Self-therapy for Depression

Depression can possibly lead to more serious health risks if not properly dealt with. Anti-depressants may help, but since depression can be inferred to as a psychological disorder, therapies in general are really more productive. Self-therapy is seen as way of coping from something negative. It is already practiced for the purpose of escaping addiction, boosting self-esteem, and more importantly alleviating depression. The most common methods of self-therapy for depression are as follows:

In alleviating depression, sharing others what you feel is very important. Yet for some people, the act of writing down their feelings is itself relieving. This is especially helpful for people who find it hard to tell others what they feel. Creating a ‘therapeutic journal’ in this case really helps. A therapeutic journal is similar to a personal diary specifically made for the purpose of self-assessment. Here, the issues that make you feel negative are written, this way, it eventually becomes clear. You may not immediately feel better but keeping your journal updated would little by little ease down your feelings.

They say in the end, the only one who could help you best is still yourself. It’s true that words of inspiration from your dear family and close friends may help you feel better, yet it still cannot match up to the emotional boost given by inspirational words that you say to yourself. Words like “I can do it,” and “I can move forward” thought to yourself always has beneficial psychological effects. It can boost self-esteem and help you feel better about yourself.

Taking time for yourself is also one form of self-therapy. When you are alone, you are more capable of realizing why some things happened and even maybe how to cope with it. Giving time for yourself allows you remember positive things you have done in the past and feel good about it. Feeling good about yourself generally helps boost self-esteem and alleviate depressing feelings.

However, you must also note that isolation may become counter-productive for people who experience extreme emotional instability. They should never feel that they are alone as this could worsen their depression.

Doing things that would take your mind off from depression would help. These things however, work short term. These would include vacations, exercise, eating, and for some people smoking. Alcohol and gambling are not really recommended. They could actually stir up complications like anger and violence when used as repressive technique.

It is also important to take note that self-therapy by itself might be insufficient. Coaching methods that involves participation of other people like panel groups and counseling must be accompanied along with self-therapy to yield most effective results.