Facts About Depression and How to Beat It

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - April 6, 2013 - PRLog -- Amongst all populations, depression can be a very difficult thing to deal with, but this is especially true within the senior citizen population. Many people are reluctant to admit that they have a problem, thinking that depression is a character flaw or a weakness. Many others will just attempt to try and solve the problem themselves through detrimental activities like abusing alcohol or drugs.

Paradise In-Home Care and the Paradise Gardens Care Homes are dedicated toward helping elderly people to improve their mental health. There are many things that can be done to help people take charge over their mental illness, and some of these things are very easy to accomplish. For some people, one or two small changes can make a big difference.

The first thing that needs to be done is education. People need to realize that mental illness is not something that we have an inordinate amount of control over their mental health status. This doesn’t mean that there is nothing that can be done to help improve your mood. Speaking on a very general basis, there are three things that doctors point to that can help you to stay as positive and upbeat as possible when it comes to fighting off the effects of depression. Let’s look at each of these three things individually.

Medication

There are many different psychiatric medications out on the market that can be used. These can be broken down into three main categories: anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, and anti-psychotic medications. Anxiety and depression can oftentimes breed psychotic symptoms, such as hearing or seeing things that are not there. Some of these drugs can help provide a little jumpstart to the effectiveness of your basic antidepressant. It is really important that you are open and honest with your doctor so that they can point you in the right direction when it comes to providing the right meds. Unfortunately many people will have to go through a trial and error period while the right medications are found for their condition.

Counseling

Just talking about your problems and your situation in life can lead to some pretty impressive results. One popular type of counseling is called cognitive therapy. This doesn’t necessarily sole all of your issues, but it does allow you to come up with unique and new ways to frame your mode of thinking when trying to deal with issues. For example, giving yourself a new way of thinking can help you to see that not every negative thing that pops up is your fault. This might seem like common sense, but one of the common causes of depressive thinking is personalizing your problems. Counseling and therapy can help you to avoid this.

Exercise

This is a big thing to take into account. Exercising helps increase the amount of neurotransmitters in your mind—much like an antidepressant. But exercise is much better for you for a couple reasons. One, it’s more organic. Taking antidepressants is effective, but exercise gives you a feeling of accomplishment, too. When you do this, you are taking charge and helping yourself to see that you are able to deal with things on your own, without the outside assistance of medication. Exercise can also help you get a better body image and feel younger and healthier. These added benefits can only be helpful for improving your mood.

If you are struggling with a mental illness, get the help that you need. If you have any questions, consult your physician. Even if they don’t have the background to help you, they will at least be able to point you in the right direction.