HOW TO GET THROUGH THE DEPRESSION
Depression can either be a symptom or as a reaction to the
illness itself. Either way, it is no
picnic going through the rough times.
They can seem like there are holes that are so dark there is no way you
can possibly climb out. Somehow, though,
you always find your way back to towards the light of day.
That is because most of the depression is medication or
flare induced…and both GO AWAY…sometime in their own sweet time, but they do go
away.
The key is getting through those times with the least amount
of damage to your self-esteem, other people (yes, sometimes we say things we do
not mean when in those “depression” moments), and generally managing it the
most effectively for your own peace of mind.
Trying to push it aside and pretending the depression does
not exist does not work, so here are some strategies to stop the volcano from
bubbling over into the rest of your life.
There is no need for it to take over your life, so let us try to figure
out what works for YOU. There are plenty
of NON-DRUG therapies out there to help ease the frustration and depression of
Lupus and its drugs.
·
Traditional therapy – Sometimes lupus patients
need to speak with a psychologist who has knowledge in medical illness. A psychologist does NOT prescribe
medications. They are just there to
listen and offer up suggestions that may work for you and your specific
situation. It might take seeing more
than one psychologist to find the right one for you.
o
Personally, I have been seeing my psychologist
since 2005; one year after I came home from college. I was in a bad place emotionally, but could
not express the anger I felt (I’m not really an angry-type person). My therapist has seen me through the worst of
my crises and has gotten angry FOR me…which made me feel so much lighter after
our sessions. She has given me
strategies over the years that have helped me immensely.
·
Massage therapies – There are many different
forms of massage therapies out there that claim to help relieve stress and
depression. My only warning with this is
to speak with your doctor first because you do not want to inflame yourself
further.
o
I use craniosacral massage for two reasons: one,
it relieves pain and stiffness in my neck and lower back; and two, it also
relieves depression by opening up pathways in the body that had been
blocked. Craniosacral massage is not
typical massage. It uses gentle pressure
(no more than that of a nickel). It
works on the spinal cord and opens up nerve pathways. I have found this immensely helpful in
conjunction with traditional therapy and traditional medications.
·
Self-hypnosis – This type of therapy has been
used for years for everything from quitting smoking to losing weight, but it is
also highly effective in pain management and depression. The key is finding a therapist who will walk
you through the steps that will work for YOU.
There are many ways get into the deep relaxation needed to get into that
state and then it is a matter of finding the way into your mind that will calm
your mind and relax your body so you can find peace.
o
I have done this as well. I use a combination of techniques; depending
on the level of depression, pain, and stress my body is feeling. Sometimes it takes only minutes to get into
that deep level of relaxation, and other times it takes longer, having to use
more than one technique. Matching my
breathing to relaxation music is a good technique to use as it takes my mind
off everything else. Relaxing each muscle
in my body from the top of my head and working my way down my body pairs well
with the music and I am usually completely relaxed by the time I reach my
knees. If I feel one part of myself
tense up, I start over again, from the top of my head…working my way down
again. Again…each person is different,
and if this one technique does not work for you, do not give up, keep looking,
and find a therapist who knows about this type of therapy. Most insurance cover this type of therapy as
well, under mental health therapy.
·
Watch something funny, listen to upbeat music,
do something creative. All these things
stimulate a part of your brain that release the “happy hormones”, plus they
take your mind off whatever it is that is making you depressed. For a little while, you can forget your
depression or illness. You can just
be…YOU.
o
There were many a days when I just played
mindless games on the computer or watched stupid comedies on my kindle, read
books that made me laugh or blush. I did
anything that made me feel even semi-normal even for a little while. I highly recommend www.amazon.com for the kindle. It saved me many a day. I don’t know what I would have done without
my books, movies and silly games.
Even though things may seem dark and dreary now, there is a
way out. The key (your own special key), is to find the right fit for YOU. Which method works for you? It could be one of these…it could be
something different. I would love to
know what works for you!
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