This is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Lifescript.com. All opinions on coping with depression, and everything else, are my own.
For the majority of my life, starting around age 13, I’ve suffered from clinical depression, which is apparently fancier than occasional depression, because I like to go all out when I get a disorder or condition! It’s gotten significantly better since I had my son, although his birth story brought on a whole new level of trauma! During my teen years and early 20s, though, there were times I didn’t think I’d make it. Obviously, I did make it, but with a lot of help and therapy. Researching alternative depression therapies really helped me find ways of coping with depression, especially since I can’t take most anti-depressant pills. They make me really, really wonky. Like off my rocker even more than usual. They work great for other people, I’m sure, but for me, not so much.
Coping with depression when you can’t take anti-depressants
First of all, let me make it clear that I have nothing against depression therapies involving medicine. I know plenty of people who take them and they work great. I have a weird system, and everything I’ve tried has made me feel worse. I think it has something to do with my anxiety disorder (because one disorder isn’t enough, apparently!). Since I can’t take medication, I’ve had to find other ways to “fix” myself and get through the rough times. The things that really helped me the most are:
Spending Time with my Dogs
Having a pet to care for and snuggle with is one of the best alternatives forms of depression therapies, in my opinion. During the years that I was suffering from severe depression related to my infertility, it was my dogs that kept me going. The times I wanted to just curl up and die, I’d think about how sad they would be to see me go. Oh, sure, my family would be sad too, but to me, knowing that my dogs would think I just up and abandoned them made me want to hang on.
Relaxing with my super cool kid!
Once I had Jacob, after getting over the initial shock of having a preemie, a lot of my depression issues started to subside. Just spending time with him helps a lot! It’s hard to be down when your child is so full of life and love. His goofiness definitely brings a smile to my face every time I look at him.
Finding happiness in every-day moments
One of the major things that really helped is lowering my expectations of what I need to be happy. I’ve been broke more often than I’ve had money in my life, so money can’t be the root of my happiness. I’ve had a few really bad relationships, and learned that I can’t look to another person to make me truly happy. I finally discovered that life is full of so many little things that can bring joy. A really awesome cup of coffee, a fun day hiking near a gorgeous waterfall, an amazing book to curl up with long into the night- these are all ways to find pieces of happiness. When you’re suffering from depression, those little pieces can add up to a nice chunk of happy times.
Researching my condition
My therapist used to laugh at me because she said I knew more about depression and anxiety than she did sometimes! I can tell you pretty much exactly why I react certain ways to certain things, right down to what chemicals are at play. Researching my depression issues became super important back when I was about 22, around the same time I discovered the internet. I spent hours pouring over articles and looking for the causes of depression as well as how to deal with it. I still do! Lifescript.com provides medical information, tips and advice that are all written by professional health writers, experts and physicians. It’s a fantastic resources for researching your medical conditions. Knowledge really is power, especially when it comes to depression. Even if you don’t suffer from depression, they have really great articles on helping friends cope!
Want more information on coping with depression? Take a look at these articles:
- A Woman’s Guide to Depression
- An Expert’s Alternatives to Treat Depression
- Boost Your Mood With Exercise
Visit www.lifescript.com for useful information on Depression and other prevalent medical conditions related to women’s health. Lifescript’s Depression Health Center features tips, quizzes, recipes and articles – all by professional health writers, experts and physicians – covering postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, bipolar disorder, how to boost your mood with exercise and more. Please visit the Lifescript Health Center on depression for more information.
And to check out this free website, click here!
This is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Lifescript.com.
I think that pets are an awesome way to help cope with depression. After all, pets will show you what unconditional love is and they are always excited to see you. My children also brighten my day and give me something to live for. I too suffer from depression/anxiety for most of my adult life. I do take antidepressants but not sure how much they help. I also rely on my faith, husband, kids, and pets to keep me going.
I am so grateful that the unconditional love my pets give me! It really does make a huge difference when you’re dealing with depression.
Pets are definitely great with that…whenever I feel down, I see them and I perk up right away!
I have really awesome pets with very unique personalities. They always manage to do something to make me laugh! Aren’t they great?
I am so sorry you have dealt with depression for so long. I didn’t ever deal with any until I started having miscarriages but it is so hard to deal with. I did take medication to help me through the rough patch after my third and then all was well again. These are all great things to keep in mind just for when you have the blues.
All great advice and kuddos that you are continuing to handle it successfully!
I’m so sorry you had to deal with it after your miscarriages. I can’t even imagine that pain! I dealt with infertility for six years, and I would have gone off the deep end if I got pregnant only to lose the baby.
I too, have struggled with depression since I was just a kid (diagnosed at 13 – though I think it started around age 10) and I’ve been on at least 10 different anti-depressants and none of them felt like they helped (though they didnt seem to hurt – either). I don’t have health insurance so I’m unable to be medicated. Things that have helped me are having a great boyfriend who I can talk to about ANYTHING, listening to music, painting, spending time with my nieces and nephews and sometimes just distracting myself with a movie, game, etc if I’m spending too much time thinking about something negative.
I was diagnosed around 13 too. They say that adolescent-onset depression is one of the toughest forms. Distractions definitely help! If I start to get too deep in the negative thoughts, I design my dream library in my head or something.
Great post!! I struggle with depression every single day and I have to make myself get out of bed sometimes.
Thank you! I’m sorry you have to deal with it too. 🙁
this are all great tips and ways to help cope with depression. At one point I went through depression and it was hard but looking for the happiness in everyday moments helped a lot
I have suffered through depression sice I was 13 as well. Luckily I am able to take anti depresssants but I agree the things you posted are perfect alternatives!
I’ve suffered from chronic depression for most of my life. IT is quite a struggle. Most places I turned immediately turned me to medication and just left it at that. They made me feel like that was the only option for treating depression. And that only made me feel worse! I’m so glad I have learned better since then and I can now be medication free! I really like the resources on Lifescript for helping me better understand depression
Great post! So many people deal with depression daily and are not aware of other resources to assist them. Animals are a great part of that resource, they help in so many ways providing that love we need. I’m proud of you for sharing your life experience with us and very proud that you are so knowledgeable about depression. Lifescrpt is a great resource website !
What great points. I’d also add prayer and time reading the Bible has helped me when I’ve been low.
Great post, and definitely some stuff I’ll try to keep in mind. I’d probably add that friends, not all friends, but a precious few, can really help you when you need to talk to someone who isn’t feeling all the same emotions you are. They’re a good way to ground yourself when you can’t tell your own emotions from the depression. I have two friends, one I met on the Internet in fact, who know almost everything there is to know about my depression, and when I start to feel worse than usual or even if I just want to talk, I can count on at least one of them to be available.