CAUSES OF DEPRESSION
There is no single proven cause of major depression; however, there are many factors that play a role in how severe or long-lasting one’s depression is. Some of these factors include environmental, lifestyle, genetics, medical, mental, and physical factors.
DEPRESSION MEDICATION
When clinical depression is unmanageable then it can sometimes be helpful to seek treatment from a doctor or psychiatrist. These professionals can make recommendations on various medications to treat depression. It is important to note that medication is not a cure all, but can be very helpful for some. Studies have proven that medication in conjunction with mental health therapy and lifestyle changes such as exercise, improved diet, and reduction in drinking or smoking is the best cure.
SEVERE DEPRESSION
Some people have theorized that depression is related to thyroid dysregulation. This, and other medical factors related to depression are reasons why it can be very helpful to seek the advice of your primary care physician if you feel like you have severe depression
FIGHTING DEPRESSION
Importance of Goal Setting, Visualization, and Purpose in Life
If you don’t feel like you have a purpose in life, then you often feel lost, down, and depressed. Seeking and developing a sense of purpose can be a huge step toward fighting depression and keeping depression from returning. One can seek purpose or meaning in life through spiritual, religious, or personal means. It does not have to be spiritual or religious but this has helped millions of people live happy and fulfilling lives throughout the ages. It can also be through personal contemplation and reflection on your place in the world.
Often times, goal setting can help us to develop a sense of purpose, and taking action towards goals helps to reduce our depression as it keeps us focused on the things we want rather than our problems and negative emotions. One of the most effective goal setting techniques that has become well-known through the teachings of Brian Tracy is the 10 goal technique.
Here it is: Write down 10 goals that you would like to accomplish in the next 12 months. Do not simply commit the goals to memory as the act of writing down goals helps to begin the process of accomplishing them within our subconscious minds. Writing them down is an important step to this technique. They can be short-term (daily or weekly) goals, or long-term (monthly or yearly) goals. There are several different types of goals to work toward. Personal (physical/health, career, financial), Relationships (family and friends; becoming a better friend, partner, parent, son, daughter, sister, brother, etc.), spiritual and self-development (improving strengths or weaknesses, improving aspects of our character, developing our inner-self), or social goals (becoming a productive member of society and giving back to society) are a few. Furthermore, there are goals that consist of achieving an outcome or dream, goals that consist of overcoming a habit or struggle, and goals that consist of developing a skill or improving a current skill.
Once your goals are written down you can do one of two things. You can either 1) select one goal that is most important to you at this time of your life and make it your major definite purpose for the time being. Rewrite your major definite purpose on the backside of the paper and then write 5 action steps that you will need to take in order to move yourself in the direction of accomplishing your goal. OR 2) rewrite all 10 goals on the backside of the paper and come up with 2-3 actions steps for each one. It is important from this day forward to do something, anything each and every day to move you in the direction of one or all of your goals. Once you begin accomplishing goals, add a new one to the list.
It is important that you understand that setting and accomplishing goals is a process. Be patient with yourself. If you have an off day then make an effort to get right back on track with taking steps towards accomplishing your goals the following day. To further embed your goals in your subconscious mind it is an extremely helpful technique to read and reread your goals prior to going to bed at night and when you wake up in the morning. In conjunction with reading your goals, visualization techniques further enhance your ability to accomplish goals.
For visualization to work it is important that you are calm and relaxed. Read one of your goals on your list, close your eyes, and calmly visualize how it would look and feel when your goal is accomplished. If you can truly feel the sense of satisfaction, joy, and accomplishment during your visualization than this will be even more effective. This goal setting technique does not work overnight; however, the more you engage in this technique and take daily actions towards accomplishing your goals the easier it will become. You will truly astonish yourself when you realize the abilities you have within yourself as you begin setting and accomplishing your goals in life. This is what makes goal setting so important when working toward overcoming depression.
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