated with side effects, such as decreased libido, dry mouth, they are prescribed only for severe or moderate depression.

The advantage of antidepressants is that when used systematically, they effectively reduce depressive symptoms and help a person control emotions.

The lack of antidepressants is that they relieve symptoms, but do not solve the root of the problem, without which complete healing is impossible.

Psychotherapy is the most effective way to cure depression permanently. Any event that has a traumatic effect on the psyche can cause this syndrome. But psychologists and psychotherapists say that this is just an excuse for the development of a disorder. The real reason lies much deeper. It hides in the subconscious sphere and consists in the presence of unconscious mental trauma. A person will not be able to independently identify it, because this is prevented by reliable mental protection. Only with the help of a qualified psychotherapist will it be possible to understand what kind of mental trauma provokes depressive states. Realizing the true cause of the disease can be healed.

In severe forms, it is desirable to use a medical and psychotherapeutic approach at the same time to treat depression. Comprehensive treatment will provide maximum efficiency. In mild forms of the disorder, psychotherapy should be preferred.

Effective directions of psychotherapy against depression.

Among a large number psychotherapeutic areas, experts identify a group that is most effective against depression. And the number includes:

Cognitive therapy - helps to identify the features of depressive thinking, which is individual for each person, and reorient it to rational models of thinking, a positive perception of the world.
Behavioral (behavioral) therapy - relieves negative mental disorders by modeling behavior. The psychotherapist helps the patient get rid of unproductive behavior patterns, replace them with useful ones. Under the influence of changes at the physical level, the mental sphere also changes.
Deep psychotherapy - helps to realize the mental traumas hidden from a person, which negatively affect his behavior, emotional state.
Art therapy - harmonization of the patient's psycho-emotional state occurs with the help of a creative act. For this, drawing, playing music, modeling, carving and other areas of art can be used.

Psychotherapy can be group or individual. A person must choose the direction and form of classes that will be most comfortable for him.

How to help yourself with depression.

Many are interested in the question of how to relieve depression on their own, and is it possible. With a mild form and in the initial stages, while the person is still aware of the perniciousness of the whole situation and seeks to correct it, the following recommendations will help:

It is necessary to systematically perform physical exercises (even through force).
Alternate work with rest (it should be interesting and varied), sleep enough.
Set realistic goals and gradually achieve them. Don't count on "everything at once". This is the path to depressive disorders.
Focus on positive events and achievements, not on the negative.
Try something new: interesting view sports, travel, needlework, go to courses.
Take responsibility for your own life.
At the first sign of a disorder, contact a specialist.

Possible Complications

It is impossible to ignore the symptoms of depression, expecting that everything will be resolved by itself. Untimely or illiterate treatment often leads to the development of addictions in a person (drug addiction, gambling addiction), the destruction of relationships with loved ones, and suicide.

In the old days, the state of black melancholy, blues and apathy, in which a person completely lost the ability to enjoy life, the desire to develop and dream, play with children and communicate with loved ones, was called melancholia. Currently, a more modern concept is used in psychiatry - depression, which is derived from the Latin deprimo - suppression, crush. According to statistics, the growth rate of this pathology is simply threatening. Let's take a closer look at how to deal with depression, including with the help of folk remedies.

Not only the patient himself suffers from depression, but also his immediate environment, because the painful condition radically changes the habits and behavior, as well as the basic physiological characteristics of a person. In addition to the classical form of depression, there are several of its varieties: atypical, postnatal, transient and dysthymia.

Causes of depression

The disease can be formed under the influence of internal and external factors. Reactive depression occurs as a result of a person’s internal experiences caused by serious stress, for example, the death of a loved one, loss of material values, divorce, etc. In these circumstances, a person is oppressed by a sense of loss and a feeling of complete helplessness.

Endogenous depression develops with complete external well-being, and it is caused by malfunctions in the body.

