Breaking the Stigma: Opening up about Living with Depression

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    Depression is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a very common mental health issue that lots of people face. You would be surprised how many people experience depression at some point during their life.

    It can be helpful to talk about your journey with depression. You don’t have to tell anyone if you don’t want to, but it could be beneficial. It could help you as well as others who experience depression.

    Only by being open and honest can the stigma of depression be broken. Opening up won’t be easy, though. Here are some things to think about when you consider talking about depression.

    1.   Honesty

    It’s true that honesty is the best policy.

    Others can’t help you if they don’t know what you’re going through. You don’t need to tell everyone that you’re going through depression.

    But you can tell them you’re going through something difficult and that you don’t want to talk about it. People are more understanding than they used to be about mental health issues.

    Start by being open with your family. It can be painful to talk about mental health with them. But they probably know that something is wrong.

    Most mental health issues have a family history. You might be surprised to learn that other people in your family have gone through the same struggles.

    Only by being open can you work through them together.

    2.   Treatment

    There are many forms of treatment for depression.

    As with all things in life, there is no one size fits all treatment. What works for you probably won’t work for someone else.

    Some people choose to turn to anti-depressants. That can be a valid route. But it’s not necessarily a great choice for everyone.

    For many patients, alternative treatments like cannabis are more promising. There are no negative side effects associated with cannabis consumption.

    Here is an article from Veriheal on how you can get legal marijuana in Michigan. Michigan, along with most states, is making it easier for residents to obtain medical marijuana legally and safely.

    Medical marijuana is best used in conjunction with other treatment forms like psychotherapy. Therapy is a healthy way to talk about what you’re going through in a safe manner.

    Therapy is an individual journey, and every therapist has a unique approach to treating depression.

    It might take time to find the right treatment form for you.

    3.   Self-Care

    It’s important to take care of yourself.

    Self-care is extremely important if you experience depression. You deserve a bit of extra love when you’re feeling depressed.

    The great thing about self-care is that you define it. It looks different for every individual. For you, it might mean a long and relaxing bath.

    For someone else, self-care could mean a spa day or a trip to the beach. Self-care routines are ever evolving. Trying something new can help you find new ways to take care of yourself.

    Don’t be afraid to tell others that you need a little extra love.

    4.   Positive Input

    Input has a huge impact on your mental health.

    If you only watch depressing shows and read depressing books, it won’t be surprising that you feel depressed afterward.

    Cheer yourself up by increasing the amount of positive input you’re putting into your brain. Watch one of these happy movies on this list from Elle.

    Or read a good mystery or love story. Turn on some upbeat music while you’re working or doing the dishes. Choose to look at the positive side of life.

    It will take time, but you’ll start to notice a difference.

    5.   Preparedness

    Some people only experience depression once.

    Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for most people. Depression tends to pop up several times and in differing frequencies.

    It’s important to be prepared for another episode of depression. The best way to do that is to prevent depression.

    Regular therapy and self-care are great ways to prevent depression. They will also help you create strategies for how to care for yourself if it happens again.

    Share your mental health history with your family and friends. That way you will have a support network if something happens again.

    Be prepared that each episode of depression will look different.

    Conclusion

    Depression is nothing to be ashamed of. Only by being open and honest can we break the unfortunate stigmas associated with mental health.

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