Depression Article

One Option for Dealing With Depression

Often times when a person is suffering from chronic or serious depression disorders, their only recourse is to take medication and perhaps participate in therapy sessions with a mental health professional. There are also millions of people who experience milder cases of depression that are usually caused by external situations and do not require formal treatment. Regardless of what type of depression you may be suffering from, whether it be slight or severe, there is a productive option that can help reduce your symptoms and help you feel better.

That option is writing. Yes, something as simple as putting your thoughts on paper can be extremely therapeutic, particularly if you are depressed. There are a number of reasons why writing has been so effective for so many people in aleviating depression.

One reason why writing works so well for depression sufferers is because people who suffer from depression, particularly those with more severe disorders, tend to have manic episodes. During these episodes, their minds are often filled with so many different thoughts and feelings that they cannot keep them straight. This leads to frustration and irritability and the inability to focus on specific tasks, which makes dealing with the bi-polar that much more difficult. The act of writing, in this particular scenario, allows the person to jot down whatever they may be thinking or feeling at any given point in time. Instead of those thoughts simply staying jumbled up with all of the others, they can each receive the attention they deserve on paper. The person can then go through each thought they wrote down and give it more consideration at a later time.

Those who are suffering from mild cases of depression can also benefit greatly from writing. Think about things in your life that tend to cause you to feel sad and depressed. Most of the time, it has something to do with loneliness, lack of closure, a feeling of helplessness, and things of that nature. A piece of paper can be your best friend during times of depression, because it makes for a great listener. You have the ability to say whatever you want or need to say, without having to worry about being judged or scolded. You can write as much or as little as you want, without worrying about being perceived as long winded. The point is, you will give yourself permission to think and feel, and to get those thoughts and feelings that are causing the depression in the first place off of your chest.

Since writing is a great creative outlet, it is the perfect productive distraction from things that might be causing you emotional distress. As a matter of fact, most right brained activities tend to be creative and are good for helping with depression, such as painting, sculpting, drawing, and other types of craft hobbies. Instead of turning inward on yourself and allowing your negative feelings to consume you, you can get them out in a positive way. You will want to remember, of course, that writing and other productive hobbies are not a cure-all. If you find that you are experiencing more serious depression symptoms that are not going away on their own, make sure that you speak with your doctor so that they can determine whether you need additional treatment or medication.