Internal causes of depression:

hormonal disorders, in particular, a decrease in the production of neurotransmitters, primarily serotonin, disruptions in the synthesis of norepinephrine, dopamine;
hormonal changes in the body during certain life periods (after childbirth, menopause, puberty);
systematic use medicines, one of the side effects of which is depression;
diseases of the nervous and endocrine systems (neurasthenia, hypothyroidism);
deficiency of vitamins and minerals (hypovitaminosis), the lack of B vitamins especially affects the state of the nervous system;
dehydration of the body;
anemia;
infectious diseases;
chronic pathologies;
deficit sunlight(seasonal depression);
lack of sufficient oxygen supply;
alcoholism;
addiction;
abuse of sedatives and sleeping pills.

Depression - symptoms

To qualify for a diagnosis of depression, the following symptoms must be present for at least two weeks:

loss of interest in the environment and life orientations;
constantly lowered emotional background, pessimism, complete concentration of thoughts on negative events and feelings;
loss of working capacity;
weakness;
insomnia;
increased irritability;
low self-esteem, bouts of self-flagellation;
loss of appetite;
weight loss or, conversely, uncontrolled weight gain;
unmotivated fear and panic attacks;
decrease in cognitive functions of the brain (inability to concentrate);
lethargy;
excessive fatigue and loss of energy.

Possible Complications of Depression

When ignoring the growing symptoms, the general state of the patient's health worsens, there is an exacerbation of existing chronic diseases, the quality of life is significantly reduced. With a timely visit to the doctor, the prognosis for the treatment of a depressive state is favorable. The most difficult thing is to acknowledge the presence of the disease and take the first step towards recovery.

Never use synthetic antidepressants and sleeping pills without the appointment of a specialist, as uncontrolled intake can only aggravate the pathology, causing serious mental disorders.

How to deal with depression?

It is traditionally believed that in most cases a person is not able to overcome depression on his own. The help of a psychotherapist consists in making a diagnosis and helping to get out of a pathological state by taking antidepressants, which can be conditionally divided into stimulating and sedative effects.

Stimulant drugs are aimed at treating lethargic and dreary depression. Sedatives are prescribed for symptoms of anxious depression. Good results are achieved by combining drug therapy with meditation, acupuncture, light, color, art and music therapy.

diet for depression

Before starting therapy, it is necessary to adjust the diet, enriching it with vitamins, amino acids, trace elements. A number of foods have natural antidepressant properties.

First of all, they include food rich in an essential amino acid - tryptophan, which helps to increase the production of serotonin in the brain. The highest concentration of tryptophan is present in mushrooms, oats, bananas, soybeans, nuts, seeds, dried dates, dairy and fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir, cheese, whole milk), dietary meat, chocolate, freshly squeezed carrot juice.

Be sure to enrich the diet with foods containing B vitamins: bee pollen, bran, yeast, including beer, whole grain bread, legumes, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens, green vegetables, citrus fruits, eggs, liver and other offal, meat, fish, cheese, tofu, kefir, buckwheat, corn, spinach, seafood.

It is advisable to include food rich in iron and vitamin C in the menu. Honey, especially buckwheat and sunflower, dried apricots, rose hips and sea buckthorn, decoction of oat grains, prunes, raisins, grapes should be eaten daily. We should not forget about foods rich in magnesium, on which the work of the heart and central nervous system directly depends. Supplement your diet with cauliflower, nuts, peas, lentils, peaches, avocados, cereals, coriander, basil, sage.

An important point in the treatment of a depressive state there is compliance with the water regime (2 liters of spring water per day). Scientists have proven that dehydration causes an excessive consumption of the amino acid tryptophan, which is fraught with a decrease in the production of “happiness hormones” in the brain.

How to deal with depression on your own folk remedies?

Good results in the treatment of depression can be achieved by combining traditional treatments with folk remedies:

Valerian root . The infusion helps with increased excitability, convulsions, insomnia. crushed dry valerian root(2 tsp) pour a glass of boiling water, insist for 2 hours, filter and take 15-20 ml three times a day.

