When you’re suffering from depression, the crippling feeling that nothing feels good or matters can be detrimental to your recovery efforts. Depression makes things seem less alluring, effectively draining the happiness from even your favorite activities or places. Here’s why nothing feels good when you’re depressed and how you can learn to cope with it.
Depression is a Potent Condition
Depression has various symptoms associated with it, not the least of which are changes in appetite, sleep patterns, and behavior, suicidal thoughts, pervasive sadness and sorrow, sedentary behavior social withdrawal, and more. Thes symptoms by themselves are enough to make a person feel overwhelmed and lack joy in even the most rewarding experiences. Depression affects millions of people each year, and the numbers seem to be growing.
So, what is it about depression that makes the condition so potent? When depression takes away the joy from everything, what are you left with? Many victims of this condition will consider suicide or attempt it because of the lack of joy they feel for life. Make no mistake; depression is one of the most potent mental conditions one can experience, which is why it’s so important to seek help when you’re feeling this way.
You Are Not Alone
Depression creates a feeling of isolation from the world around you, which is partially responsible for the disconnect from joy and happiness. When you feel like you’re all alone in a big world where no one understands your condition, it can be overwhelming. The fact is, you’re not alone. You’re not the first and you certainly won’t be the last person to ever have such feelings, and there are those who have recovered.
There’s a common misconception that depression never gets better, and this simply isn’t true. Depression, while an impactful and long-lasting condition, isn’t without its kryptonite. With the right combination of professional help, support, and a bit of tenacity, recovery is possible. While there’s no “cure” for depression per se, there are plenty of ways to minimize the impact the condition has on your life and begin the recovery process.
Getting Professional Help
A major part of the recovery process is getting professional help. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors are available to help you get to the bottom of what you’re feeling and sort through painful emotions. One of the most common arguments against therapy or professional help is, “I don’t want to talk to a stranger.” While this makes sense on a personal level, these mental health professionals have trained for years to be able to assist those with depression and other mental health conditions.
While the person may be a stranger to you, they’re still a trained, certified, and caring professional. It takes incredible empathy and compassion to want to help other people, and mental health professionals offer just that. You’ll be able to tell your story, express your feelings, and cry if you like, in a judgment-free zone with your counselor. Not to mention, the professional can offer incredible insight into a situation or feeling that you may never even have considered to be a factor
Exercise Can Help
The “I don’t care about anything” sensation you’re feeling from depression can be alleviated with proper exercise. Exercise on a regular basis has been linked to depression, anxiety, and more mental health conditions as a beneficial practice. Regular exercise releases chemicals called endorphins, which can actually help increase feelings of happiness and self-confidence. Not to mention, the more healthy your body is and the better your blood flow, the healthier your brain will be.
Apathy doesn’t have to rule your life; you can take charge of your emotional health by invoking the benefits of a regular exercise routine. You’ll find that regular exercise boosts your self-confidence, helps you feel better physically, and even reduces those feelings of sadness and anxiety that depression is infamous for.
Toxicity Isn’t Helping Your Situation
Whether it’s from family members, co-workers, or friends, toxic behavior and comments aren’t helping your situation and can even make things work. It’s easy for people who’ve never experienced any kind of mental health condition to look down on and belittle what they don’t understand. Parents will say things like “you’re just sad”, and friends will offer empty comfort in the form of comments like “it could always be worse”. These are some of the worst things you can say to someone suffering from depression!
If you’re dealing with depression and you’ve got a friend or family member who’s constantly negative or belittling, it’s time to take a step back from the relationship until you either recover from the condition or they can respect your boundaries. Apathy is only increased when other people make you feel terrible about something you can’t control. Recognize toxicity when it occurs and root it out for the sake of your mental health!
