Tell Your Course Tutor About Your Difficulties
It is very important to tell your tutors about any struggles you are facing with your mental health, including depression and anxiety. Universities and colleges have a responsibility under law to ensure that students are appropriately supported and that, wherever possible, reasonable adjustments can be made. Different institutions will do things slightly differently, but talk to your tutor and go to the Student Services centre and explain the difficulties you are experiencing. They will treat your information confidentially and will talk to you about how you might be supported on your course. Support can include study skills, additional time in examinations or other deadlines, or more face-to-face support, for example.
What you will be offered will depend on your circumstances and what the institution has available. However, the important message here is to tell someone about what is happening.
Talking About Your Depression Makes Your Depression Worse
Though theres no evidence to support this claim, research supports talking with a therapist to help manage the symptoms of depression. Talking about your depression with someone you trust can help you feel seen, heard, and understood.
Spending time talking about your depression can also help you get to the root of your feelings and help you unravel negative thoughts and emotions.
Depression is an illness that is often downplayed by unfair misconceptions. Stigmas toward depression can make it even harder to reach out and ask for help. No matter how your experience with depression may differ, you always have options.
Life After Depression How To Thrive
What makes the difference.
The research found that social support played a major role in achieving full mental health after depression. Having at least one trusted friend quadrupled the likelihood of a full recovery.
Sometimes depression can make people feel as though they are just out of reach and loving someone with depression can be lonely, frustrating, painful and deeply worrying. If youre close to someone with depression, you might feel as though youre not making a difference, but thats what depression does its the dirty little liar that tries to pull the fight out of all of us those who have the illness and those who care who would do anything to make it better for them. What this research is telling us is that being there, as a trusted friend, has the power to make an enormous difference in helping your loved one find the way out of depression.
Formerly depressed adults who had emotionally supportive and close relationships were four times more likely to report complete mental health than those without such relationships. Having at least one trust friend was critical to cultivating complete mental health. Mercedes Bern-Klug, Associate Professor, University of Iowa.
The research also found that hose who fully recovered from depression were more likely to deal with stress through exercise or spirituality.
The surprising factor that makes no difference at all.
What gets in the way of recovery.
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How Can I Tell If My Child Is Depressed
If a child is depressed, parents may notice some of these signs:
- Sad or bad mood. A child may seem sad, lonely, unhappy, or grouchy. It can last weeks or months. A child may cry more easily. They may have more tantrums than before.
- Being self-critical. Kids going through depression may complain a lot. They may say self-critical things like, “I can’t do anything right.” “I don’t have any friends.” “I can’t do this.” “It’s too hard for me.”
- Lack of energy and effort. Depression can drain a child’s energy. They might put less effort into school than before. Even doing little tasks can feel like too much effort. Kids may seem tired, give up easily, or not try.
- Not enjoying things. Kids don’t have as much fun with friends or enjoy playing like before. They may not feel like doing things they used to enjoy.
- Sleep and eating changes. Kids may not sleep well or seem tired even if they get enough sleep. Some may not feel like eating. Others may overeat.
- Aches and pains. Some children may have stomach aches or other pains. Some miss school days because of not feeling well, even though they aren’t sick.
Assess The Parts Instead Of Generalizing The Whole
Depression can tinge recollections with difficult emotions. You may find yourself focusing on things that are unhelpful or perceived as difficult.
Try to stop this overgeneralization. Push yourself to recognize the good. If it helps, write down what was meaningful about the event or day. You can track what you achieved that day, and which activities were enjoyable.
Seeing the weight youre giving to one thing may help you direct your thoughts away from the whole and to the individual pieces that were helpful.
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What Is Depression Not
Depression is a psychological disorder and more of an affect rather than a state. The latter is a short-term intense emotion. An easier way to understand this is the misuse of the phrase I feel so depressed. after watching a tragic, based on real life movie. Hence, it is better to say That made me feel so sad. after watching a movie as such.
Ways Id Describe Depression To A Friend
- Itâs like I have this deep pit of sadness in my stomach that I canât get rid of.
- I watch the world go on, and I continue to go through the motions and plaster a smile on my face, but deep down, Iâm hurting so much.
- It feels like there is a huge weight on my shoulders that I canât shrug off, no matter how hard I try.