Collection of herbs. Herbal tea helps to relax and optimize mood. mix hop cones, inflorescences chamomile, valerian root and whole dried lemon balm bushes in a ratio of 2:1:1:1 and grind the plants in a coffee grinder. Two tablespoons of the collection are brewed in a thermos with 0.4 liters of boiling water. Strained tea is consumed during the day in small portions, and before going to bed they drink a glass of infusion.

Oats. Oat straw infusion saturates the body with B vitamins and other nutrients for the nervous system. Three tablespoons of straw pour 0.4 liters of boiling water, leave for 1.5 hours, filter. Take 50 ml 4 times a day.

St. John's wort. Traditional medicine doctors prescribe a decoction of St. John's wort as a proven antidepressant. A dessert spoon of dry raw materials is poured into a glass hot water and simmer in a water bath for about 10 minutes. Strained broth is taken 3 times a day before a meal, ½ cup.

Mint. A proven remedy for relieving attacks of irritability, normalizing sleep, improving general condition. tablespoon dried or fresh mint leaves boil over low heat for about 10 minutes and take ¾ cup in the morning after waking up and before going to bed. To enhance the healing properties of the drink, natural honey is added to it.

Soothing baths with a decoction of medicinal herbs. Mix in equal proportions rosemary herb, wormwood and linden blossom. 700 gr collection pour 4 l cold water in an enamel saucepan, put on fire, bring to a boil, and boil for 5 minutes. The filtered broth is poured into a warm bath. The procedure is carried out before going to bed 2-3 times a week for a quarter of an hour. Such baths help to relax and relieve anxiety symptoms, and also contribute to a quality night's rest.

Sea salt. Baths with sea salt (3-4 times a week) have proven themselves well for depression. You can also apply saline wipes in the morning (a tablespoon of sea or table salt per 1 liter of warm water).

Aromatherapy. A number of essential oils have mild antidepressant properties, in particular, orange, lavender, frankincense, rosemary, clary sage. It is advisable to wear an aroma medallion with the addition of 1 drop of one or a mixture of oils, aromatization of rooms, especially before bedtime, baths (3-4 drops of any of the proposed oils or their combination per 20 g of the base base, which is used as bath foam, cream, honey, salt), enrichment of cosmetics (2 drops per 10 ml base).

An important role in the treatment of depression is played by daily long walks (at least an hour), especially in the forest zone, park, square. Sports, dancing, yoga, Pilates increase the body's ability to produce "happiness hormones", so you should choose the most acceptable and harmonious type of physical activity for yourself.

Healing from depression is a long and hard way, but the combination of methods of conservative and traditional medicine will help to overcome it as quickly and painlessly as possible. Be healthy!

Hello dear readers. The mood is useless, there is no strength at all, nothing pleases and I just want everyone to be left alone. This state is probably familiar to everyone. Depressive moods have become part of our everyday life. In one form or another, they are often found here and there. But this condition cannot be ignored. It doesn't rush through on its own. Therefore, it is important to know how to cope with depression so that the situation does not reach a critical one.

What is depression - what happens

True depression is a serious mental disorder. Without the help of experienced professionals, it is unlikely to be able to cope here.

But this does not mean at all that even in a neglected case, you should not try to correct the state of affairs on your own. And even more so if it is a mild depressive form or just a very bad mood.

The main types of depressive disorders:

Seasonal depression. It is connected mainly with a serious lack of solar radiation, falls on the period of autumn-winter-early spring. The light of the sun plays an important role in the synthesis of “happiness hormones”. Changes in circadian rhythms, beriberi, and stress are also superimposed here. More common in middle age. But in last years there is a trend of increasing susceptibility to seasonal depression of children and adolescents.

