Thursday, March 28, 2024

How To Be Happy With Depression And Anxiety

What Treatment Should I Be Offered

HOW TO BE HAPPY AND POSITIVE | Dealing With Depression and Anxiety

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence writes guidance on what treatment doctors should offer you. But your doctor does not have to give you these treatments. And the treatments may not be available in your area.

Different treatments may be available in your area. Your doctor might think these suit your symptoms more than the recommended treatments.

NICE recommend that depression is treated in different steps depending on how severe the condition is for you. The steps are as follows.

Step 1: Everyone who may have depression

Your doctor should offer you:

  • an assessment of your symptoms,
  • support, such as regular appointments in person or by telephone,
  • information on how to deal with your symptoms,
  • monitoring of your symptoms and follow-up, and
  • referral for further assessment and treatment if needed.

Step 2: Mild to moderate depression

Your doctor may offer you:

  • low-intensity interventions, such as self-help guided by the doctor or computerised cognitive behavioural therapy ,
  • physical activity programmes,
  • group cognitive behavioural therapy ,
  • medication if you have a history of moderate or severe depression, or you have had symptoms for a long time, and
  • referral for further assessment and treatment if needed.

Step 3: Moderate to severe depression, or mild to moderate depression when other treatments havent worked

Your doctor may suggest:

Step 4: Severe and complex depression or if your life is at risk Your doctor may suggest:

  • medication,

Whats The Difference Between Grief And Depression

Given that the primary symptom associated with depression is sadness, it can be easy to think of grief or bereavement as depression. But grief is a natural response to specific experiences, such as the end of a relationship or the death of a loved one. While you might feel regret or remorse, and you might withdraw from usual activities if you are experiencing grief, youre unlikely to feel the overwhelming sense of worthlessness, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, and other symptoms of depression. Another important difference is that in grief, painful feelings usually come in waves and are often mixed with positive memories.

In some cases, however, grief and depression do coexist, or grief can trigger depression, according to experts writing in the journal American Family Physician. Having a mental health professional help you distinguish between them can ensure you get the support you need.

Learn How To Recognizing The Signs Of Smiling Depression

Smiling depression is deceptive. While people with smiling depression may look like theyre going through their lives successfully, theyre still experiencing all of the negative effects of depression. Smiling depression can lead to other health problems, it can lead to self-harming behaviors, and it can also lead to suicide. Compared to other forms of depression, which tend to leave sufferers without much energy, smiling depression may put sufferers at greater risk of suicide because theyre less likely to receive help and support and because they have the energy to act on suicidal thoughts. Recognizing subtle signs of smiling depression can help ensure that the person with depression gets the help they need.

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Try These Five Tips For Decreasing Depression

There isn’t a quick fix as in Boom, youre cured and will never again be beset by the blues. But, there are techniques that can help lift the emotional paralysis and ruminating that often accompany depression. Both of which make it much more difficult to focus on the behavioral changes that are necessary to prevent a relapse. Luckily, there are ways to punch holes in the curtain of unrelenting darkness.

Ditch Your Social Media Intake

How to Deal with Depression and Be Happy: Overcome Depression, Relieve ...

Recent research shows a link between social media use and depression, especially when people scroll social platforms late at night. Further, studies show that people who limit their time on social media are happier and more content with their life. If you find yourself doom scrolling throughout the day or up late at night checking social media, consider ditching social altogether, or at least putting time limits on your use.

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When To Get Professional Help For Depression

If youve taken self-help steps and made positive lifestyle changes and still find your depression getting worse, seek professional help. Needing additional help doesnt mean youre weak. Sometimes the negative thinking in depression can make you feel like youre a lost cause, but depression can be treated and you can feel better!

Dont forget about these self-help tips, though. Even if youre receiving professional help, these tips can be part of your treatment plan, speeding your recovery and preventing depression from returning.

Small Steps Big Impact

If a person feels sustained, intense, feelings of sadness or loss of interest in activities, they may have clinical depression. People also refer to this condition as major depressive disorder.

However, there are small steps you can take to help you gain more agency in your life and improve your sense of well-being.

Read on to learn how to incorporate these strategies in a way that makes sense for you.

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Be Gentle With Yourself

Feelings of worthlessness, self-loathing, or unearned guilt can be part of the list of depression symptoms.

If youve been living with depression for some time, they may have become so familiar that you barely notice them. But trying to actively combat negative self-talk can have a powerful effect on happiness.

Self-compassion has been shown to directly correlate with wellbeing, and improve emotional coping skills.

Try to notice when youre being hard on yourself, and replace those thoughts with gentle, generous ones.

For example, if you catch yourself thinking, Im a failure for feeling this way, you could instead think something like, I deserve safety and happiness. Im doing the best I can.