Iâd spend each day counting down the hours until I could go home and lie in my bed and watch âFriends.â Iâd watch the same episodes over and over. Those familiar episodes brought me comfort, and I couldnât even think about watching anything new.
I didnât completely disconnect socially or stop making plans with friends the way many people expect people with severe depression to act. I think, in part, itâs because Iâve always been an extrovert.
But while Iâd still show up to social functions or drinks with friends, I wouldnât really be there mentally. Iâd laugh at the appropriate times and nod when needed, but I just couldnât connect.
I thought I was just tired and that it would pass soon.
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Find The Small Things That Save You
âThese small things saved me when nothing else could,â wrote Alexander Chee, author of How to Write an Autobiographical Novel.
He was referring to how he learned to live with thrift and self-forgiveness.
In hospital I thought of this line often. I knew about the big things taking medication, seeing the doctors. So, what were my small things?
I now know them to be a cup of something warm, something beautiful to read, and sitting on the floor .
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You Can Just Shake It Off
Depression isnt dust on your shoulder or a passing feeling it cannot simply be brushed aside. When living with depression, its possible to learn how to manage your symptoms, but just snapping out of it or getting over it isnt an option because depression isnt a condition that can be switched off.
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Why It Can Be Easy To Get Rid Of Depression
The more you know what depression is, what causes it, and what to do to stop being depressed, the easier it is to stop being depressed.
So, if you think about it, this course is helping you step by step down the easy path for eliminating depression by providing you with this information. And it will simply get easier and easier for you to get rid of depression, the more you learn what steps to take.
Furthermore, consider how you can get rid of depression faster and easier by combining the 6 depression-free changes. And appreciate that the better you feel, the easier and easier it becomes to take action to elminate depression.
When you consider all this, you have every reason to believe that it can be easy to get rid of depression , depending on what you do.
Planning And Practical Action
The most important first step for managing depression and anxiety is to focus on what you can practically do to support yourself. Basic planning and time management can help us feel more in control of things. There is a wealth of detailed advice provided by universities, colleges, and student organisations, for planning your student life effectively. Try these tips as a starting point:
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Depression Is Not Just Fragility But A Psychological Or Medical Disorder
It influences an individuals biology and brain structure and activity. A person diagnosed with depression has a hyperactivation of the HPA axis and other areas of the brain may cause some parts of the brain to shrink. And as those certain parts shrink, its functions may also significantly degenerate such as focus, drive and motivation.
Leaving Things To The Last Minute
Procrastination is another very common student issue, which can be closely linked with any or all of the other issues discussed on this page. It is also a very common part of the depression habit spiral the more things get put off, the more overwhelming they seem. Procrastination is particularly linked to the depressed thinking habits of perfectionism, self-bullying and all-or-nothing thinking.
There are a number of things we can do to support ourselves in getting things done. Have a look at the Making Changes information on this site for some ideas.
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What Is Samhsa’s National Helpline
SAMHSAs National Helpline, , or TTY: is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.
Why Does Depression Make It Difficult To Function
Sometimes depression can sneak up on us, seeping into our lives without detection until it hits hard weeks, months, or even years later. Other times it shows up suddenly, like a heavy, wet blanket that has been thrown on top of us.
Either way, one of depressions hallmark features is our loss of interest in seemingly everything, whether its a favorite pastime or the people closest to you it can make getting out of bed at all nearly impossible. The world, which once seemed round, flattens out. Were no longer having any fun and sometimes its downright hard to function.
The culprit? In the case of clinical depression, usually its a symptom referred to as anhedonia.
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The Story That Im Making Up
The story that Im making up is a phrase from Dr. Brene Brown used as a tool to help reality-check the stories we tell ourselves about our lives and relationships.26 Often, when we miss information from our experiences, we make up stories to fill in the missing parts. Say you see someone you know across the street and wave hello, and the person continues walking without acknowledging you. The story that you tell yourself can then impact your feelings and behaviors. If you said, they ignored me on purpose they must not like me, that would negatively impact you, feeling sad and isolated. But if the story you told yourself was They must not have seen me, the story has less of an impact on you, and you can quickly go about your day.
Working to understand our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors helps us better understand who we are and how we can positively impact our lives. It is especially true when confronted with frustration, hurt, anger, and when engaging in self-protection. Reflecting on the story we tell ourselves, and being more aware of its impact, can potentially help with the thought that life is hard we might create in our minds.
