A depressive episode is a major depressive disorder is a period considered by low mood and other depression symptoms that lasts for two weeks or more. At the time experiencing a depressive episode, a person can try to make changes to their thoughts and behaviors to help improve their mood. Now, you can take MAO inhibitor treatment or visit a psychotherapist for a cure. Or, you can follow my guide to manage depressive episodes.
How to Deal with Depressive Episode?
You can follow my instructions to manage depressive episode:
1. Track Triggers and Symptoms
You need to keep track of moods and symptoms that will help you understand what triggers a depressive episode. If you do that, it will help you to avoid a full-blown depressive episode. You can use a diary to log important events, changes to daily routines, and moods. Besides, you can also rate moods on a scale of 1 to 10 to help identify which activities or events cause specific responses.
2. Stay Calm
Instead of freaking out, you just have to stay calm. You need to remember that depression is curable, and the feelings will not last forever. However, anyone who has experienced depressive episodes before should remind themselves that they can overcome these feelings again. What they have to do is to focus on their strengths and on what they have learned from previous depressive episodes.
3. Understand and Accept Depression
To get rid of depression, you need to first accept it. At the same time, learning more about depression can also help you to deal with the condition. That’s because depression is an extensive and genuine mental health disorder. It is not a sign of weakness or a personal shortcoming.
4. Separate Yourself from the Depression
At the time depression symptoms begin, some people find it helpful to repeat: “I am not depression, I just have depression.” Moreover, a person should remind themselves of all the other aspects of themselves. They may also be a sibling, parent, friend, neighbor, spouse, and colleague. Every person has their own strengths, abilities, and positive qualities that make them who they are.
5. Recognize the Importance of Self-care
Self-care is essential for dealing with depression. Now, self-care activities are any actions that help people look after their wellbeing. In the meantime, self-care means taking time to relax, recharge, and connect with the self and others. Besides, it also means saying no to others when speechless and taking space to calm and soothe oneself.
6. Avoid Alcohol
Do you know alcohol is a depressant, and using it can trigger episodes of depression or make existing episodes worse? Furthermore, alcohol can also interact with some medications for depression and anxiety.
7. Record the Positives
Depressive episodes can consent people to focus on the negatives and discounting the positives. To counter this, you must keep a gratitude journal or positivity journal. Those type of journal helps to build self-esteem.
Conclusively
With the help of these tips, you will be able to handle depressive episodes. What you will need to do is to follow them properly. That’s all.