Neurotic depression (dysthymia). Associated with a feeling of unfulfillment, underestimation by others. It begins with a tendency to feel sorry for oneself and disappointment in others. There is increased tearfulness, general weakness, hypotension, sexual disorders, pessimism, low self-esteem, chronic lack of energy.

Psychogenic depression. The impetus here is a major negative event: parting with a loved one, loss of a job, someone's death, revealing a secret, rape, etc. In this case, there are sharp fluctuations in mood, a special painful susceptibility and an acute reaction to stimuli. The condition worsens rapidly and easily becomes severe.

postpartum depression. It is one of the varieties of female depression. It is associated with hormonal attacks, overwork and cardinal changes in life. It is characterized by fatigue, nervousness, sleep disorders. May cause rejection of the child or his father, even for no apparent reason.

Circular depression. As a rule, it is expressed in mood swings during the day. It starts with sleep disturbances. A person wakes up very early and is tormented by gloomy thoughts. Symptoms can be different: apathy, emotionlessness, hysteria, anxiety, inventing terrible diagnoses for yourself, high fatigue, etc.

Medical depression. Certain medications can cause depressive moods as a side effect. As a rule, the condition returns to normal after the completion of the course of treatment with this medicine.

Alcoholic depression. It is associated with the refusal of alcoholic beverages in alcohol-dependent people. Life loses its brilliance, there is a sharp lack of incentives, interest in everything that happens is lost.

Somatogenic depression. It is secondary, as it appears after the discovery of a serious illness or severe physical injury. A person worries that the disease cannot be overcome and everything seems to him unfair and meaningless.

Women's depression. It is associated with cyclical processes in women and is caused by hormonal surges and pain syndrome. It often develops in the premenstrual period and directly during menstruation. There is irritability, tearfulness, melancholy, sleep disturbances, anxiety, bad mood.

Atypical depression. It is distinguished by symptoms unusual for this condition: increased appetite, sudden weight gain, constant drowsiness, unnaturally violent emotional response to positive events.

Thus, there is a division of depressive disorders according to the type of causes that caused them:

- exogenous - cause external factors;

- endogenous - develop as a result of malfunctions in the body.

How to recognize depression

There are frequent cases when it is difficult even for a specialist to determine the presence of a depressive state, and even more so to correlate it with a certain type of disorder.

This happens when the pathology is “disguised”, manifesting itself only as an indistinctly expressed one symptom.

But still, more often the signs of depression are quite recognizable:

✔ Bad mood, depression.

✔ Increased anxiety, irritability.

✔ Loss of interest, indifference to what is happening, apathy.

✔ High fatigue, catastrophic lack of strength.

✔ Closedness, unwillingness to communicate, leave the house or even leave the room.

✔ Loss of concentration, problems with memory and attention.

✔ Fixation on negative aspects, inability to see the positive aspects, perception of the world in black, lack of prospects, awareness of one's own worthlessness and meaninglessness of being.

✔ Loss of incentives.

✔ Anguish, misgivings, despair.

✔ Sleep disturbances, often expressed in insomnia, but drowsiness is also possible.

✔ Decreased appetite up to its complete loss, weight loss.

✔ Sudden change of mood.

✔ Hypersensitivity, painful reaction to everything.

✔ Constipation, pain in the abdomen.

✔ Heart pain.

✔ Migraine.

✔ Decreased or absent physiological sexual desire.

✔ Refusal to comply with hygiene requirements and inattention to their appearance.

✔ Uncertainty in own forces, indecision, inability to make a decision; decrease in self-esteem.

✔ Lethargy, passivity, sluggish flow of thoughts, difficulty in meaningful dialogue.

✔ The appearance of addictions (smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, passion for painkillers and sleeping pills).

✔ Suicidal tendencies.

In order to be diagnosed with depression, a certain set of symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. But not always, neither the patient himself nor his environment perceive the changes that have appeared as a pathology.

