Postpartum depression is what some new mothers develop after giving birth. Even the happiest of occasions may not help. Drastic hormonal shifts can lead to severe depression. This article will help you recognize signs that indicate depression.
Avoiding all sugar types can actually help lessen your depression. Compared with complex carbohydrates, these simple sugars are absorbed more quickly into the bloodstream. While this may cause a temporary spike in energy levels, it will also cause a crash and feelings of fatigue and depression.
Antidepressants will often restore the chemicals in your brain to a healthier balance. However, these medicines can only work to help you return to normality if you combine them with consistent exercise, therapy and effort.
No, you’re not crazy. Depression is an actual illness, and should be approached with as much respect as other diseases. Depression happens when something is wrong with your body. Depression is a signal that you are overwhelmed and in need of help.
Eliminate any form of the word “depression” from your vocabulary. Even though they are real words, they carry quite a few extra meanings and that can make feelings of hopelessness seem a lot worse than they really are. It can be more helpful to approach your feelings as simply a period when your mood is low. It can be easier to raise your mood than to think of battling depression, even though you’re doing the same thing.
Call upon a friend or relative to either talk to over the phone, or better still, visit with in person and just find something to do together. Socialization can often lessen the feelings of depression.
Even if you take medication on a regular basis, it is important to receive therapy. Talking to a trained professional will be able to help you understand your own thoughts much better than just thinking can do. Friends won’t do as good of a job as a counselor would.
If you suffer from depression, it would be helpful to buy a journal you can write in. Putting your thoughts on paper might help you cope and feel better. Additionally, elaborating on what on how you feel when your symptoms flare up is a good way to get a bead on what in particular is nagging you.
Avoid self medicating with over the counter or illicit drugs or alcohol. Anyone suffering depression can easily assume that drugs and alcohol are ways to feel better than they do now, but doing such things actually hurts you in the long run. There are times when feeling like drinking or doing drugs can cause dependency.
Should your physician prescribe antidepressants for your depression, always follow the medication guidelines. Don’t take any less or more than you are instructed, and never stop taking a medication without discussing it with your physician first, as this is risky. It is usually necessary to wean patients off anti-depressants, but stopping them all at once can have serious consequences.
When coping with your depression, start a new hobby you might enjoy. Starting a new hobby can help to keep your mind busy and give you a reason to feel good about yourself. Building birdhouses, refinishing old furniture and journal writing are all hobbies that can help you to feel motivated again.
Keeping your appointments with friends and family is one way to stay positive. Surrounding yourself with those who care for you can ease your depressed feeling, even if it is just temporary. You won’t be as depressed if you’re going out more.
It is very important for you to know that you aren’t alone when you are dealing with the feelings of depression. This is important to remember because if you feel isolated, it will only worsen your depression. You should build a support group to help you manage your depression.
Clearly, many new mothers are affected by post-partum depression. Although many new moms struggle to admit more depth to their feelings than just the usual “baby blues,” they need to get help if they are seriously depressed. Hopefully, now that you have read the article, you know how to recognize and understand depression.