How to deal with depression alone:

Many people wonder how to deal with depression alone or what to do when depressed. You might be suffering from severe depression or you might be asking yourself, “Do I have depression?” Or you might be helping someone with depression. Knowing how to deal with severe depression is not something obvious. Although you might want to know how to deal with depression on your own, you might find that you need the help of others to properly overcome depression, and it is important to realize that it is okay to admit that you need help. (By the way, if you need help right at this very moment, please click here: Suicide crisis lines.)

And always remember the words of Michael Yapko, who wrote “Breaking the Patterns of Depression” when he said, “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” It might not feel like a temporary problem, but it is.

All of that being said, this is a long article that will give you the keys to help begin to learn how to deal with depression alone. Ironically, part of figuring out what to do when depressed and dealing with depression alone is acting as your own advocate and seeking help. Sometimes it takes many different approaches to learn how to deal with depression, and so the best thing you can do is to be willing to try new things even if you are not sure if they will work for you.

Do I have depression?

Maybe lately you haven’t been feeling well and might be wondering, “Am I depressed?” but you are not sure. And if you are depressed, you don’t know why or what type of depression treatment plan you should follow. This article provides a depression test so that you know if you are depressed and then, later in this article, we discuss what to do when depressed. TWe also explain the answer to the next question most people have, which is, “Why am I depressed?” In other words, people wonder what causes depression, and we discuss that.

How can I overcome depression?

Next, the symptoms of depression are explored. The most important part of this article is the part that discusses how to deal with depression. Some people talk about how to fight depression or how to overcome depression. Although I think depression is difficult to deal with and it can certainly feel like a fight, I think when we talk about fighting depression, we are, in a sense, fighting with ourselves.

Similarly, the idea of overcoming depression implies that it is a one time thing that can be overcome and that’s that. Unfortunately, that is not the reality for everyone. On the one hand, the methods mentioned in the depression treatment plan may help you figure out how to overcome depression once and for all. However, it is also possible that you will find yourself depressed again at some point, and it is important not to see this as a failure on your part. Instead, it is simply time, once again, to figure out how to deal with depression. How to deal with depression, as I mentioned earlier, might not just be a single thing. It might be several things that you do in combination to effectively treat your depression.

Quick Depression Quiz

To find out the answer to the question, “Am I depressed?” you really need to see your physician, but meanwhile, you can get an idea by answering the following questions about your mood. Bear in mind that these symptoms have to have persisted for at least two weeks for it to qualify as depression (although they would not be pleasant to experience for any length of time).

Do I have depression?

But first, if you are having thoughts of death or suicide seek help immediately: Suicide crisis lines. Although you might wonder how to deal with depression alone, the truth is that you should never have to face depression alone. At the very least, there are depression chat rooms and forums online where you can get some support. Phone support is better. And support in person is even better.

Am I depressed – Depression Quiz:

Do you feel sad or hopeless?

Do you feel angry, irritable, or hostile? (Often this is a symptom of depression in men and gets overlooked.)

Do you cry often or feel like you can’t cry even though you are full of emotions?

Have you withdrawn from social activities or your family?

Have you lost interest in activities you previously enjoyed?

Has your job or school performance declined?

Has your appetite increased or decreased lately? (Either can be a symptom of depression.)

Are you unable to sleep or sleeping all the time? (Again, either of these can be a symptom.)

Do you feel restless/agitated?

Do you feeel worthless?

Do you feel excessively guilty?

Have you lost enthusiasm/motivation?

Do you have a feeling of being lethargic or fatigued most of the day?

Do you have difficulty in concentrating?

Do you have unexplained aches and pains?

Are you experiencing houghts of death or suicide? (If so, please seek help immediately: Suicide crisis lines)

If you have been experiencing any of these symptoms for at least two weeks, you may be depressed and it would probably be a good idea to visit your family doctor.

“But… do I have depression?” Don’t second guess yourself.

Meanwhile, although being depressed is frustrating, there are some steps you can take to help yourself get better. A good depression treatment plan is the key. There is no blood test for depression, no easy way to “prove” that you are depressed, and sometimes you might even not fully acknowledge the reality of it yourself. That may even be why you are reading this page — you may suspect that you are depressed; there may be a lot of evidence and yet you still might wonder, “Am I depressed?” Don’t second guess yourself.

Being depressed is not your fault.

Unfortunately, there is still a societal stigma associated with depression. Some view it as weakness, a character flaw, or even laziness. Please rest assured that it is none of these things! Being depressed is not your fault. What are the causes of depression? So many things in life can lead to depression — genetics, the way you were raised, negative life experiences, society. Focus your efforts on getting well rather than on blaming yourself for being unwell!