People are more inclined to consider this as a manifestation of selfishness, irresponsibility, bad character, laziness, promiscuity. Or they consider this condition a normal reaction to the occurrence of difficulties in life.

But depression tends to progress. Therefore, it is important to identify it in time and purposefully engage in a cure.

In order to overcome depression, you first need to identify the factors that provoked its development. Possible reasons depression is quite varied. They can be both internal, associated with the state of health, and external.

Reasons for the development of depression.

1. Biological

✔ hereditary predisposition.

✔ Failures in neurochemical processes (disturbances in the production of norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine, etc.).

✔ Hormonal changes in women (menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause).

✔ The presence of somatic lesions of the body (liver disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, malfunction of the thyroid gland, neoplasms).

✔ Taking certain medications, such as statins (which lower cholesterol).

2. Psychological

✔ Pessimistic way of thinking.

✔ Strong emotional upheavals (death, separation, deceit, witnessed a crime, etc.).

✔ Abnormal family relationships (criticism, excessive demands, conflict).

✔ The absence of a true friend, a source of psychological support.

3. Social

✔ Information overload.

✔ Fast paced life.

✔ Chronic lack of sleep.

✔ Physical exhaustion.

✔ The cult of the image of physical perfection.

✔ The need to be successful, high competition.

✔ Social insecurity, instability.

The causes of depression often overlap. Systemic lesions of the body often lead to the appearance of pessimistic moods, despondency, a sense of doom.

But at the same time, the wrong attitude significantly worsens the patient's condition and reduces the chances of recovery, and sometimes even survival.

Seasonal and postpartum type of depression can be unequivocally considered a mixed type, since both external and internal factors are simultaneously affected here.

Treating depression with medications

The modern approach to solving the problem involves a combination of various methods. Medical care will be successful only if the patient regularly comes to the appointment and openly reports about his experiences and changes in his condition.

The doctor himself cannot guess about all the nuances. Basically, antidepressants are used here, which are prescribed only by a doctor.

- Prozac;

- fevarin;

- paroxetine;

- aurorix;

- coax.

They are not addictive, and therefore there are no problems with stopping the intake.

After the removal of acute conditions, maintenance therapy is carried out to prevent possible relapses (at least 4 months).

The help of a psychologist or psychotherapist should not be considered as a substitute for taking medication. These methods complement each other. But here the patient is an active participant in the process.

He learns to cope with emotional outbursts, masters self-control practices, helps the specialist to identify and eliminate internal conflicts (the desire not to stand out, but to be noticed, to be independent and have the support of others, etc.), perception errors, false values, etc.

The support of loved ones plays an important role in solving the problem.

Realize that you have the right to be imperfect and can afford to give up for a while. Even very strong personalities go through difficult periods. But this is just such a stage. You can't put up with it and give up.

Depression, first of all, is a signal that something does not suit you. Make a list of the most significant of these aspects and identify the reasons for each of them. You can probably solve most of them yourself. So, if you have problems on the personal front, then you should not lie down facing the wall, but think about where to go in the evening to make new acquaintances. And there will be no more depression

Put everything on the shelves - both thoughts and things in the house. Get rid of old trash, both material and mental.

Think about your desires. Yes, they are dormant now, but they need to be awakened. Start following them through force, and there the hunt will appear.

Try to rest. Remember that you are not a draft horse and there are always a few tasks and responsibilities that can wait. And those who expect something completely different from you - yes, they are. It's time to think about yourself. Listen to your favorite music (not depressing, but life-affirming!), take a bath, treat yourself to goodies, sleep off.

Walk at a brisk pace. Often melancholy "comes out through the legs." Go where you haven't been before - to a chamber music concert, to a contemporary art theater, to a temple. Or switch to sports training. Jump with a parachute.

Do something unusual, but uncomplicated, where you can quickly get a specific result. Enjoy it.

Help someone. For example, take care of a lonely neighbor for free or pick up a puppy on the street. You will feel needed.

