The Right Therapist
The first step in overcoming depression is to talk to a mental health professional who is caring, warm, confidential and nonjudgemental. Indeed, in counseling it is imperative that there is a “right fit” between therapist and client. Many individuals find it difficult to identify their emotions or know how they feel. In fact many individuals have effectively “numbed” out their emotions. They can feel disconnected from themselves. A huge goal of therapy is in developing a compassionate and nurturing side in the individual to counteract the self-attacking “inner critic” side of themselves.
Treating our selves with compassion
Many of us treat other’s with more respect and compassion and yet we treat ourselves like our worst enemy. Indeed, we talk to ourselves in self-berating and vicious ways. It’s important to be compassionate and sensitive toward our own feelings. Pay attention to changes or sensations in your body with openness and curiosity rather than anger or judgement. You may discover that you’re feeling anxiety or fear for example, by noticing somatic signs such as tightened chest, butterflies in the stomach or shortness of breath.
Creating a Mood Diary
In helping fully recover and overcome depression getting in touch with your feelings and emotions is vital. Many psychotherapists recommend a Mood Diary as a powerful tool in developing this much needed awareness.
Take care of yourself
In order to overcome depression, it’s important to take care of yourself. This includes having a healthy lifestyle, learning to manage stress, setting limits on what you are capable of, adopting healthy spiritual habits, and implementing fun activities into daily life. Additionally, it will be critical to develop and implement a wellness approach to your entire life.