How You Can Beat Depression

How You Can Beat Depression

Medications can only go so far in treating depression.  The rest is on you. To stay depression free, will require work on your part. You have to make a lifestyle change.

• Sleep:   Make sure you get at least 7 hours of good sleep every night 
• Routine:   Having a set routine. Get up and go to bed at the same time each day
• Exercise:   Get moving. At a minimum, walk for 30 minutes a day. 
• Goals:   Set goals for yourself each day. This is very important when you are trying to overcome depression
• Be Social:   Visit with friends.  It is important to keep a support system.
• Stress:   Eliminate stress from your life. Meditation is good to handle stress that sneak up on you.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs:  No Exception. They are the biggest triggers of depression.
• Understand your depression:   Learn how it affects your thinking.  This is helpful to talk yourself out of depression. Depression is a liar. Knowing this puts you in control.
• Therapy:   Utilize some kind of therapy. A therapist or life coach is. If that isn't an option, keep a journal or blog. 
• Spirituality:   Rely on your higher power. I could not make the changes without God. My faith keeps me going everyday.

Overcoming depression and keeping it away, takes work. But, being free from depression is worth the work.  I haven't made all the changes I have to do.  It is a long process sometimes. Do what you can, when you can. We will get there.

If you need someone to talk to email me at:  commentsjm@gmail.com
or follow me on twitter @justbreathe_jm

Pick a Diagnosis

Pick A Diagnosis

Diagnosing a Mental Illness

I was put on an antidepressant right after my first child. I don't remember getting a diagnosis. Ten years later, l was diagnosed with depression by my GP. Seven years after that, 2011 l think, I had a major spiral of depression and addiction. I was given a new diagnosis: Bipolar. This diagnosis never felt right, but that is what the doctor said. It wasn't until I got my addiction under control that I figured out I wasn't Bipolar.  So I was back to Clinical Depression. This was not a perfect fit, but that is all I had.  Three years after the spiral, I am still struggling. I am getting better, but I'm not cured yet.  I have done a lot of reading, and I came across an article about Major Depressive Disorder. I am going to do more research, but this seems to fit. 

Now for the intended post:

My point from the above rant, was that diagnosing a mental illness is challenging.  There is not perfect box of symptoms that fit everyone. My depression is unique from your depression.  There are many different types of Mental Illness and everyone has different symptoms.  In my experience, If you have any kind of depression, you are put on antidepressants. while I do agree, antidepressants are usually necessary, they aren't a complete cure.

The area I live in does not have access to good mental health tools. Maybe in other areas, there are better resources. For me, I have been left to research and teach myself about my depression. It has been good for me. I have learned a lot about myself and about my depression. It is not about a diagnosis. It is about the whole person.

It is a disease of the mind. Medication helps, but I started getting better when I began researching "me" more than just  a diagnosis.  

A Christian Living With Depression

A Christian Living With Depression

I am a Christian and I have Clinical Depression. If you suffer from depression I am sure you can understand the this battle. It is a battle between my head and my heart. 

My head:

When l am low into depression, the world is dark and painful. It is hard to imagine a future. At times I really don't want one. The struggle of living is just to hard. The anxiety leads me to fear everything. When I am deep in a depression, it is hard to see hope that the pain will ever end. 

My heart:

I have faith that God is always with me. With God, I don't have anything to fear.  He will always be there to protect me.  I know that God has a glorious future ahead for me.  I trust Him completely. 

I know that my fear and hopelessness comes from a disease. I know that God knows it is the disease causing these feelings. God understands. I still don't. As a Christian, I know I have nothing to fear, but my head still fears. I know that God will get my through  my depression, but my in my head I still feel hopeless. 

So who will win this battle?  Even through my deepest depression, I know the answer. God is stronger then my depression. I know he will break through my fears, and give me hope when I feel hopeless. 

Depression can lie to my head, and at times, I will believe it.  But my heart, it know the truth.

Depression Marathon: Fortune at the End of the Road

Depression Marathon: Fortune at the End of the Road



This is a great blog!