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July 8th, 2006
A REVIEW OF TECHNIQUES IN MANAGING
YOUR DEPRESSION
by Stan Popovich
Some people have a difficult time in managing their
depression. Sometimes, their depression and fears
can get best of them. As a result, here is a short
list of techniques that a person can use to help manage
their depression.
One of the ways to manage your depression is to challenge
your negative thinking with positive statements and
realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that
make your fearful or depressed, challenge those thoughts
by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity
and common sense. For example, your afraid that if
you do not get that job promotion then you will be
stuck at your job forever. This depresses you, however
your thinking in this situation is unrealistic. The
fact of the matter is that there all are kinds of
jobs available and just because you don’t get
this job promotion doesn’t mean that you will
never get one. In addition, people change jobs all
the time, and you always have that option of going
elsewhere if you are unhappy at your present location.
Some people get depressed and have a difficult time
getting out of bed in the mornings. When this happens,
a person should take a deep breath and try to find
something to do to get their mind off of the problem.
A person could take a walk, listen to some music,
read the newspaper or do an activity that will give
them a fresh perspective on things. Doing something
will get your mind off of the problem and give you
confidence to do other things.
Sometimes, we can get depressed over a task that
we will have to perform in the near future. When this
happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your
mind. For instance, you and your team have to play
in the championship volleyball game in front of a
large group of people in the next few days. Before
the big day comes, imagine yourself playing the game
in your mind. Imagine that your playing in front of
a large audience. By playing the game in your mind,
you will be better prepared to perform for real when
the time comes. Self-Visualization is a great way
to reduce the fear and stress of a coming situation.
Another technique that is very helpful is to have
a small notebook of positive statements that make
us feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation
that makes you feel good, write it down in a small
notebook that you can carry around with you in your
pocket. Whenever you feel depressed, open up your
small notebook and read those statements.
Take advantage of the help that is available around
you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help
you manage your fears and anxieties. They will be
able to provide you with additional advice and insights
on how to deal with your current problem. By talking
to a professional, a person will be helping themselves
in the long run because they will become better able
to deal with their problems in the future. Managing
your fears and anxieties takes practice. The more
you practice, the better you will become.
The techniques that I have just covered are some
basic ways to manage your depression, however your
best bet is to get some help from a professional.
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