Depression is an often debilitating disorder that affects millions of people in the country. The experience with depression can vary widely. Some people feel depressed only occasionally when they are in a certain situation. Something like a bad day at work, conflict with a friend, loss of something meaningful, or some other condition can trigger depressive symptoms. For others, depression is a chronic disorder that people battle with constantly. It’s part of who they are and they have to use medications and other interventions to manage symptoms and live a relatively normal life.
For those people, depressive swings can be extreme to the point of suicidal ideation. People feel like they can’t move or don’t want to leave the house for days at a time. They can engage in things like substance abuse and other destructive behavior to try and find some sort of relief from their symptoms. Unfortunately, these behaviors often push people further into depression and it can feel like there is little to no hope.
People in the dark days of depression often need more than a little sunlight or a dinner out with friends to start feeling better. It takes building a defense system that protects mental health and makes it harder for symptoms to set in. If you or someone you know is dealing with the dark days of depression, here are some strategies you can use to find help.
Seek Help – Don’t Do It Alone
Almost everyone experiences depressive symptoms at some point in their life. The dark days of depression, though, are different. This is something that you likely will need help getting out of. Otherwise, you could be dealing with months or even years of depression symptoms.
If you find yourself or know someone stuck in the dark days of depression, you should look for help outside of yourself. Hopefully, you feel comfortable telling people close to you about what you’re going through. Tell your friends or family that you need help instead of staying inside and telling people that you don’t feel like going out.
Additionally, you also have resources outside of your close circle. Medical professionals today have more tools available than ever to help people manage symptoms and combat depression. Whether it’s meeting with a therapist or taking medications designed to prevent sinking down that wormhole, you need to be willing to try different methods and stick with what works. Chronic depression requires a lifetime of attention and building strategies to help you cope.
Make Small Goals
You can’t expect to leap out of a deep hole of depression. When people do that, they sometimes end up worse off. If, for example, a person is chronically depressed about their physical health, they shouldn’t make a goal to lose 100 pounds in 6 months. When the first month doesn’t go as well as they planned, then they can sink even deeper into depression.
Start off by making small incremental goals. Keep them purposely small because those mini successes will give you the fuel you need to keep going. For example, if you’re not exercising now, then make a goal to go on a short walk for a week. Slowly increase the time and the distance and keep going. Getting out of the dark days of depression takes hard work and requires patience. It’s not going to happen all at once.
Using Peptides to Combat Depression
Staying healthy with good energy levels is vital to treating depression. Semax is a popular peptide that can help manage depressive symptoms according to recent studies on animals. It has many benefits that are closely tied to treating what typically fails people struggling with depression. For instance, research in mice shows that Semax regulates the function of the brain in the setting of depression. Additionally, Semax has very minimal side effects. It’s much less disruptive to the body and its systems than many of the SSRIs that many people take today to treat depression. More research is ongoing into how Semax boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, which can help control depressive symptoms without negative effects.
Control Your Environment
You likely know when you feel depressed. It’s the motivation part that’s such a challenge. You don’t feel like getting up, going to the gym, working, or spending time with friends. These things, however, are what needs to happen for you to feel better. Avoid things like sad music, movies, and other media that can affect your mental health. Turn on more lights and spend more time outside. Control your environment to make it harder for symptoms to settle in. This will help you climb out of depression faster and more effectively.
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