Beat the Blues

Life requires 100% participation, but when you’re depressed, it’s tough to stay engaged and focused. Sometimes, simply maintaining relationships is overwhelming.

Depression, opens new tab impacts our ability to cope with daily life. It heightens our reaction to stressful situations and makes it difficult to deal with conflict. Depression also skews how we perceive reality and relationships. At work, we automatically interpret feedback from a boss or coworker as negative. At home, our kids and partner may feel like they can’t make us happy or like we’ve abandoned them. We may find it tough to communicate or show how much we care.

Your Plan

When we acknowledge the problem and take steps toward treatment, reality comes back into focus and relationships begin to strengthen. The path to recovering from depression is a little like taking antibiotics. You must complete the full course and resist the urge to stop the instant you feel better. Your recovery plan may require regular visits with a therapist, opens new tab, antidepressants, a support group or all of the above.

Healthy lifestyle changes can also keep your recovery on track. Develop a routine for sleeping, eating and exercising. Try meditation, which relaxes the mind and promotes mood-boosting endorphins. Whatever your treatment plan, commit to it. With time, you’ll find a happier you and a healthier grasp on reality and relationships.