…learn how to deal with your depression.

The good news is that there are some concrete steps you can start taking today that will start you on the road to wellness even though you might not believe this right now. Getting rid of depression is not an overnight process. There are no quick fixes here. It takes time and commitment, which is hard because you may feel that it is hopeless. But that is the depression talking. Please read onwards for the depression treatment plan so that you can learn how to deal with your depression.

There is hope even though it feels hopeless

If you are depressed, you likely will think the process is completely hopeless and that most suggestions will not help at all. Part of getting better is realizing that this is the depressed part of your brain talking and that making some changes might actually help even if they genuinely appear hopeless. Feeling hopeless and helpless are feelings — they do not represent reality when we are depressed.

Feeling hopeless and helpless are feelings — they do not represent reality when we are depressed.

This article discusses the causes of depression, the key symptoms of depression, and a depression treatment plan to help you work your way out of depression. Any treatment plan for depression depends a lot on what an individual is willing to put into the plan in terms of effort. This makes it difficult because it is hard to make an effort when you are depressed. However, there is good news. According to Breaking the Patterns of Depression by Michael Yapko (a book I highly recommend), depressions tend to lift naturally after a certain period of time.

…depressions tend to lift naturally after a certain period of time.

So, having a plan for how to deal with depression is a good idea because it can help you learn how to get rid of depression more quickly and efficiently and can also build resilience for the future. However, as much as you might be feeling despair or hopelessness and like there is no future while you are depressed, know that just by holding on each day — even if you do nothing else, but just HOLDING ON — you will eventually get better! That is very important for people who are depressed to realize!

…plan for how to deal with depression is a good idea because it can help you learn how to get rid of depression more quickly and efficiently and can also build resilience for the future.

Causes of depression – Why am I depressed?

You may wonder, “Why am I depressed?” and that is a good question. What are the causes of depression? Some people get depressed for very good reasons such as something tragic happening in their lives. However, other people are simply genetically prone to depression. It is no one’s fault. It is the same as some people being prone to becoming diabetic. Depression tends to run in families.

What else causes depression? Depression can also be a result of the way you were raised and, consequently, the way you think about yourself and the world around you. A lot of people who are depressed get stuck in trying to puzzle out “why am I so depressed?” rather than accepting the depression and moving on to take steps that will lead them into a better frame of mind.

…try not to get trapped in ruminating about the causes of depression in your particular case.

It is valid to ask “Why am I depressed,” but try not to get trapped in ruminating about the causes of depression in your particular case. Depression may be a one time occurrence in your life or it may be a recurring visitor. The important thing is to figure out what works for you to help ease depression out the door as quickly as possible, or in stronger terms, how to fight depression.

Ultimately, how to deal with depression is the most important thing to focus on.

Sometimes people get trapped in a cycle of endless rumination about whether you are depressed and why you are depressed and even sometimes being angry at yourself for being depressed. While this rumination is normal for people who are suffering from depression, try to break free from the cycle and move forward to taking some action to help yourself recover. Ultimately, how to deal with depression is the most important thing to focus on.

Figuring out the causes of your depression might be a helpful activity or it might not, depending on your circumstances. What causes depression for you might be part of the cure, but it might not be relevant. For example, if your depression is mainly biological, spending endless hours wondering why you feel so bad is unproductive. It is better to focus on how to deal with depression.

Symptoms of Depression

Here are the basic symptoms of depression and these usually have to go on for at least two weeks before it is considered an official “depression” for which you need a depression treatment plan. (The official DSM-5 symptoms of depression as well as ICD-10 symptoms of depression are here.)

You may have some of these symptoms or all of them. It is worth noting that men tend to have more of the physical symptoms of depression as well as the irritability and hostility rather than sadness and crying, so it sometimes can be a little trickier to diagnose depression in men.

sadness or hopelessness

anger, irritability, and/or hostility

crying frequently or not being able to cry when you want or need to

withdrawing from social activities or family life.

a loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed

a decline in performance at work or school

an increase or decrease in appetite

an increase or decrease in sleeping patterns

restlessness or agitation

a feeling of worthlessness

excessive feelings of guilt

a loss of enthusiasm/motivation

a feeling of being lethargic or fatigued most of the day

difficulty in concentrating

unexplained aches and pains

thoughts of death or suicide (Suicide crisis lines)

If you are having thoughts of death or suicide, get help immediately: Suicide crisis lines. You can call a suicide crisis line and follow up with a visit to your doctor, a psychologist, a counsellor, your pastor, a walk-in counselling center, or whatever resources exist in your area. Also, if you feel you are in immediate danger, call the local emergency number. In North America, this is 9-1-1.

