Depression 24/7 Or Seasonal Depression
Which ever depression it is, it can be difficult
Did you know that depression and suicide claims lives more often in a year then someone dying from a homicide? And the sad part is, that people with depression can get help for it but often don’t. Why is that you ask? Because many times people aren’t even aware that they are suffering from depression. They might think that it’s just a bad day and they will get through it. Or someone might tell them that you are just going through a rough patch and have to get over it and move on. Some might believe that they have depression but won’t seek help because they don’t want to be judged over it.
If you find yourself feeling down and hopeless for days and even weeks, you might want to talk to your doctor about it. Not feeling hopeful and losing interest in things you once loved are signs of depression. You’re eating habits might change, which will also lead to a weight change. You might feel more sensitive at times and cry for no apparent reason. You might feel more tired and not want to get out of bed for days. You will most likely feel sad all day every day with no understandable explanation.
Severe depression can last for months and even years if it’s not treated. I know because I was diagnosed with severe depression and suffered with it for years. Even with the help and treatment that I finally got, it took a while to get my depression controlled. Years of different therapies and medications finally helped me get back to living life. Now, going through endless therapy may detour some people from seeking help but trust me, if you work at it, it will help you. I was also diagnosed with other mental illnesses which affected my progress along the way but this post isn’t about those. So, the progress of the treatment is different for everybody, you just have to be patient.
Now, some people suffer with seasonal depression which is described as sadness during certain times of the year. Even though my severe depression is under control I sadly experienced seasonal depression this past Christmas season in 2022. It started in October and lasted until after the New Year. If you have never experienced seasonal depression, it is horrible. No matter how hard I focused on the good and fun things about the season, it was hard to fight away the sadness. I struggled with missing loved ones, not having traditions the way they used to be, not having a special someone in my life, and so much more.
It was almost unbearable the sad feelings that I was having along with more racing thoughts. I did some journaling in order to get some of the bad thoughts out of my head. And I shared some of my thoughts to a couple of loved ones which helped to a certain point. I just couldn’t believe how hard the season was for me this time even though there was a lot to be happy about. I even thought about calling the suicide hotline a few times but didn’t. And that’s another thing about struggling with depression. You don’t want to bother anyone else with your feelings so you keep it to yourself, and that’s not good.
Because of the different therapies that I have had in the past years though, I was able to work my way through my thoughts and feelings. I also made sure that I got enough sleep and used mental and physical distraction exercises to change what I was thinking about. If I was struggling with my thoughts, I would write them down or watch a video that would make me smile. I would take a walk or do something that made me happy. By doing something that would bring me pleasure would change how sad I felt at least for a little while.
Now, I haven’t been on medication for my mental health for a few years now and have been doing good for the most part. If I was still on medication this past Christmas my sad thoughts and feelings might not have been as bad. But it’s hard to say for sure because even on medication, some people can still have bad episodes. I will say though, that if I didn’t learn what I did when doing therapy all those years, I don’t know how I would have managed. By practicing techniques that I have learned it has helped me immensely.
But in conclusion… If you find yourself struggling with sadness and hopelessness for a few weeks, please find help. Talk to your doctor, a family member, a friend, or even dial 988. Someone will help you get the help that you need. There is nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it. And be honest with yourself about how you are feeling. Admitting to yourself that you need help is the first step to feeling better. And learn what you can too so that you can cope with the harder times that come along. May God bless you with good health, good knowledge, and peace of mind.