Depression is a common mental health struggle which can take many forms. For someone who has never struggled with depression, it may be easy to assume that depression is simply a deep or intense sadness, but this is often not the case. Depression looks different for everyone but can often include symptoms such as: feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, physical fatigue or lack of energy, low self-esteem or self-loathing, lack of focus, irritability, lack of motivation, brain fog, or many others. Depression can also affect people in different ways. For example, one person struggling with depression may appear to be fully “functional” in that they are able to go to work every day and take care of all their chores and responsibilities. Another person may have a very difficult time getting out of bed every day, and may struggle to do tasks which for most people are very basic, such as brushing their teeth or eating. Many individuals fall somewhere in between these two examples and no one presentation of depression is exactly the same as another. This difference in presentation can make it challenging for those who do not struggle with depression to understand. They might see someone who has many distressing symptoms, but shows no overt signs of depression because they are getting through the day, and have a hard time recognizing that they are depressed.
One key factor of depression is isolation. This isolation can happen in several different ways. People who are depressed can often feel isolated even when they are surrounded by people. Depressive symptoms can lead to feeling alone, either in a literal sense or in an existential or spiritual sense. The latter means that even around people, one can feel alone in what they are going through. It can make it very difficult to connect with people in a meaningful way, which then leads to worsening depression. Someone struggling with depression may also isolate themselves as a reflex or coping mechanism even if they really want to be around people. This can happen without them even realizing or meaning to isolate themselves, but again leads to the same worsening of symptoms by reinforcing their feelings of loneliness. They may also make a deliberate choice to isolate themselves for a variety of reasons, for example low self-worth and feeling undeserving or unworthy of spending time with people.
Core beliefs are another major factor in depression. Core beliefs can affect or be affected by many other mental health struggles, but they are prevalent in depressive symptoms. Most notably, the issues of self-worth that often come along with depression tend to come from negative core beliefs about the self. These core beliefs often mean that it will be easier for the brain to look for, validate, and even create evidence that supports the belief, and it will be much easier to ignore any evidence that refutes or does not support the belief. It takes effort to challenge these harmful core beliefs, but it can be done, and the first step is acknowledging them and recognizing where they stem from.
There are many ways to manage and cope with depressive symptoms. We will mention a few here, but as always there is plenty more and it is up to each individual to find what works for them. Exercise is one way to ease symptoms of depression; being physical releases chemicals in the body that make us feel good and fight against the chemical imbalance that happens with depression. This can be difficult to implement, however, for those struggling with depression that are having a particularly hard time with motivation or physical energy. Simple acts of self care can be more helpful if exercise feels too hard; taking a shower and making sure we are eating even when we feel low may seem like small things but they can still make an impact, especially over time. We find that mindful practices involving gratitude are also a helpful way to combat depression. Making a conscious effort to focus on positive things in our lives begins to train our minds to think more positively in general. Hobbies can also be helpful, simply having something to focus on that brings us joy can go a surprisingly long way. Socializing, as we highlighted when discussing isolation, is also key. This fights against those feelings of loneliness. Making an effort to spend quality time with loved ones so as to not feel alone in the world is one of the biggest ways to fight depression. Interpersonal relationships are so important and so valuable to all of us, and they are crucial for those struggling with deep depression, so make sure you check on your humans!
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