How to deal with depression alone – depression treatment plan

“Am I depressed?” Well, if you are, what can be done about it? The best depression treatment plan for you and your depression may be different from the best treatment plan for depression for someone else. This is not only because people are different, but because there are different levels of depression, and different types of depression.

How to deal with depression can be different at various times in your life and it can be different for different people.

How to deal with depression can be different at various times in your life and it can be different for different people. For example, if you are depressed for a reason — for example, you might have experienced multiple losses or trauma — then working through those losses will likely be an important part of your depression treatment plan while for someone who suffers from a genetic tendency to be depressed, seeing a psychiatrist and getting on the right medication might be an important part of your depression treatment plan.

It is really important to do what fits best for you. It is also important to experiment.

However, I will try to cover most of the main treatments that are known to help depression. It is really important to do what fits best for you. It is also important to experiment. Some of these interventions may seems silly or pointless until you try them and then you might realize they actually work amazingly well.

Changing the patterns of your life is what will change the patterns of depression, so this is the key.

You might be at a loss for how to deal with depression. Changing the patterns of your life is what will change the patterns of depression, so this is the key. Sometimes when we are depressed, it can be easy to get trapped in a cycle of ruminating over the questions of “am I depressed” and “why am I depressed” and self-talk like “I shouldn’t be depressed” and so on. Be patient with yourself. If you notice yourself thinking these types of thoughts, gently acknowledge them and then move on to a more productive activity. (P.S. Just sitting and breathing is a more productive activity. So are all the suggestions below.)

…think of depression as an unwanted houseguest.

So, without further ado, here is the treatment plan for depression. As I mentioned earlier, I don’t think of this as a battle as in “how to fight depression,” but rather “how to deal with depression.” I think of depression as an unwanted houseguest. Do what fits best for you, but also try to step outside your comfort zone a little:

