Today’s post is for any of you who have been feeling down and depressed. Whether it is for a day, for a month, or for the 9 months that we have been in this dumpster fire of a pandemic. Depression is far more common this time of year. I want to share a few strategies of how you can combat it and decrease your symptoms.
- Pay close attention to your thoughts. Give yourself acknowledgment, empathy and validation for what you’re going through. However, do not allow your thoughts to wallow on the negative. When we’re feeling depressed, our brains often like to take an inventory of everything that is going bad, and that just exacerbates the feelings of depression. Acknowledge your challenges but do not wallow in the negativity.
- You might want to consider getting some external tools, like a therapy lamp. The Mayo Clinic has determined that therapy lamps are effective. You sit underneath it for 30 minutes a day and it gives you some of the benefits that can be missing during these more gloomy times of the year.
- Anti-depressants are an option some people may consider if you are feeling depressed or anxious. Additionally, there are a lot of herbs and natural supplements that can also benefit our mood. If that is something you are interested in, please reach out to your healthcare provider for more information and they can give you an informed recommendation about what might be helpful for you.
- Get physical. Depression will tell you that you should stay inside and skip your workout. However you should get outside, exercise more frequently, and push through any lethargy and physically move your body. If you happen to have a sex partner, some physical intimacy would be good for you as well.
- Distract yourself with something positive. Or, if you can’t find something positive, something pretty fulfilling. Just sitting with your thoughts when you’re depressed, can actually exacerbate the depression. That is the perfect time to get out of your head and go change the storyline in your brain. Focus on something else or do something else instead.
We are here for you as individual, couple, and family therapists! We offer individual counseling, couples counseling, and family counseling. If you would like more information about Flourish’s counseling services, reach out to us at 303-455-3767 x. 5 or fill out our contact form today.