Depression is more complicated than being sad. It is a full-scale assault on motivation and self-worth. It leads to a view of the world through an absolutely negative filter. It is absolutely crushing. Breaking through these feelings is a daunting task, but you can move past depressive episodes by following some simple steps.
Keep Expectations Reasonable
While breaking through depression seems impossible, remember that it’s not necessary to change the whole world to make a difference. Keeping expectations manageable allows for successes to break through. Tackle the day in small fragments, defining success as “washing the dishes,” “cooking dinner,” or “walking the dog.” Manage these goals realistically and take pride in crossing each item off your checklist.
Keep A Running Tab of Accomplishments
Depression causes the mind to create a mental filter that omits accomplishments and positivity while focusing only on the negatives. Physically writing down accomplishments forces the brain to process some of these successes that it may be ignoring. Regardless of how mundane or small the achievement may seem, write it down. Beat a level in a video game? Got out of bed and dressed before noon? Cleaned the cat’s litter box? Write them down and watch how quickly the list can grow.
Seek Help
Luckily, more is being understood about depression and mental illnesses as each day passes. Today, it is no longer viewed as something that can be overcome with pure willpower alone. Seeking help for severe depression should not be considered a shortcoming or failure. Instead, this is a successful step in mustering the motivation to take that first step in a difficult situation. Motivation is one of the primary aspects of one’s self to fall victim to depression, so overcoming that for even a moment requires strength. Go ahead and write this down on that list, too.
At Alta Loma Transformational Living, you will meet knowledgeable, compassionate professionals that understand addiction in all its forms. Alta Loma uses an integrative and holistic approach to treat addiction and mental health issues. No treatment is one-size-fits-all, where you will have a team of experts prepared to create your customized treatment plan. We offer care for your mind, body, and spirit, so that you can heal from the inside out and look forward to a lifetime of sobriety and wellness. If you are ready to take the first step in your recovery, please call us at 866-457-3843.
