9 Ways to Cure Your Own Depression

Defining Depression

Many folks confuse sadness with depression. Sadness is a natural state, a necessary part of living. Friendships end. Death steals loved ones. Life provides us with plenty of reasons to feel sad. Feeling sad is appropriate at such times — and indispensable. The need to mourn to feel sadness is an essential part of what it means to be human. Honoring sadness provides crucial space for self-reflection and greater empathy and compassion. It also may compel us to recognize brutal truths or inspire us to make better choices.

Depression, however, offers no solace. It brutally assaults us and promotes hopelessness. This is because depression is not a pure feeling but an effort to ward off a complex mix of unwanted ones. Anger, frustration, irritation, and grief are feelings we tend to find intolerable; we don’t want to feel them. When we’re depressed, we engage in a psychic battle to blot out these unwanted feelings. Common psychic defenses against painful feelings include denial (ignoring feelings), projection (transferring feelings onto others), rationalization (downplaying feelings), or binge eating (attempting to fill the emptiness we feel inside).

Unfortunately, as long as the true causes of our depression remain unaddressed, it will return again and again.

Hunt Down the Cause of Your Depression

Rather than viewing depression as a monster to flee from, look it in the eye; investigate the feelings you are “depressing” and avoiding. For example, you may say, “I feel depressed today.” The questions that follow should be: Why today? What am I ignoring? What issue am I not addressing?

Here’s a list of the most common situations that often trigger depression:

• An Unresolved Conflict. Is there a problem in one of your relationships? Is there something at work that is unsettling you? Unaddressed conflicts cause chronic psychological stress and are fundamental to many forms of depression.
• A Repetition Compulsion. Look for a common theme in your depression, one that repeats itself. This is most often a repetition of early experiences in your life. The most common themes I hear in my office include: I’m always the outsider; I can’t trust anyone, and Nobody understands me. Without insight, we get trapped in a repetitive cycle and repeat the same problem repeatedly. Find out what that unresolved part of your history is that you keep replaying.
• Self-Neglect. Burnout and depression go hand in hand. When you neglect yourself, everyone suffers. You’re no fun to be around; you don’t enjoy work, play, or drag others down. Reward yourself, treat yourself, and give yourself the attention and TLC you crave. You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel.
• Self-Slander. Low self-esteem and self-slander are the major driving forces of all forms of depression. These negative internal voices shape your self-image and how you see yourself and others. You’ll start to see others as better and more appealing than you, even when it’s not even true. Such toxic affirmations drain your energy and leave you forever dissatisfied. After all, if you constantly tell yourself you’re powerless or unattractive, you will eventually become both.

Battling Depression

To loosen the grip of depression, you’ll need to take action—lots of it. Confronting depression is like going into battle. Here’s a list of areas in your life that may need attention:

Body

• Exercise. A 30- to 40-minute cardio workout thrice a week can reduce depression symptoms. Walking or running is also a great way to clear your head.
• Sleep. Too little or too much sleep can trigger depression symptoms; shoot for 7 to 8 hours per night. Try your best to be consistent.
• Diet. Research has shown a correlation between high-sugar/high-fat diets and depression. Avoid foods that make you feel sluggish, as this might bring negativity.

Mind

• Creativity. Stimulate your imagination with new experiences; enjoy poetry, art, theater, and music, or try to reconnect with talents you’ve neglected.
• Psychotherapy. Invest in understanding yourself and breaking self-defeating patterns.
• Education. Challenge yourself by acquiring new skills; take classes or attend lectures.

Spirit

• Meditation. Learn to calm your thoughts and relax your mind through chanting, meditation, yoga, or other disciplines.
• Altruistic Acts. Helping others will get you out of your head and inspire you; look for opportunities to volunteer in your community.
• Faith. Consider spiritual matters; explore different philosophies and beliefs.

When depression appears in your life, think of it as a cry for help from your subconscious. Listen to it; find out what it’s trying to tell you. If you’ve been depressed for a long time, anti-depressants can give you the energy to make new choices. However, though medication may make you feel better, the cure for depression is still in your hands. Only when you confront and understand the actual cause of your depression, then take action to address it, will you finally be liberated from it, no matter what the temperature outside.