Breaking the Cycle of Depression?

Sometimes someone tells us, "Just get out there and exercise, and everything will be fine." That can be good advice. But how do you start exercising when you don't even have the energy to get out of bed in the morning and don't even want to wash your body? That's a big question.

When you're under a lot of stress, that is, depression, it's hard to find the energy to do anything. Especially things like exercising, reconnecting with friends and family, and eating well. Sometimes even taking the medicine your doctor prescribes can feel like a chore.

But breaking this vicious cycle of stress is the only way to take control of your life again. So, let's talk about what you can do to control this situation.

Is this really depression? (Is It Depression?)

Recognizing that you have depression is the first step to getting better. Everyone feels sad and anxious from time to time. It's normal. However, this state of depression lasts for days or weeks. And it can greatly affect your ability to do your daily tasks and cope with life's problems.

Imagine, how much you used to love playing cricket with your friends, watching a movie, or going on a short trip. But now you don't feel like doing any of those things. You're bored with everything. That's the feeling you get when you're bored.

Take a look to see if you have the characteristics in the table below.

When are antidepressants needed?

If you feel so stressed that you can't even get out of bed, wash your body, or do any household chores, and even leaving the house feels like climbing a huge mountain, then using medication is the best thing to do .

Antidepressants can help you reduce your stress levels, help you focus on your daily activities, and help you participate in things like therapy. In other words, they can help you get out of that vicious cycle.

These medications also help to stop negative thoughts from running through your head ("This will never get better", "I'll always be like this"). It's very difficult to get out of this situation as long as those thoughts are there. If things like `psychosocial stressors` in your life are causing this, it's also very helpful to get counseling along with medication.

Keep these things in mind when using medication:

• Patience is important: Some antidepressants start with a low dose. See if you experience any side effects. After a week or two, the dose can be gradually increased if necessary. These medications don't work overnight. Some take a while to work. It usually takes about six weeks before you start to feel any results. So be patient and stay in touch with your doctor.
• There are options: Doctors today have many types of antidepressants to choose from. If one doesn't work, they can change the dosage, switch to a different medication, or even add another medication.
• Choosing a medication: Choosing a medication is based on your main symptoms and possible side effects. For example, some antidepressants can cause drowsiness. So, someone who has trouble sleeping at night may benefit from such a medication.

How to cope with this condition through lifestyle changes

Along with medication and counseling, small changes in your lifestyle can also help you overcome this condition. Exercising daily, eating a nutritious diet, and reconnecting with friends and family are key.

True, these things are easier said than done when you're stressed, but they're not impossible.

This doesn't mean pretending that there is no problem. Rather, it means taking action with the expectation of recovery.

Shall we start with a small schedule?

All you have to do is make a small schedule.

• Morning wake-up time
• Bath time
• Meal times
• A little time to exercise (about 15 minutes)
• Time to go to bed at night.

Try to work according to this schedule. It may be difficult at first, but after a while it will become a habit. Then you will feel that things will gradually become easier, and you will start to feel happy like before.

Healthy habits like these can also help prevent this situation from happening again in the future. People who are prone to depression can fall back into this dark place with the problems that come with life.

We can't change our genes, but we can change our environment to prevent this from happening again. The best way to do that is to build your personal resilience. That means, don't isolate yourself. Stay connected with friends and family. Those social connections are the shield that will protect you from future stressors.