See your doctor (you could have probably figured that one out on your own). Ask your doctor to check your thyroid and vitamin B12 levels. If they are low, they could be at the root of your depression! Also, he or she might refer you to a psychiatrist or might offer you anti-depressants for the short term or long term. Whether or not to go on anti-depressants is a personal decision. They don’t work for everyone — they tend to work better the worse your depression is. Sometimes, anti-depressants can give your mood a boost so that you can try other things. Also, sometimes it can take some trial and error to find the best anti-depressant (or combination) that will work for you personally. So, be persistent. When it works, it can work very well and can be one of the easiest ways of dealing with depression. See a counsellor. In many communities, there are low-cost counselling options or your medical coverage might cover a certain number of psychology or counselling sessions. Some employers have an employee assistance plan that covers a certain number of counselling sessions (and is confidential). A counsellor can help you to navigate the icy depths of depression and not feel so alone while you are doing it. Additionally, depending on their expertise, they can offer you various different types of therapy such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), MBCT (mindfulness-based cognitive therapy), DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy), and so many others! See a hypnotherapist. Hypnotherapy is basically therapy that communicates directly with your unconscious mind. It can work wonders for some people in figuring out how to overcome depression. See an acupuncturist. This is another therapy that helps many people determine how to overcome depression and can be an important part of your depression treatment plan. Good nutrition. Bad nutrition is a vicious circle because when we eat poorly, we feel bad, and when we feel bad, we reach for the chips and chocolate and then we feel bad and then… and so on. I usually suggest that, rather than taking things away, you try adding things. For example, instead of making chips and chocolate “forbidden,” add foods you enjoy eating that you can realistically prepare while depressed. Sometimes, it helps if you make a list. For instance, it took me years to realize that I like cottage cheese because, as I was growing up, it was always considered a “dieting” food, which I only ate when I was not allowing myself to eat “yummy” foods. Now, I realize that I love cottage cheese (you may hate it and that’s okay). The food we eat makes a huge difference to how we feel, so make sure that you are eating well. If you have no clue how to eat well, a good place to start is here. Drink plenty of water! Good nutrition is an essential part of your depression treatment plan. This may seem obvious — everyone and his dog is always saying you should have better nutrition. However, sometimes the obvious is exceptionally helpful and this is one of those times. Eating well can really be an important part of how to fight depression. Vitamins and Minerals. Even if you eat well, you may be short of certain vitamins and/or minerals. The two big ones that spring to mind are vitamin B12 and vitamin D. However, many others affect depression also. I wrote an article about supplements that help ease depression here. Two multivitamins I recommend are Centrum for Women (which has a male version too) and Lorna Vanderhaeghe’s MultiSmart. Both have a lot of what you need in them. You need to study the label and consult your doctor or pharmacist to determine which is best for your needs, given your age, medical conditions, what medications you are on, etc. Exercise. Studies have shown that exercise and good nutrition alone for 10 weeks can be as effective as medication and talk therapy. That doesn’t mean we should drop medication and talk therapy since those can be very useful in overcoming depression! However, it does show the power of the body to heal itself. If you are extremely out of shape or have health concerns, consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program. When you do start exercising, try to make it fun. Are there any exercise activities you enjoy? Dancing? Swimming? Walking in the park? Start slowly. Even if you can only do 5 minutes of exercise the first day, write that down in a log book and feel proud of yourself for having started! Day one. You have to start somewhere. Art Therapy. You may have some form of artistic expression that you enjoy that you have left by the wayside. If so, pick it up. Singing, dancing, writing, drawing, painting — any form of self-expression! On the other hand, you may be thinking that you are not “an artist”. You don’t have to be “an artist” to benefit from this type of therapy. You have probably heard of the popularity of adult coloring books. It can be very relaxing and therapeutic to just sit and color. Also, sometimes when we are depressed, we start to feel despair and get so caught up in that despair that it is hard to think of anything else. Coloring is a great distraction from those negative feelings. Many people use art of all kinds to help escape difficult states of mind. (In fact art therapy can be a lot of fun as well as relaxing and there is no need to even ask yourself, “Am I depressed?” prior to doing it!) Socializing. Human beings are social creatures. If you are severely depressed, you might not want to be around people, but it would probably be helpful for you to make at least one “date” with a friend per week so that you get out and try to enjoy yourself. Make sure it is someone you like who is kind and supportive. You may be thinking that you have no friends. When people are depressed, they often feel isolated. Sometimes this is because they truly have no friends and sometimes it is because they are discounting the positives in their lives. If you truly have no friends, it is a little difficult if you are in a severe depression because it is a hard time to make friends. However, you can try joining a book discussion group, or go to meetup.com and join one of their many groups. Some are better than others. Making new friends takes time, effort, and patience. Do online therapy. There are several free online therapy programs as well as apps for therapy. Why not give it a try? One that is well-reviewed is Mood Gym. Read a book. There are three types of books that I believe are helpful when one is depressed: 1. Books that inherently cheer you up a little such as “The Number One Ladies Detective Agency,” by Alexander McCall-Smith, 2. Books that make you feel less alone by discussing other people’s struggles with depression such as “The Noonday Demon,” by Andrew Soloman, and 3. Self-help books that directly provide you with therapy. Which type of book is most helpful to you really depends a lot on your personality. If you don’t like reading, most of these books are now available on Audible.com. (Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks ). Distract yourself. Depression tends to make us focus inwards. Find some things to help you focus outwards either a little or a lot. Make a list of ways you can distract yourself. If you are severely depressed, these might be things like sudoku, crossword puzzles, watching a movie, and that sort of thing. If you are in a milder depression, you might consider volunteering somewhere. While it is important to “deal with” your depression, you don’t have to immerse yourself in it 24×7! Kittens and Puppies and Research, oh my! Research shows that looking at photos or videos of cute baby animals is actually very healthy for us because it helps us release stress. But, do you need a reason? Spending time around real animals can also be very comforting and stress-reducing. Here are some YouTube Kittens to start you off. Am I depressed? Time to look at kitties… Icy Water for a shock to a better mood Also known as “hydrotherapy”. Cold water, particularly to the face for about 2 – 5 minutes, is said to trigger the mammalian dive reflex. And, the important part of that is that it makes you feel better even though it is not comfortable. I have heard it suggested that you get a basin and fill it with ice water and put your face into it for as long as you can repeatedly for 2 – 5 minutes. However, I recently read an article that suggested a more practical version of this in which you take an icy cold shower by starting with a regular temperature and slowly lowering it to icy cold and then staying in for 2 – 5 minutes. The nice thing about doing this as part of your depression treatment plan is that it doesn’t take long, it is inexpensive, and it is relatively easy. For some people, it is a very fast way to a better mood. (Is this because it is so unpleasant that the brain says to itself, “I promise not to be depressed if you will only stop this? I am joking. However, I have tried this icy cold shower technique because I believe I should try the things I suggest. In my experience, it is highly unpleasant although others have told me they find it energizing. Maybe if you are really not sure what the answer is to the question “Am I depressed?” you can find out by trying this cold shower technique — if you can stay in for the full two to five minutes, is that a sign of endurance or depression?) Meditation – Learn to meditate and be in the present moment. MBCT is mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, which is an approach to treating depression based on a meeting between Eastern philosophy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The ability to be in the present moment and meditate is a key to this. I have learned most of what I know about meditation from reading books by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist Monk. I find his books to be full of compassion, wisdom, and humility. Many people who are depressed find themselves thinking terrible, self-hating thoughts on sort of a loop all day every day. Meditation is a key to breaking that pattern, if only for a few minutes. For some it is a difficult skill to learn because we live in a society that values multi-tasking. Meditation is the opposite of multi-tasking. It is sitting and focusing your mind on only one task, which is sitting and gently noticing any thought activity in your mind. (Am I depressed? Depression meditation: As I sit here breathing, I feel depressed. I breathe in and see that I am in pain. I breathe out and see that I am in pain. I am in the present moment. Depression is here with me. See the poem The Guest House.) Spiritual Practice – If you are not spiritual, this might not apply to you, but if you are, your faith may be a source of strength and guidance to help lead you out of depression. Make Good Plans – You may feel as though life is hopeless and you have nothing to look forward to. Give yourself something to look forward to. It doesn’t have to be something big. For example, buy a small plant. Then your plan can be to water the plant every day. Maybe you can buy some Miracle-Gro to put in the water to fertilize the plant so it grows well. One day, you might need to transplant the plant to a bigger container. I am giving this example because it is something little. When we are depressed, sometimes big plans are too much, but little plans are doable and give us the sense that we are making some progress. (P.S. Don’t read into it if you accidentally kill your plant — nearly everyone is bad with houseplants.)