The main thing is to act. Some of these methods may or may not work. Then you need to look further. And don't hesitate to ask for help.

Everything is so terrible that you no longer have the strength to endure this feeling, it seems to you that you are alone in the whole world, and no one is able to understand you. But you are not alone! Depression is a fairly common disease, which, according to experts, affects about 10% of the population of our country! . Depression is a serious illness. If you do not take timely treatment, then all areas of your life can suffer! Don't let despair get the better of you. So, are you ready to fight depression? Then start right now!.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, seek help immediately! Call to emergency services or by hotline psychological assistance services: 8-800-100-01-91.

Steps

Recognizing depression

Visit doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor. Depression can lead to mental and even physical problems! It is important to understand exactly how you feel. The doctor will help you with this. The doctor will help rule out physical causes of your condition.

Your doctor may recommend a psychiatrist to help you manage your depression.

Prepare for your doctor's visit. The survey is usually fast. Here are some tips to help you meet deadlines with maximum benefit:

Ask someone to go to the doctor with you. Ask good friend or one of the relatives to accompany you. They will not only support you morally, but will also help inform the doctor necessary information in case you forget anything.

Lifestyle changes

Take the medicines your doctor has prescribed for you. Observe the dosage and frequency of use. Do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor.

If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, it is important to let your doctor know. Some antidepressants can pose significant health risks to you and your baby. Discuss your situation with your doctor so that he can prescribe the most appropriate treatment for you.

Take a course in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy courses are counseling and identification of psychological problems, as well as finding solutions to them. This is one of the key methods of dealing with depression. . Psychotherapy can help you gain a sense of harmony and control over your life, as well as relieve symptoms of depression. You can also gain experience in order to easily cope with stress in the future.
- Talking about your depression can help more than just you! Too many have suffered this disease alone, and you can end the suffering of hundreds of others by talking as much as you can about your depression.
Think of something good every day. In the clinic, this is called cognitive behavioral therapy. It is one of the best treatments for depression. . You need to make an effort to discover negative thoughts and beliefs, and then try to replace them with positive ones. After all, you can't always change the situation, but you can always change how you feel about it.
- To succeed in this endeavor, seek the help of a counselor or therapist who can help you identify negative experiences in your life and replace them with positive ones.
Do exercises. Physical activity significantly reduces symptoms of depression. so move as much as you can. Find something that brings you pleasure and do it regularly:
- Walk
- Team sports (volleyball, football, basketball, etc.)
- Gardening
- Swimming
- Fitness
Control emotions. Try meditation, yoga, tai chi. . Try to find harmony. If you don't have enough time, skip things that can wait. Find time for yourself.

Get enough sleep. Healthy sleep has a strong impact on your physical and mental health. . Talk to your doctor if you have trouble sleeping.

Almost every person has experienced depression at least once, which can be triggered by various factors: problems in personal life, health, financial difficulties. Depression is accompanied by apathy, loss of strength, negative thoughts. For many who are faced with a problem, the actual question becomes this: how to deal with depression. It is possible to defeat a disease (and this is a disease that negatively affects the physical, emotional state) with the help of special therapy, drugs, or by pulling yourself together, changing your life.

Causes of depression

The development of depression can occur as a result of external factors that negatively affect the emotional state of a person, his physical health. Troubles in the professional sphere, problems in personal life or the presence of a serious illness always lead to a deterioration in mood, the appearance of apathy. Common causes of depression are:

separation from a loved one;
death of a loved one;
troubles at work that entail financial difficulties;
identification of an incurable disease or pathology;
childbirth, pregnancy.

To decide how to deal with depression, it is important to correctly identify the causes of its development. Based on the source of a bad mood and a serious condition, it is necessary to choose the right methods for getting rid of the symptoms and consequences of the disease in order to get the maximum effect. So, it is much easier to deal with seasonal autumn blues, because conservative methods will help here, in contrast to overcoming postpartum depression. Consider the main causes of the development of the disease, which will help in the future to choose a treatment method.

