Managing Depression

There are a lot of conversations out there on how to manage depression. This is going to briefly be one of them. However, instead of it telling you what to do, I want it to give you some ideas to think about. This post might not be for you right now if you are going through a breakdown or an episode. BUT do not be afraid, you are going to get through this one. And the next.

This post might be best served for the period of time between episodes or for the person who knows someone going through depression. I'm saying all this before we get to the substance of the post because I want you to know that it might not make sense, or it might not be something you want to do. But it will be here for you when you are ready. Breathe in. Breathe out. Let go. (Thank you, Jimmy, for this reminder).

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5), depression has a set of criteria that must be met in order to be clinically diagnosed. These include:

- Depressed mood (low mood, feelings of sadness)

- Lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities

- Weight loss when not dieting or weight gain

- Insomnia or hypersomnia (changes in sleep routine or habits)

- Feeling slow, lack of energy

- Feelings of worthlessness

- Feelings of guilt

- Lack of concentration or difficulty concentrating

- Recurrent thoughts of death

To be clinically diagnosed with major depressive disorder, the above-stated criteria need to meet a certain threshold and cause significant distress or impairment to your life.

What about the day-to-day depression? Where these feelings come and go, last for a minute or last for a day. It might be safe to say that everyone at some point in their life has met at least one of the above criteria. While the steps to managing depression have been acknowledged by countless authors and professionals, I want to share them here and provide you with basic reasons.

Steps of YESSS

1. phYsical activity

2. Engagement

3. Sunlight

4. Social support

5. Sleep

Managing depression starts with managing life. The good parts and the bad. It is not always easy; and it is worth it, you are worth it.

Each of these steps will be addressed in their own individual blog so that this can be a step-by-step process. I know that you want the resolution right now and the fix right now, but it will happen in time and it will come together. And it may come together when you least expect it to.