Conclusion

At this point you should have a pretty good idea how to deal with depression. Despite that, if you are asking yourself the question, “Am I depressed?” you should probably see your doctor because, clearly, you are not feeling well. After hopefully helping you determine the answer to the question, “Do I have depression?” this article outlines the causes of depression (aka “why am I depressed?”), the symptoms of depression, and a depression treatment plan that tells you how to deal with depression alone. I hope that the many ideas in the depression treatment plan help you to figure out how to fight depression. The depression treatment plan is meant to give you many tools so you can figure out how to deal with depression in your life.

…choose what works best for you and do that

As I mentioned, in your treatment plan for depression, choose what works best for you and do that. You might try some things first and add others later as you get stronger. Or you might try some things, find they don’t work for you, and then try others. Do what works best for you!

…remember that your depression will eventually lift on its own no matter what you do or do not do

Even if the answer to the question, “Do I have depression?” is a firm yes, the key is to keep on trying, and to remember that your depression will eventually lift on its own no matter what you do or do not do. You might wonder what the point of doing anything is if your depression is going to lift either way. However, it may lift a lot sooner if you do something to help it along and also, the items on the depression treatment plan are all designed to make you feel better — they are things that will likely help you even when your depression has lifted.

For example, having good nutritional and exercise habits are going to make your life easier and less stressful regardless of whether you are depressed or not. Also, being in the habit of doing art therapy is a mentally soothing activity which everyone can benefit from in our increasingly hectic and fast-paced world. Additionally, the rise of the internet has made socializing less frequent, so making an effort to make new friends and find socialization opportunities is something we all need to work on, even when we are well.

…as you add new ways to fight depression to your toolbox, you become more resilient and less likely to become depressed in the future

You might also find that as you add new ways to fight depression to your toolbox, you become more resilient and less likely to become depressed in the future. How to deal with depression might be an ongoing quest, but the things that help depression tend to be healthy in general.

You might feel like you are alone. But you aren’t because millions of people all around the world right now are also feeling just as you do.

I hope your depression lifts soon and you see brighter days ahead. It can be awful, lonely, and dark to suffer from depression. You might feel like you are alone. But you aren’t because millions of people all around the world right now are also feeling just as you do. It is ironic that this lonely and sad feeling is so common. This may be a cold comfort when you are in despair. However, please remember that there is hope. If you are truly depressed, you will not believe that. Your brain will have found all the reasons why there is no hope. However, that truly is just a feeling. And it is a lie because there is hope. And I will end by saying what I said earlier:

If you answered “yes” to any of the questions in the “Am I depressed?” quiz, please see your doctor. If you are having thoughts of death or suicide, please get help immediately: Suicide crisis lines. You can call a suicide crisis line and follow up with a visit to your doctor, a psychologist, a counsellor, your pastor, a walk-in counselling center, or whatever resources exist in your area. Also, if you feel you are in immediate danger, call the local emergency number. In North America, this is 9-1-1.

Top Ten Books about Depression

Please feel free to suggest any additions or alterations to the depression treatment plan that might not have occurred to me. I appreciate feedback about this article on how to deal with depression as well as my other articles.

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