It’s normal to feel sad, lonely, lost, and lose interest in daily activities at some point in life. However, if the symptoms persist and affect your life substantially, you could be struggling with depression. About 5% of adults suffer from depression worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to fight back and treat the condition, such as seeing a therapist to get proper depression medication and therapy.
While treatment may be necessary, you also play a significant role in the healing process. How you choose to behave, think, and feel about yourself and the people around you determines how fast you heal. This article will help you understand types of depression and ways to cope with them.
Types of Depression
Medical conditions, medication, life events, genetics, personality, and brain chemistry can cause depression. That’s why depression varies from one person to another. Understanding your type of depression can help you develop coping mechanisms and proper management techniques. Types of depression have features such as:
- Major depression with melancholic features: A severe depression with a lack of interest in things that bring pleasure. It is also associated with worsened moods, changes in appetite, or feelings of sadness, anger, guilt, and sluggishness.
- Anxious distress: Anxious depression is associated with unusual restlessness, worry about possible events, or loss of control.
- Psychotic features: Depression accompanied by mild or extreme hallucinations and delusions that involve personal negative themes.
- Major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern: Formerly seasonal affective disorder (SAD), this type of depression occurs seasonally, and it’s usually related to changes in seasons, particularly in winter when there is reduced exposure to sunlight.
- Bipolar depression: This depression is characterized by mixed features such as elevated self-esteem, increased energy, and talking too much that changes to the exact opposite after some time.
- Catatonia: catatonia depression involves either purposeful or uncontrollable motor activity or movement in a fixed or inflexible posture.
- Atypical features: This depression is associated with the ability to be temporarily cheered by a specific event, food, or activity or becoming sensitive to rejection.
- Perinatal, postpartum onset: Occurs during pregnancy (Perinatal) or weeks or months after delivery (postpartum).
How to Cope with Depression
Everything feels challenging for you when you’re struggling with depression. Waking up, grooming, and going to work can be an uphill task, especially if you live alone. Luckily, there are some things you can do to cope with your condition and improve your quality of life. Here are a few tips to help you out.
Know How to Avoid, Deal or Work with Your Stressors
When it comes to depression, it’s imperative to understand your condition, the causes, symptoms, and medication. If the condition is still new to you, conduct some research and speak to a psychiatrist to help you evaluate your type of depression. Armed with this information, you’ll know what to expect and how to deal with specific symptoms.
Build a Support Network
One of the most important things you can do for yourself and your well-being is to develop strong social support. Let your loved ones know you have a problem and need help. Family and friends play a critical role in helping you take your depression medication on time and ensure you are not lonely, sad, or angry.
Eat, Exercise, and Sleep Well
Eating, exercising, and sleeping go hand in hand. Not getting enough of any of them leads to fatigue, negative mood, and frustration. That’s why people dealing with depression may have changes in diet, have trouble sleeping, and feel tired all the time due to lack of exercise. Instead of sleeping all day, or burying yourself in food, create a proper schedule for sleeping, exercising, and taking a proper diet.
Express Yourself
When depression kicks in, it blocks your sense of creativity and fun. You end up releasing your energy on unworthy things and spending long hours alone, which can lead to serious mental issues. Expressing yourself through dancing, writing, painting, drawing, sewing, cooking, or baking can help divert negative thoughts and improve your quality of life.
Focus on the Positives
Depression is often associated with negativity. The best way to beat this adverse condition is to focus on the good things and stop negative thoughts. Changing those negative thoughts can help you improve your mood and see things for what they truly are. Start with the tiniest bits, like appreciating a sunny day and saying thank you to your family and everyone in your life.
Speak to Your Therapist
Working with a therapist is an essential step towards successfully managing depression. Your psychotherapist will focus on helping you adjust your lifestyle to minimize stress and provide you with coping mechanisms. They also make it easy to speak to about things you may not be free to share with anyone else and help you find solutions to such problems. Your therapist will walk you through your depression treatment journey and ensure you live an active, healthy, and happy life.