If youre not sure where to start, heres an exercise: Try to imagine what youd say to a friend if they were in your exact position. Its likely youd come up with kind words of support. You too deserve to hear those.

Best Inspirational Quotes For Depression And Anxiety:

9 DECORATING MISTAKES THAT COULD MAKE YOU DEPRESSED OR ANXIOUS

These inspirational quotes are super helpful for those who are constantly facing a low mood and sad attitude for life. We believe that each of these depression quotes brings positivity to life.

Dont let life discourage you everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was. Richard L. Evans

There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isnt. John Green

Give yourself another day, another chance. You will find your courage eventually. Dont give up on yourself just yet.Someone

You say youre depressed all I see is resilience. You are allowed to feel messed up and inside out. It doesnt mean youre defective it just means youre human.David Mitchell

Those who have a why to live, can bear with almost any how.Viktor E. Frankl

Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it.Jacques Prevert

Minds are like parachutes, they function only when open.Someone

Even if youre on the right track, youll get run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers

In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. Albert Camus

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Confucius

Read Also: How To Support Someone With Bipolar Depression

What Are The Different Antidepressants And How Do They Work

The most commonly prescribed antidepressants cause changes in brain chemistry that affect how neurons communicate. Exactly how this improves mood remains somewhat of a mystery, but the fact that they do often work is well-established.

  • SSRIs This category of drug includes Prozac , Celexa , and Zoloft and targets serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps control mood, appetite, and sleep.
  • SNRIs SNRIs include drugs like Cymbalta , Pristiq , and Effexor XR , which block the reabsorption of both serotonin and another neurotransmitter, norepinephrine.
  • NDRIs This class of medications includes bupropion.
  • TCAs TCAs include such drugs as Tofranil and Pamelor . These drugs were among the earliest antidepressants to come on the market. These days, doctors generally only turn to them when treatment with SSRIs, SNRIs, and NDRIs has failed.
  • MAOIs MAOIs, including Nardil and , were the first antidepressants developed. Theyre rarely used today, in part because people who take them require careful monitoring to prevent negative interactions with certain foods and other medications.

All antidepressants can have side effects, but some may be more problematic than others. You may need to try several different medications, or a combination, guided by your doctor, before you find what works best for you.

How Are Depression And Anxiety Diagnosed

There are no specific tests but your GP may perform some blood tests for other health conditions that share similar symptoms with depression or anxiety.

Your GP will need to get a good picture of the way youre feeling mentally and physically. They will ask you lots of questions about your symptoms and the changes youve noticed.

It can be difficult to think about specific answers on-the-spot but the following suggestions might help you plan ahead for your appointment.

  • Make a list of all your symptoms, whether they are worse at certain times of the day or on particular occasions, how long youve had them and their effect on your day-to-day life and relationship with others.
  • Explain any circumstances that could be contributing to these symptoms and the way you feel.
  • Take a list of all medications you currently take, including any supplements or non-prescription medication.
  • Be as open and honest as you can remember anything you say is confidential.

Also Check: How To Fight Depression And Anxiety Without Medication

Reach Out To Loved Ones

Strong relationships can go a long way toward improving your outlook and emotional well-being when you live with mental health conditions.

Friends and family can:

Simply knowing you have someone you trust in your life can often help you feel less alone, whether you actually want to talk about your symptoms or not.

Treating co-occurring depression and anxiety can sometimes be more complicated than treating one condition alone. Even when you get treatment for one condition, some symptoms might persist or seem to play off the others.

For example:

  • You cant stop worrying about all the things going wrong in your life, or thinking about the ways things could get worse. These fears eventually drain your energy and motivation to keep trying, leaving you feeling low and hopeless.
  • Social anxiety keeps you from connecting with people in the ways youd like. You want to make new friends but generally end up avoiding interactions instead. This leaves you feeling lonely, sad, and guilty, especially when thinking of those missed opportunities, but helpless to do anything differently.

A mental health care professional may recommend combining treatment approaches, since what helps ease depression symptoms may not always relieve anxiety symptoms, and vice versa.

Depression Treatment: Lifestyle Changes Talk Therapy Antidepressants

The best way how to overcome depression and be happy

If you suspect that depression is interfering with your life, talking about what youre experiencing and discussing treatment options with a medical professional is essential. As actress Taraji P. Henson, who describes her depression as suffocating darkness, recently explained in an interview with Self magazine, When youre quiet, things arent fixed. It gets worse.

The good news is that theres abundant evidence that people with depression who seek treatment will find significant relief from lifestyle changes, talk therapy , medication, or a combination of all efforts, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

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Accept That There Is Something Good In Every Situation

On a similar note, I now try to look for something good in every situation. If its a horrible, life-changing situation, I try all the harder to see the good.

