Reinvigorating your life---The Way Out of Depression

Reinvigorating your life---The Way Out of Depression

By: Jasvinder Seehra Chauhan

During these winter months I’ve often heard of clients, friends and family complaining of feeling down in the dumps and sad. In fact, I must confess a complaint or two myself. Despite the occasional complaint we all manage to subside and go on with our lives. We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t go through the ups and downs in life. The downs, often come during difficult times, it could be something small like a cold or big like the death of a loved one. The smaller things we may manage quickly and the bigger things may take us longer. When it comes to depression a person doesn’t manage at all. The feeling of ‘down’ lingers much longer. Depression has been described as a numbness, emptiness, despair or even lack of feeling that you just can’t shake off. So, how do we get out of this? First you need to know what you’re dealing with.

9 signs of Depression to look out for:

1. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness (depressed mood) – a overall feeling that life is hopeless
2. Lack of interest or pleasure in most or all things
3. Significant weight loss (5% of body weight in a month), or an increase in appetite everyday
4. Insomnia (trouble sleeping) or hypersomnia (oversleeping)
5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation - feelings of restlessness or sluggishness
6. Loss of energy or fatigue almost every day - even small tasks are exhausting
7. Feelings of worthlessness, or excessive inappropriate guilt
8. Diminished ability to think, focus, or concentrate
9. Thoughts of suicide-this occurs in severe cases-seek professional help immediately

A clinical depression is diagnosed when at least 5 of the 9 symptoms appear consistently over a two week period and affect function. One of the symptoms is either depressed mood or loss of interest.


5 things to do to find your way out of depression:

1. Alert Your Senses: Since depression is the lack of feeling then you need to find a way to re-ignite feelings or senses in your body. Start by thinking of all your senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, hear). Do something to alert each one. Some examples: listening to music you love, eating foods rich in flavour (even sour or bitter). Do an experiment of smelling various strong scents, or touching different types of textures (velvet to sandpaper).

2. Do What You Want To Do: Notice if there is anything you are holding back from. Perhaps something you want to say to someone or something you really want to do. Why aren’t you doing it? It is common in Depression to ‘hold back’ from asserting yourself in life. I hear this often in my practice. Stop fretting just do it!

3. Make a weekly plan: Think of activities you want to do for the week and do them.

4. Get Support: Talk to your friends and family when you aren’t able to support yourself

5. Get professional help: If you are unable to support yourself or connect with loved ones then find a psychologist, psychotherapist or counselor in your area.

Words of Hope: You are not alone. Many people suffer from depression daily. If you are unable to support yourself, know that there are many professionals out there with much experience who can help you find your way out. Where there’s help there’s always hope. Reinvigorate your life!