After parting

A common cause of depression is separation from a loved one. This is caused by a strong emotional attachment to a partner who left, left, offending sincere feelings, neglecting the emotions of a recently loved one. A sudden break in relations provokes the development of internal discomfort, feelings of apathy, melancholy, detachment, which leads to depression. In such a situation, a person closes himself inside himself, tries to protect himself from everyone, everything, including new feelings, thereby dooming himself to loneliness.

After divorce

The breakup of a family, a change in established habits, lifestyle and way of life drives some into a deep depression. Divorce is a difficult psychological process that negatively affects a person’s condition, deprives life of colors, meaning and desire to do something. The emptiness that has formed in the soul does not help to fill either your favorite food, or watching movies, or chatting with friends. Favorite work or hobby does not cause the former joy, and once beloved things, photographs, reminiscent of family life, inspire melancholy, sadness.

During pregnancy

During pregnancy, hormonal and physical changes in the body occur in the girl's body, which affects the psycho-emotional state and can lead to depression. In most cases interesting position The fair sex is accompanied by euphoria, immense joy and happiness, but often there is a radically opposite reaction - stress, loss of strength, bad mood and apathy.

To find the answer to the question of how to deal with depression during pregnancy, it should be taken into account that the disease can develop and proceed in different ways, depending on whether this child is desired or an accident:

With an unwanted pregnancy, the cause of depression may be the collapse of hopes due to the birth of a child; rupture or deterioration of relations with the future father of the child; financial difficulties associated with unexpected and unplanned conception. In this case, it is worth fighting the disease while it has its initial form, otherwise it may adversely affect the health of the baby or lead to a miscarriage.
If everything is very clear with the first option, then the question naturally arises why depression occurs during a desired pregnancy and how to deal with it. The development of a complex psycho-emotional state leads to a change in the usual way of life, a decrease in activity (both physical and business, emotional), an increase in sensitivity, tearfulness.

After childbirth

Postpartum depression is a common occurrence and occurs in every third woman on maternity leave. The reasons for a bad mood, a deterioration in the emotional state immediately after childbirth include:

Dissatisfaction with one's own appearance, the presence of a postpartum belly and extra pounds.
Complications after childbirth, a difficult physical condition affects the psyche and can provoke the development of depression.
Difficulties with the child, his frequent crying, the constant demand for attention, the fear of not coping with maternal responsibilities - leads to depression, which is extremely difficult to fight.
A radical change in lifestyle, the emergence of new responsibilities, a high level of responsibility for a child - all this puts moral pressure on a woman and sometimes breaks them, provoking the development of stress, depression, depression.

At work

Work activity is often the cause of the development of depression, which must be addressed, otherwise it can negatively affect work results, skills and abilities, and financial condition. The main reasons for the development of depression in the professional sphere are:

Fear of not coping with the assigned responsibilities, not meeting the expectations of others.
Work causes negative emotions, anger, aggression, provokes the development of prolonged stress, depression.
Lack of money, unfair and disproportionate wages in accordance with the work performed.

Is it possible to overcome depression and apathy on your own?

Many people know the classic methods that help fight depression. These include consultations and therapy with a psychologist, taking special medications (antidepressants), following certain doctor's recommendations. But the possibility of treating the disease on their own has already been proven and tested in humans. This is a long, laborious process that requires considerable effort, but it is quite possible to achieve a positive result. In order to fight depression on your own, you need to:

Identify the cause of a bad, depressed mood, depression and eliminate everything that reminds you of troubles, people who have left your life and give up a reclusive life.
Find a strong motivation that will help you see a new meaning in life, get out of a state of deep depression.
Gather all your strength into a fist, tune in to a positive and effective outcome of the struggle.
Do not be afraid to ask for help, because it is extremely difficult to deal with such a serious illness on your own. When a reliable shoulder of a true friend or loved one is nearby, it is much easier to cope with depression, it gives strength and self-confidence, and a friend will not let you turn off the right path.

Ways to beat depression and bad mood

In order to fight depression, there are several ways that can be used in combination to achieve an effective result. They can be used in combination or only some of them - all individually. How to deal with depression:

Determine the cause of the bad mood. The choice of a method of dealing with depression is influenced by the cause of the depressed state, apathy. To start therapy, it is worth getting rid of everything that makes you sad, makes you cry and reminds you of the troubles that led to such a sad state. This is the only sure way to get rid of the old life, depression and start new life.
Make a list of what makes you happy. Think about what you enjoy, what can bring joy back to life, make you laugh and feel like a really happy person. It can be a hobby, a favorite hobby, walking and meeting with friends, playing sports, riding a carousel with a child, or reading a favorite book. Try to devote more time to such activities - this will help get rid of a bad mood, distract from negative thoughts and get a boost of positive energy.
Change what you can change. Try to make at least minimal changes in those areas of life where possible: change jobs, environment, environment; change your appearance, visit a beauty salon, update your wardrobe; give up bad habits or at least your usual route to work. This will allow you to look at life in a new way, open up new opportunities, forget about depression.
Set goals for yourself and focus on them. A person cannot live aimlessly, he needs an incentive to move forward. Make a list of 10 goals for the coming year and make a commitment to yourself to achieve them no matter what.
Rest and relax more often. A full sleep (at least 8 hours at night) will help to fight a difficult emotional state, get a boost of energy. In addition, do not forget about the rest from work and everyday work. Go on a weekend trip to the countryside, go to the cinema, or just read good book- The main thing is that the activity brings pleasure.
Eat right. Give up junk food, foods that irritate the nervous system, for example, causative agents are alcohol, caffeine (this will help fight hypertension, which often accompanies depression). Try to eat more raw vegetables and fruits that can give you a boost of energy, good health and mood.
Go in for sports. Because sport is the best way to fight depression and bad mood. It can be simple morning exercises, jogging, swimming or cycling.
Find yourself a new hobby. Find yourself an activity that will help you distract yourself from problems, stupid thoughts, and get rid of feelings of anxiety. It could be a new hobby, learning another profession, or learning foreign language.
Seek help from a psychotherapist. If you can’t fight depression on your own for a long time, do not hesitate to seek help from professionals. Talking with a specialist will help you look at the problem with different eyes, see options for getting out of depression.

Treating depression without pills at home

It is possible to fight depression at home, for this it is not necessary to take medications or go to classes with a psychologist or psychotherapist. Such effective and simple ways:

Massage. The effect on the skin, muscles and joints makes the body relax, gives calmness, relaxation and helps to distract from negative thoughts, improve the emotional state.
Meditation. The meditation procedure will help fight depression, during which it is possible to look at the problem from the outside, to see alternatives problem solving. For deeply religious people, visiting a temple or holy places, reading a prayer or confession can help get rid of depression.
Reading. Special literature will help fight bad mood and depression. A prime example is Dale Carnegie's book How to Overcome Anxiety.
Breathing exercises. Such therapy will help restore spiritual balance, improve mood. The methods where breath holding occurs include bodyflex, oxysize, although they are aimed at losing excess weight, their positive effect on general well-being and emotional state has been proven.
Yoga. The ideal option is to improve the psycho-emotional state, get rid of obsessive negative thoughts, find peace, see the solution to a sore problem.

Video

It is not always possible to cope with depression on your own, sometimes, in order to fight the disease, there is not enough willpower, desire, motivation, or the disease is so serious that it is impossible to overcome the disease without the help of a professional. An effective way to get rid of a depressive, depressed state is considered to be a consultation with a psychologist who will help you choose the right way to solve the problem or prescribe pills. Watch a video where professional psychologists will give helpful tips to help fight depression: