Depression is something that’s talked about everywhere. You’ve probably heard of it. But do you actually know what it is, or how to know if you have it? Depression has a lot of layers and it might not be so easy to spot as you might think. Because of how many teenagers use dark humour these days, it’s a struggle to figure out whether they’re depressed or just making dark jokes.
Some things can be linked to depression. For example, focusing solely on the negative aspects of your life-on failures at school, not knowing how to do something, what you don’t have, etc etc. Additionally, you would probably sleep very little-or, sleep too much-lose interest in hobbies, have low energy, and you’d likely be very susceptible to anger, meaning you’d flare up easily. To be completely sure, if you have strong suspicions that you or someone else has depression, you should always consult a mental health professional.
Depression can be really dangerous. It can destroy your relationships and cause internal criticism that self-belittles you down to nothing. So, what can you do about it? Well, luckily, there are a lot of resources to help people with depression.
You could always try therapy, though it may not be for everyone.
What are the benefits of therapy? Well, letting out your feelings can be really beneficial and sometimes it’s easier to do with a stranger, as it feels like there is less chance of judgement. Additionally, therapy has patient confidentiality which means they are not allowed to let anyone else know what happens in your sessions-it’s just between you and them, which is great.
Build positive habits!
Self-care is incredibly important. It can cheer you up immensely and help you to stay productive, which can divert your mind from negativity. Exercise, go for walks, hang out with friends, have enough sleep, and eat a good diet. You can even try some mindfulness techniques (have a look at the resources tab for some) to help you bypass stress and maintain calmness. Trust me-you’ll feel better.
Try to distract yourself.
Depression is born of negativity. By distracting yourself and surrounding yourself with positivity and support, it’s kind of like beating it from the inside out. Make a list of what you’re grateful for, what you have, and try to add to it everyday. Or try to write down a highlight every day. Keeping positive is essential to beat depression.
Talk to someone.
My last bit of advice is to talk to someone. It can be a stranger or someone you’re super close to. All that matters is that you feel comfortable talking to them and that they can support and help you.
And that’s it! I hope I helped. If you have Depression, always remember that good balances out bad-and that everything happens for a reason. No matter what, it’ll get better.
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