Seeking Help for Depression Can Be Hard – Here’s Why
Depression is a common mental health condition where people have low mood or energy, difficultly sleeping or sleeping too much, excessive weight gain or weight loss, feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, thoughts of suicide, or active attempts on one’s life. Depression can take a huge toll on a person’s wellbeing and cause them to feel like there is no hope. One might wonder, if you have never dealt with depression, why is it so difficult to get help for this condition? If you feel bad when you want to work to get better, it’s a catch 22 when it comes to depression. This is because when you feel hopeless, you don’t want to reach out for help.
Here is why it’s difficult to get help when you are feeling depressed and ways that you can fight through these feelings:
Everything Feels Hard
When you’re living with depression, everything feels incredibly hard. Even small things like getting out of bed or taking a shower can take somebody hours to accomplish. You may not want to get out of bed for days when you are depressed. It’s draining on your soul to feel these feelings. You are expected to go to work or have regular conversations with your friends and family, but you just feel so exhausted. That exhaustion can carry over into the idea of getting help. Trying to reach out and find a therapist feels so tiring that you just don’t want to do it. When you are feeling this way, try to remember that all you need to do is take that one step. Maybe it involves Googling, “find a therapist near me.” You don’t have to reach out right away; just start the research. It could involve asking a friend for help. But, you can get over these exhausting feelings.
You Feel Like People Don’t Understand
Depression has a way of making you feel like you are alone. You might feel like no matter how hard you try; people just don’t understand what you’re feeling. You feel isolated, and like you’re the only one who has these emotions. Depression convinces you that there’s no point in reaching out for help because people won’t get it, and then you’ll be stuck in this vicious cycle of feeling bad forever. When you’re experiencing these thoughts and feelings, remind yourself that depression wants you to stay depressed. It is a liar, it is mean, and it is twisting your reality. Yes, your depression is valid, but it doesn’t have to completely take over your life. So, notice your depressing thoughts, and if it helps, write them down. You may be able to counteract them by taking action. It’s important to remember that you can feel depressed, but you can still take action, one step forward, to try to help yourself.
Your Friends Are Tired of Hearing About it
You may want to get help for depression, but you feel shame because when you try to talk to your friends and family about your feelings, they may express that they are drained. It’s not your friends and family’s job to get you mental health care. They can lend a listening ear, but the most important thing to do is find a therapist who understands what you’re going through. That person can help you move through the feelings of depression and make sure that it doesn’t take over your life entirely. When you start to worry about how you’re alienating your friends and family, one step that you can take is to search for help. That way, you don’t feel like you’re draining people; you are taking a proactive step to help yourself.
Self Care and Therapy
Self care is extremely important when you are feeling depressed. You may feel like you don’t deserve that care, but you do. Remember, as you read these words, that your life and your voice matter. And that’s why taking care of yourself involves finding a mental health professional who you can relate to and who can show you ways to cope with depressed feelings so that you can live a fulfilling life. Depression can be exhausting, but there is hope once you come to terms with your symptoms and you are dedicated to getting better.
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