Some things to write about to see what impact the story you are telling yourself is having on you include:
How does this story affect
Many Factors Make Overcoming Depression Difficult
The problem is when you are depressed, you feel a total depletion of energy. So, it feels like you are being asked to run a marathon just to walk around the block. This suggestion feels like the opposite of what you feel capable . Getting your body moving is important to improving health. Perhaps breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps would be a more helpful way to communicate the suggestion. Small, achievable goals will lead to better success in actually taking those steps to improve your mental condition.
Depression brings about a shroud of darkness and lies that can be hard to identify, articulate, or overcome. The person who is depressed feels a blunted mental capacity. That doesnt mean the brain is less active. In fact, the mind might actually be racing through thoughts, fears, uncertainties, and self-doubts while nothing is outwardly showing.
Battling this internal dialogue can be overwhelming and exhausting. This can be where counseling or even talking with a friend can be useful. It can help get the barrage of whats going on inside and out. Sometimes in getting it out, the pressure lessens, the internal lies are exposed, and others can help battle the darkness that cant be fought alone.
Societys understanding, or more accurately their misunderstanding, of depression contributes to its difficulty to overcome. Because there is such stigma and lack of true understanding, people are afraid even to mention if they are struggling or seeking treatment.
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What You Can Do
If the symptoms of morning depression sound familiar to you, you can take steps to get help.
Get the right diagnosis. Talk to your doctor or health care provider to understand if you may have something more than temporary mood swings.
Take care of your overall health. Try to eat well, stay active, and manage any long-term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Physical health plays a role in your mental health.
Ask for a medication checkup. Your doctor or pharmacist can review if your drugs or drug interactions may be behind your morning depression.
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Antidepressants Will Change Your Personality
Antidepressants are meant to make you feel more emotionally stable and help you get back into your regular routine by managing chemical imbalances in the brain. But this doesnt cause a change in your personality.
In addition, a 2012 study explored antidepressants and personality and found that there wasnt a significant correlation between the two.
Even so, if youre concerned that antidepressants might change your personality, consider consulting your doctor or mental health professional about your treatment options.
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Depression Is A Medical Disorder Not A Choice Or A Weakness
It affects the neurons, cells and chemicals inside the brain. It can wipe out how you think and your ability to feel. And it can break your spirit, causing you to forget your reason for living.
In a very real sense, it changes who you are. And if left untreated, depression, like any medical illness, can get worse.
Meet Yourself Where You Are
Depression is common. It affects millions of people, including some in your life. You may not realize they face similar challenges, emotions, and obstacles.
The key to navigating depression is to be open, accepting, and loving toward yourself and what youre going through.
Every day with this disorder is different. Its important to take your mental health seriously and accept that where you are right now isnt where youll always be.
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What Happens If I Dont Get Professional Treatment
When depression goes untreated, it can make the symptoms and management much more overwhelming. The longer you wait to seek professional help, the further you get from reducing the severity of your depression.
You truly deserve to feel like yourself again, and you can make that process easier by seeking help.
If youre unsure where to begin, here are a few inclusive resources to consider:
Why Is Depression So Hard
As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided
In this writing, we will address the question why is depression so hard, symptom and type of depression, why depression is hard, diagnosis and treatment of depression and some FAQs regarding the subject.
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Depression Can Be Lonely And Isolating
You have to choose recovery over and over. Sometimes finding the right kind of help is a long process. There are so many modalities talk therapy, neurofeedback, support groups, etc. And taking on the responsibility alone, especially when energy is such a sparse commodity, can be daunting.
Answering why depression is hard to understand, in many ways, comes back to the lingering stigmas that surround it.
Consider a public attitude survey conducted by the University of North Texas to determine the communitys view of mental illness. Think about the above list as you read the results below.
Over 50% believe that major depression is caused by how a person is raised, or is simply Gods will.Over 50% believe that major depression might result from people expecting too much out of life.Over 40% believe depression is due to lack of willpower.Over 60% said an effective treatment is to pull oneself together.
There is an obvious cognitive block, a disconnect that makes people unable to comprehend things beyond their own experience.
Its easier to expect the will to step in and do its job take control, get it together than to wrap oneself around something so elusive.
Sometimes, however, the first step to bridging the gap between the depressed and those who dont get it is as simple as compassion. Even a desire to understand and a willingness to learn can diffuse the darkness with the light of hope.
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