The good news is that even the severest forms of depression are resolvable to the point where sufferers can lead enriched, productive and fulfilling lives. The key is getting through the darkest times. Just as the sun has been rising since the dawn of man, there is light at the end of the dark tunnels that depression resembles. Depression is treatable through various therapies that do not always include medications.
Exercise Reduces Symptoms of Depression
It has been known for many years that long-distance runners get a euphoric feeling due to the release of endorphins in their brains when exercising. Cardio endurance sports and exercises release more endorphins than exercises such as weight lifting. However, even mild, low-impact exercising such as walking helps in battling symptoms and severity of depression. The issue is getting active despite negative feelings. It is easier to be inactive when depressive symptoms are peaking. Setting a strict schedule for daily exercise helps in actually getting it done.
Socializing Chases Depression Away
This is a tough one for depressed individuals to do, but the benefits are real. Social interaction improves moods, and the benefits stick around if socializing is a regular act. The key for those who want to run and hide during the low points of depression is to have standing social functions to attend or participate in on a regular basis. Be sure the scheduled social functions are positive events that include plenty of conversation and laughter among friends or family who are fun to be around.
Follow the Sun
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real condition that leads to depressive symptoms when summer wains. Many who do actually clinically suffer from SAD have exacerbated symptoms of depression when the fall and winter seasons arrive. A mid-winter trip to a sunny climate or treatment with light therapy may be just the ticket to managing symptoms of depression that are seasonal. Some who suffer with both seasonal and depressive disorders may be worse in the summer. This requires a different treatment approach.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Simply talking with a psychologist may be a huge help to some who are suffering with clinical depression. A fresh insight can lead to changes in how one thinks. Altering thought patterns can lead to a brand new outlook on life. It does take professional help to be able to recognize and alter the negative thoughts that may have been established decades ago.
Pharmacological Intervention
If a person has diabetes and needs insulin to survive, the obvious choice is to take insulin. However, when it comes to depression and other mood disorders, there has been a long standing stigma to taking medication to treat it. The fact remains that clinical depression is often caused by physiological causes where brains functionally have problems with properly balancing neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Modern Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) medications treat the physical problem occurring in the brain in a similar way that insulin helps diabetics who have malfunctioning pancreases.
Spontaneous Remission of Depression
Cases of major depression spontaneously resolving do occur. In fact, remission is common in clinical depression and is a topic of research and discussion in the medical community. This does not mean that acute or chronic symptoms of depression should remain untreated in hopes that remission will occur. What it does mean is that hope should be held even for treatments that are only addressing symptoms at a lower efficacy level than what patients may desire. A mulch-tiered approach to treating depression should be pursued by those suffering from it while being monitored for remission. This gives hope to many who think that depression treatments and therapies need to continue for a lifetime.
Depression can be a very serious illness. It has a mix of causes with its roots being in an actual physical disorder in the function of the brain itself. Just as someone with diabetes or heart disease would seek treatment, those with symptoms of clinical depression should too. Getting help is the smart and appropriate thing to do. Ignoring the symptoms of depression can lead to debilitating results. Treatment can lead to freedom for depressive symptoms.
Informational credit to Dalton Associates.
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise as well as researching new topics to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure.