Coping With Depression - Understanding the Options

Being clinically depressed is very different from the down type of feeling that all people experience from time to time. Occasional feelings of sadness are a normal part of life, and it is that such feelings are often colloquially referred to as "depression." In clinical depression, such feelings are out of proportion to any external causes. There are things in everyone's life that are possible causes of sadness, but people who are not depressed manage to cope with these things without becoming incapacitated.
Coping With Depression - Coping with depression is difficult. I developed depression after an injury that left me with chronic pain and life changes. I struggled to cope. I came to realize that depression was beyond my control. Denial was not the best option.
Coping With Depression - Medical Options Coping with depression is possible and there are many options. Depression can sometimes be caused by a chemical imbalance and medications are often used to correct this imbalance. A physician can prescribe the appropriate medications or refer you to another doctor who is more knowledgeable. There are several antidepressants available and sometimes more than one medication may be suggested. Your physician may prescribe which medication to use based on several factors:
How has depression affected your activity patterns?
Have your eating patterns been affected?
How have your sleep patterns varied since the depression began?
Have your interest patterns changed? Other components, such as anxiety, will also help determine which, if any, medication to use. Sometimes a trial and error method may be used to find the most effective medication for you which can often result in greater emotional distress.
Coping With Depression - Therapy Options There are also therapy options for coping with depression, such as talking with a qualified counselor who can talk through problems with you, teach coping skills, and provide support systems. I went to a Christian therapist. At times, this was a challenge for me. He would tell me to look to my faith for answers and I wanted to scream. I was looking to my faith, but I was not finding the answers. Or perhaps, I was getting answers, but I wanted different ones! We were able to discuss circumstances and I learned how to cope in various situations. My depressed feelings began to lift and I began to cope with challenges in my life. I began finding strength in my faith.

Coping With Depression - Finding True Self Worth A big means of coping with depression came through finding my true self worth. I had previously based my self worth on the approval of my friends and on my ability to perform in my job. When I could no longer fulfill my work responsibilities due to injury, I felt worthless. Over time, I began to realize that my true self worth does not come from within me. It comes from God-my Creator. God loves me. Through this tremendous love, I have once again found worth and significance in my life. He is my significance! 1 says, "...walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."