How to Defeat Depression

First, let me say that I am proud of your motivation to defeat your depression. If you are reading this, you are gathering the courage to take on a seemingly unbeatable enemy. Growing up, my life was a day-to day fiasco between depression and suicidal thoughts. Whether it had to do with my severe shyness or my learning disability; the abuse from my family members or my parents' divorce, all I knew is that I hated my "life". I remember picking up a penny one morning just to see if this "luck if on heads" thing worked. Suicide and the threats of Hell seemed to be a paradise compared to what I was going through... but I was wrong. Later I found life so beautiful and rewarding, but the steps I had to take in order to get there were not easy.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• life

1. You must realize that depression is an emotion whose center lies within your thoughts: memories of abuse, limitations, etc. Now, these thoughts are obviously justified and based on past experiences, or your circumstances and how they affect you presently.

2. Resolve in your heart that depression can be defeated. Depression is always coupled with self-pity. This self-pity restrains the belief that you do, in fact, hold the power over depression and can remove it. Ironically, being able to get past the belief that you are trapped and unable to change is the majority of the battle.

3. Pull out some paper and write down what you believe is the source of your Depression. If you have read any of my articles, you will know that writing things down has become an invaluable resource for me. It brings clarity and makes any situation more tangible. Journal for a while, press through the weight that you feel when you try to do this. Take as long as you require! Once you know the source, 75% of the battle has been fought!

4. Find someone with which you can share all of your thoughts. There is always someone who will listen: family; friends; guidance counselors, if in school; neighbors; public counselors. If you don't know what to say, bring your papers with you and read them aloud. Not everyone can face such a worthy enemy alone. There are some that can look into a mirror, realize that feeling depressed is a waste of both time and life, and move on without a blink, but for the rest of us... we need each other! Spend as much time as you need to speak everything that is on your mind.

5. Spend some time in front of a mirror daily. Force yourself to speak out what it is you wish to think and feel. I know this seems weird - at least, it did to me when I first thought of it. Despite the method's obvious lack of sense, I spent a few weeks declaring to myself the opposite of what I believed. The thoughts that I knew established the depression in my mind, I spoke out their exact opposite. "I am a good son." "I am not worthless." "I am talented." "I am not ugly." "My friends do care about me." On and on it went. After two weeks, I woke up and started for my mirror. Only this time I was skipping my way down the apartment hallway, instead of dragging myself... I started to believe what I was saying, having pushed through the unbelief every day since I started.
   
   
   
   This is not the end, since the battle can be life-long. Remember, it is not the battle of depression that can hurt you, but admitting defeat! You are too precious to the world for you to believe such nonsense! Never give up; fight the good fight. Live and Love life...
   
   Blessings!

Tips & Warnings

• There is a difference between dealing with something and wallowing in it. Do not spend your time journaling and contemplating something for too long. This leads to more self-pity, and by the time you get to speak to someone about your depression, you have become starved for sympathy. This is a fierce cycle that will only lead to strengthening your emotional enemy.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.

[midcenturymaven]

on 7/7/2009 Wow, this is a controversial topic. I think all councel given to someone with depression is meant to give the person options, that is alternatives to suicide. I'm sure there are conditions that require medication. I am equally sure that we are overmedicated in this country. This is dangerous considering the side effects of drugs that treat depression, which can include suicidal thoughts.

[DavidSnyder]

on 2/10/2008 the last thing I desired was to offend, however my response was based on the information you gave me in your last comment. My request for anyone who would feel the need to comment on my articles would be to assume that I, too, have experiences and am not simply writing this stuff down for fun. To open a comment by stating how "wrong" I am only opens the forum up for other like comments, leading to injured pride and heated debates. Lets avoid public attacks and offer another perspective rather than shooting down whatever methods have proven effective to me.

[NovaVista]

on 2/9/2008 My Depression is not cause by anything from my past that I can remember. I know it is probably caused by a mix of things. Will this "treatment" work for me, even though I have been pushing all my sadness in (hiding it from the public) until it explodes within me? I have SEVERE Depression, and I am afraid to tell anyone. PLEASE help me.

[sandyjay]

on 2/8/2008 I find it quite offensive that you dare make the comment that I have "a lack of faith". You do not even know me, you have no idea what I have been through and what I have tried over the years. Why do you think I have continually taken myself off my medication trying various other methods. I have found a combination of medication and positive thinking, pushing yourself to get through each day makes the next day a little easier. I am control of my depression and have been so for some time now but only because I have made myself strong enough to control it rather than it control me. If that means with the help of medication, then so be it. I am currently employed in the mental health area and my experiences have made it possible to help others who are where I was many years ago. These people need PROFESSIONAL councelling, you my friend have no idea what you are talking about.

[DavidSnyder]

on 2/7/2008 Sandyjay, thank you for your perspective. Of course, I am always willing to be proven wrong.

This method has only worked with those that did not see medication as a valid mode of treatment, as well as held a very open mind. One could say that the "lack of faith" might be the reason that "black hole" gravitates toward you.

Try believing in something else rather than your medication. If this does not work, then please send me a message and I would be more than happy to edit this article.