Winning the Fight with Depression

First of all let me define the term depression. Depression is more than the day to day, or maybe week to week blahs that we sometimes get in life. We all react to negative situations with one or more symptoms of real depression but the problem exists when we can’t seem to recover from its effects. Life will throw every one of us curveballs from time to time. This doesn’t feel good but the key is how we are able to handle it. Do we master it or does it rule over us?

Depression is more of a medical condition which is often treatable and can be preventable. The best way to defeat depression is to have as many safeguards in place as possible before life comes at you rather than trying to react to circumstances when you are totally unprepared. Depression can be triggered by external events, or it can be the result of a hormonal imbalance, or it could be a combination of both.

The person who suffers from depression may be unreachable or unmotivated. He or she may seem to have lost the will to live and/or the ability to function. Depression will have an effect every part of his or her life and can very easily have a negative effect on others. The sufferer may be withdrawn and sleep more than normal. They may start to neglect their own personal hygiene and may begin to tolerate unsanitary living conditions. They may withdraw from social interaction and may also begin to allow work tasks to pile up.

Some people may have a genetic disposition to depression, so we must keep in mind the family history. It can also be a learned response due to a variety of psychological factors and may require therapy.

Depression may be caused by a hormonal imbalance in the brain and is normally associated with an over abundance of a stress hormone called cortisol. Thus natural remedies may be the acceptable form of treatment for depression. One such natural remedy is a plant known as Saint John’s Wort. Regular use of this remedy may help prevent the onset of depression. Saint John’s Wort is probably the best natural tranquilizer and is also referred to as “Nature’s Prozac.” Natural Remedies are preferred to prescription antidepressants because they don’t produce unhealthy and undesired side effects.

We must learn to take control of our circumstances and we must realize that sometimes things happen that we may not be able to control. One of the best ways to prevent depression is to get organized. When I was stationed in the Rapid Deployment Force of the Army I learned to keep a monthly planner. I couldn’t organize every detail too far in advance because things changed so much, but I could organize my next day. I would organize and prioritize every task so that the important things were done first. Last minute changes were normally easier to deal with because they didn’t interfere with necessary tasks. I was also able to go home each night at a decent time.

 I had a boss who liked to work on weekends. He would call me almost every weekend but I stayed ahead of him. I would go thru his inbox and determine what tasks that he would need me to accomplish in order for him to meet his upcoming deadlines. I would then leave the finished work on top of my desk each Friday evening so he would not have a hard time finding it. It worked like a charm, when he would call me at home I would direct him to the right place on my desk and we would both be happy.

We should also learn how to say no. I had a job once where no one really understood the requirements. People would call me all of the time to get me to accomplish things that were in the realm of their own control. In addition to this I had so many other responsibilities that I just did not have the time to do other peoples work. I had about five phone extensions that rang on my desk. I learned to block off all but one of the lines, and to politely refuse to do other peoples work. 

Regular exercise helps to relieve stress and produces calming hormones. Exercise conditions both the mind and the body to handle stressful situations.

We should get ahead of life by being prepared for stressful situations. They will come to each and every one of us. Hopefully with preparation we can eliminate depression in our lives.