Facing Depression Head-On

November 17, 2021

Winter is Coming!!! Although certain holidays may provide relief for some of us during the winter months; we are all susceptible to depression. We have more pressure put on us during this time of year, and we also don’t get as much daylight as months prior. It is a scientific fact that we receive Serotonin which is a mood stabilizer from the sun. As a licensed psychotherapist, I would like to provide five Depression tips to help combat depression this season.

  1. Practice Gratitude! In a time of giving and wanting, we can often find ourselves comparing ourselves to the “Joneses.” Comparison is a thief of joy, try writing a list of at least 5 things you are grateful for in your life.
  2. Spend time with people you like! Notice this did not specifically mention family or significant others, just people you like. Typically with the cold weather and the dark, it can be tempting to want to isolate ourselves. Try spending time with someone or some people you like at least once a month this season.
  3. Speak kindly to yourself! Sometimes we can be our worst critics. Let’s give ourselves grace and allow room for error. We are not robots, and even they malfunction from time to time. Try writing 5 things you like about yourself.
  4. Get/Stay active! Newton’s 1st Law of motion states a body in motion stays in motion and a body at rest stays at rest. Dealing with depression can feel like a forcefield around you making even the most “simple tasks” such as brushing your teeth, eating, performing your duties seem like mountains. Break tasks into parts, for instance instead of planning to start going to the gym, start with packing your gym bag (even if it isn’t used until a week later).
  5. Don’t be afraid to ask for/get help! If you are experiencing a lack of motivation, sleep issues, appetite fluctuations, down mood, loss of concentration or brain fog, etc. Don’t be afraid to seek a mental health professional and/or group to help you stay healthy because Mental health IS health and YOU deserve to be/stay healthy!

Thank you for reading!!! If you enjoyed this article and would like more content like this, videos on various mental health topics are available at:

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Also: If you have ANY mental health topics you would like to learn more about, please email me at:

Thelatricerelease@gmail.com

 

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Posted in A Guide to Stronger Families, The Latrice Release