I went through a month-long depressive episode this past October. At the beginning of the month, my mood plummeted and stayed like that for the duration of October. The depression seemed to creep up unexpectedly, swallowing me into its dark hole. While I was in the midst of the depressive episode, I reconnected with an ex and got my heart broken. This exacerbated my symptoms and sent me over the edge.
I spent weeks in insurmountable pain. Although I’ve made it through my previous depressive episodes, I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Eventually, I slowly began to pick up the pieces and pull myself out of the darkness.
Symptoms of Depression
Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, or worthlessness
Angry outbursts or irritability
Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed
Sleep disturbances
Changes in appetite
Tiredness or lack of energy
Trouble thinking, concentrating, or having memory problems
Anxiety, agitation, or restlessness
Slowed thinking, speaking, or moving slowly
Physical aches and pains
Suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts
When you’re experiencing a depressive episode, it can feel incessant. As much as you want to feel better, overcoming depression is difficult. Those of us struggling with depression know that it’s not something we can just snap out of. Instead, it often takes various coping methods and sometimes treatment to work through our symptoms.
Depression is more than just feeling sad. It’s a mood disorder that can impact every aspect of your life. Experiencing a depressive episode is often debilitating and if symptoms aren’t treated, they can worsen.
There are different types of depression. These include:
Major depressive disorder
Bipolar disorder
Persistent depressive disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Psychotic depression
Postpartum depression
Situational depression
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
If you struggle with depression, there are steps you can take to manage episodes.
How to Get Out of a Depressive Episode Practice Self-Care
For those of us living with depression, carving out time to take care of our overall well-being is essential for managing our symptoms. When we’re in the midst of a depressive episode, it can be difficult to practice self-care; however, not tending to our needs may increase our symptoms.
Having a self-care routine that you can rely on can help you continue to function day-to-day.
Some self-care strategies you can try include:
Journaling – Writing in a journal is a great way to work through your feelings. While sitting with your feelings is important, when it comes to depression, it’s best not to wallow in them for too long. Although you can journal about negative thoughts and difficult feelings, spend more time focusing on positive things you’ve experienced. To start a journaling practice all you need is a notebook and something to write with. Decide how much time you’ll spend journaling each day and set aside time to write.
Guided Imagery – This is a relaxation technique that promotes calmness through mindfulness. Guided imagery uses specific scenes and images as a way of creating a place in your mind where you feel happy and at ease. You can find guided imagery recordings on YouTube.
Make a Self-Care Box – Having a self-care box can be helpful in moments of distress. It’s a convenient way to have all your favorite self-care items ready for when you need them. Your self-care kit should include things that will make you feel better during the bad days.
Some things to consider adding include:
Notebooks and pens
A candle
Your favorite book
Helpful sayings, positive affirmation cards, or notes of encouragement
Essential oils
Earphones
Snacks
Coloring book
Bubbles or play-doh
Games
Calming teas
Tissues
Talk to Someone You Trust
When you’re experiencing a depressive episode, it’s common to withdraw from friends and family members. During this time, it’s vital to reach out to your support system. It may be difficult to talk about how you’re feeling, but it can help you feel better.
If you’re able to, it could help to invite your loved one over to sit and talk or do something else together. Remember, isolating yourself can make depression worse.
Distract Yourself
Although it’s important to feel your feelings, sometimes with depression, the best thing to do is distract yourself.
Many people dealing with depression struggle with self-harm urges and suicidal ideation. When we’re battling with our minds, we may turn to destructive behaviors in an attempt to cope. We may have trouble ignoring these thoughts and urges. Distractions can help you get through these moments without harming yourself.
A few ways to distract yourself include:
Watch a TV show, YouTube video, or movie
Express yourself creatively
Dance or do some type of movement
Rip up paper or tissue
Scream
Play with a pet
Take a warm bath or shower
Listen to music
Contact a Hotline
If you don’t have a strong support system or just don’t feel comfortable talking to family or friends, there are crisis lines that you can reach out to that allow you to chat with someone who is trained to support you.
I know it can feel scary reaching out to someone you don’t know for help, but the person you chat with genuinely wants to support you in what you’re going through.
Here are a few crisis lines:
Crisis Text Line
US: Text 741741
CA: Text 741741
UK: Text 85258
Ireland: Text 50808
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call 988
Chat online by clicking here.
The Trevor Lifeline (For LGBTQ+ individuals)
Text 67878
Call 1-866-488-7386
Chat online by clicking here.
Veterans Crisis Line
Dial 988 then press 1
Text 838255
Chat online by clicking here.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-7233
Text 88788
Chat online here.
Schedule a Therapy Appointment
If you’re already in therapy, it would be a good idea to ensure you have an upcoming appointment. If not, now is the time to look for a therapist. Seeking treatment can help you learn healthy ways to cope with and manage your depression.
While therapy can be life-changing, it’s not always accessible to everyone. If you don’t have insurance or can’t afford to pay out-of-pocket for therapy, search online for different affordable options.
Read this blog post for more information on what to expect during your first therapy session.
Do the Hard Tasks
A lot of times when we’re depressed, we don’t feel like doing anything. While it can feel difficult, it’s important to try and do the hard things.
If you have trouble getting out of bed to take a shower, wash up in the sink or use baby wipes instead. If cooking is a struggle, eat food that can be microwaved or have something delivered. If you realize the dishes are piling up or your bedroom is messy, set a timer for 15-30 minutes and clean as much as you can.
Not being able to accomplish everyday tasks is a struggle for so many of us living with depression. Try your best to push yourself to do a few small tasks every day. It may even improve your mood.
Exercise
Research shows that exercise is an effective treatment for depression. However, moving your body when your mood is low can be a challenge. It’s best to start small. This can look like doing a few stretches in bed or walking around your home. You can also try relaxing exercises like yoga. Over time, you may find that you’re able to do more. Take time to celebrate yourself for your effort.
Indulge in Things That Make You Happy
With the loss of interest in things once enjoyed being a symptom of depression, it’s common to stop engaging in hobbies when going through an episode.
Each day, try to carve out time to do something you enjoy. While it may be hard in the beginning, eventually, you may notice that you feel some of the enjoyment that you once did.
Challenge Negative Thoughts
With depression, it’s not uncommon to have negative thoughts or engage in negative self-talk. These thoughts can consume you.
To challenge your negative thoughts, think of yourself as a friend. Just as you wouldn’t belittle your friend, you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself for having trouble with your mental health. Become aware of your negative thoughts and replace them with more positive, uplifting ones. It may even help to recite a few affirmations.
Practice Meditation
Meditation can help you cope with stressful situations. When you meditate regularly, you train the brain to respond differently. It can help with working through dark thoughts and feelings by becoming aware of them without judging them.
Meditation isn’t necessarily about stopping your thoughts, instead, it teaches you how to notice them, accept them, and release them.
Practicing meditation can teach you how to learn to live in the present moment.
Overcoming Depression
While depression can be debilitating, in most cases, symptoms will improve. It’s important to realize that what you’re currently feeling is only temporary. Remembering this is one thing that helped me through the rough days.
Making lifestyle changes and taking things one day at a time can help you manage depression. During your better days, take time to plan for depressive episodes so that you’re prepared if things go downhill.
Remember that you’re not alone. So many people are struggling with their mental health. There are resources online and help that is available. Following these tips during a depressive episode may provide you with some relief.