Depression from A New Life Transition? Tips on Managing Depression Symptoms
Depression is common for individuals that are trying to adjust to new big life transitions. It can feel very overwhelming to try to adjust to a new situation or circumstance and the harder that we are on ourselves the worse we can start to feel about ourselves. This article will include some tips to help you get through a new life circumstance. This article is not to be used as a replacement for therapy or other mental health services. If you or someone you care about could benefit from therapy services, I encourage you to reach out to us at Inward Counseling to see if we could help.
1.) Acknowledgement of Feelings
Sometimes when going through a new transition it might feel hard to acknowledge all of the feelings that are associated with it. We might be in denial about the negative feelings that come with the transition and try through different methods to avoid feeling negatively about the transition. Our feelings have a way of coming to the surface one way or another. It is best practice to give yourself space to express your feelings. Suppressing feelings could potentially lead to depression symptoms. It is okay and normal to have many different feelings and even grief associated with a positive life transition. Journaling might be a great outlet to utilize to get feelings out in healthy ways.
2.) Engage in a Gratitude Practice
When we are feeling depressed our judgment and mind can be clouded by focusing only on what is going wrong. It's important to acknowledge our thoughts and feelings but also know when to let go. A gratitude practice can help us to change how we have been thinking about a situation. It can show us a reframe to messages that we have been telling ourselves about a circumstance. Gratitude practices could include journaling, engaging in prayer, meditation, and writing a letter. There are many ways to get into the practice of gratitude.
3.) Talk to a Trusted Support
Sometimes when we are feeling more depressed it can feel hard to reach out to others for help. We might have beliefs about ourselves that prevent us from expressing how we are feeling to another person. However, being courageous and talking to someone that we know we can trust can make a big difference. When we are able to talk to someone who is able to listen and sit with us in what we are going through it can make us feel less alone. A therapist can also be a support to talk to and express the challenges that you are going through that will not put judgment on your experience.
4.) Limit Social Media
Social media can give us warped ideas about how others' lives are going. We can fall victim to comparing our life circumstances to others. When we post too much about our lives on social media as well we might believe that we cant have any negative thoughts about what we are going through. If you are starting to feel negative about being on social media it might be time to take a break from it. See if you can incorporate new hobbies or interests into your schedule to keep you occupied with your time. “Doom scrolling” on social media can be a way to disassociate from our lives and experiences. When we are going through a big life transition it's also maybe time to change and try something new that is going to fill up our time and energy in a positive way. In order to enrich our lives and try something new we are pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone. It is going to feel difficult at first but may be just what you are needing.
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