5 Manageable Steps To Help You Move Forward While Dealing With Depression
Depression is a word that can be hard to say, even for those who are familiar with the experience. Although there shouldn’t be, most of us understand at some level that there remains a stigma surrounding depression and other mental health experiences. Although awareness and acceptance of these things are on the rise, what many people still often lack are the tools to properly support and create a loving space for their friends and family who might be experiencing depression. This can leave those struggling feeling isolated and alone. While we can’t always control how others respond to our depression, we can control the measures we take to support ourselves. Which is why we’ve gathered some of our best tips to overcome depression and continue to move forward, even as you’re living with depression.
Confide in a professional
Many times, when others share tips to overcome depression, meeting with a therapist is mentioned as a last resort. However, we at Genesis Counseling of South Tampa are here to assure you that it is a great idea to start with a therapist. If something feels off that you just can’t shake, depression counseling with a professional is a really loving and compassionate gift to give yourself. Seeking professional help sooner rather than later could mean a shorter period of depression symptoms, or a faster road to feeling better!
While in-person therapy can be very helpful, it’s important to remember that virtual therapy is an option too if it makes it more accessible with your life and schedule. No matter how you approach therapy, we’re here to listen and provide you with tools to help keep you moving forward even when depression does its best to hold you back.
Move your body
Hear us out! When you’re in the trenches with depression, you’re certainly not alone if the last thing that sounds good is getting up and going to the gym or a workout class. While those are both options that could definitely help get some of the happy hormones flowing in your brain, it’s not always a realistic ask when you’re struggling. Luckily, moving your body can be much easier and gentler than that while still bringing you benefits. Try some light stretching, a walk around the block, or even a little wiggle and shake to your favorite song while you’re heating up some leftovers in the kitchen. YouTube has lots of videos for beneficial stretches you can do without even getting out of bed! Any kind of gentle movement that will bring you joy and get your body moving is perfectly acceptable and encouraged. You’ll feel better after, trust us!
Be gentle with yourself
An often overlooked tip for overcoming depression is self-compassion. Sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing but be nicer to yourself. Negative self-talk can get really loud when depression comes knocking, and a very real and practical step you can take is simply committing not to entertain negative inner dialogue. It can take some practice, but the power of redirecting your thoughts is not to be underestimated. Instead of telling yourself how lazy you are for not cleaning the dishes after dinner, remind yourself that your body is working hard to take care of itself while you’re going through a rough time, and that takes more energy than usual. Remind yourself that it’s ok to rest and make a commitment to spend 5 extra minutes tidying up in the morning. Obviously everyone’s scenarios are different, but over time, you’ll learn to show yourself more grace and kindness, which can lighten the load of depression tremendously.
Stay connected
Depression tends to want to isolate us. Try to do the opposite if possible. Connection with the right people who reciprocate kindness and care can do wonders for someone experiencing depression. Leaning into community is a wonderful way to cope with the sadness and discomfort that often comes with depression symptoms. To learn more about coping mechanisms and how to make sure you’re choosing healthy ones, read our recent blog: Learn the Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms. Reaching out when you’re struggling and allowing people to show up for you is a beautiful way to deepen connections and remind yourself that you aren’t alone. Also, if you have the capacity to, showing up for others can add meaning and purpose to your life in ways that can alleviate the pain and isolation of depression. Lean into your community!
Make small promises to yourself
Last but equally as important, pick a few essential promises that you can make to yourself and keep each day. Make them something that relates to your care, that keeps you feeling human. For example, commit to drinking two bottles of water each day. If you want more? Great! If you can only get in two, that’s ok as well, as long as you keep the promise you made to yourself. Some other ideas include making sure to feed yourself, taking a multivitamin, practicing personal hygiene, and other forms of self-care. It can feel overwhelming to force these into a strict routine when you’re fighting depression, but reframing them as loving promises and commitments to yourself can make them feel more manageable and remove any element of shame from them.
If you’re ready to take the next step in caring for yourself while you’re dealing with depression, feel free to reach out. We offer depression counseling in Tampa Bay and beyond, and we’d love to support you!