It doesnt come naturally, and I have to force myself to do it, but I have never yet come up with a big fat zilch, however awful my circumstances appear to be.

Ways To Help A Friend With Depression Or Anxiety

If you want to be there for someone whos dealing with depression or anxiety, youre already being a great friend. It can be hard to know exactly how to help someone with depression or anxiety, and what to say to someone who’s having a rough time. Remember that each person is different, and while these tips are a guide, when helping a friend with depression or anxiety, its important to talk with your friend about what they feel they need.

Also Check: How To Take Saffron For Depression

Things That Inspired Me To Beat Depression And Anxiety

I was stuck in the vicious circle of depression and anxiety. A vicious circle is a problem that creates new problems which then cause the original problem to occur again or even worse.

Day by day getting worse and finally becoming helpless. Staying at home, sleeping in my bed and staring at the ceiling. Sometimes overeating and sometimes no appetite.

It was a gradual process, but these 3 things inspired me to change my life from hell to heaven.

Can Depression Be A Symptom Of Other Mental Health Problems

How to get rid of loneliness and become happy | Olivia Remes | TEDxNewcastle

Depression can be a part of several mental health problems, such as:

If feelings of low mood or suicidal thoughts are the reason you first speak to your doctor about your mental health, your GP might offer you treatment for depression without realising that you are also experiencing other symptoms.

If you think you’re experiencing other symptoms, you can talk to your doctor about this to make sure you’re getting the right treatment to help you. See our pages on seeking help for a mental health problem for information on how to make sure your voice is heard, and what you can do if you’re not happy with your doctor.

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Tell Me Something Good

A depressed person has earned a PhD in The Art and Science of Self-Hatred. When I ask, How do you see yourself? I get answers like: Im boring. Im a coward. Im ugly. Im not smart. To the speaker, these sentiments are absolute truths his or her sense of identity, a soul-less place to live that is familiar, thus offering a comfortable discomfort, with no exit door. As long as these annihilating beliefs rule your self-image, nothing good can break through. When I ask, Tell me good qualities about yourself, I am initially greeted by silence. Then I hear a halting, Im kind or Im caring.

If the patient gets stuck, I help out: Youre a loving mother. You are a survivor. You are a nurturer You are super considerate. You are reliable As we construct a list, I ask the patient to write down the wonderful attributes and keep repeating them when the toxic wheel of self-hating talk begins. I suggest asking friends and family members to email a list of positive qualities they value in my patient. The next step will be to compile, print out the list and carry it in your wallet like a talisman.

What Can I Do About It

Mood disorders are very treatable. With the right treatment, about 80% of people no longer feel any symptoms at all. Some common treatments, used on their own or in combination, are:

Counselling: The most common forms of counselling for people living with a mood disorder are cognitive-behavioural therapy and interpersonal therapy:

  • Cognitive-behavioural therapy or CBT is the most common therapy treatment for mood disorders. CBT helps you understand the relationship between your mood, thoughts and behaviours. It also teaches skills like problem-solving that may help prevent symptoms from coming back in the future.

  • When youre depressed, your relationships with others often suffer. Interpersonal therapy can teach you skills to improve how you interact with other people.

Medication: Depression is usually treated with a group of medications called antidepressants and bipolar disorder is usually treated with a group of medication called mood stabilizers. You may also be prescribed other medications for psychosis or anxiety.

Electroconvulsive therapy: Electroconvulsive therapy or ECT may help people who experience severe depression or bipolar disorder, particularly when treatments like counselling and medication havent helped. Treatment is done in the hospital, and it involves passing an electrical current through the brain for a few seconds while youre under general anaesthesia. Modern ECT is very safe, fast-acting and effective.

Read Also: How To Help Your Teenager With Anxiety And Depression

Anxiety And Depression: What Are The Possible Links

Although clearly not identical emotional states, mental health research suggests that depression and anxiety often coexist because they can be caused by the same or similar factors. According to an article published May 2020 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, those overlapping causes can include:

  • Genetic Factors Genetic factors contribute to 40 percent of the predisposition to depressive and anxious symptoms, with 60 percent being attributed to environmental, noninherited factors. “Especially with anxiety, more so than depression, there often is some family history, and so therefore we think that there may be some genetic predisposition to this,” Connolly explains.
  • Environmental Factors Also referred to as social factors, these include experiences like trauma or neglect in early childhood, and current stressors such as relationship difficulties, unemployment, social isolation, and physical illness. People who have post-traumatic stress disorder , an anxiety disorder, are particularly likely to also develop depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health .
  • Pain Chronic pain, and particularly disabling pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome , low back pain, headaches, and nerve pain, are closely linked to psychological distress, including both anxiety and depression, notes Harvard Health. In fact, they say, research suggests that pain shares some biological mechanisms with anxiety and depression.

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