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Coping Skills advice?
I have been diagnosed with Major depression with psychotic features (I see, hear and feel things that others can't). My friends say that it is all in my head and that I'm just making an excuse as to why I choose to be depressed and I can prevent it. Is this true? Am I making of all of this up? If I am, what are some things I can try in order to not choose to be depressed? If I'm not making this up and my friends just don't like it, then what can I do to help myself not be so depressed so I can get through the day?
Here's the situation:
I am no longer interested in hobbies that I used to like (example: video games, drawing, reading, writing, phototraphy). I also am crying off and on throughout the day. I can barely eat or sleep. If I do get to sleep, I have trouble staying asleep. I see shadow people and they constantly talk and touch me keeping me up all night to where I can't sleep. I basically get out of bed to go to work and when I get home, I just sit and do nothing.
My husband is understanding of my situation and is also trying to help me find a coping skill to master so my depression cannot control me any more.
My real Question is: What are some good coping skills do deal with my mental disorder?
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Listening to music
reading
going for walks
hanging out with friends or family
meet someone new
go somewhere new
self reflect in a positive way
take up a new hobby
I have bad depression and the way I can cope is listening to music, going for walk and self reflecting, good luck on trying to get past you depression, and just know that you're worth more than you thing, you are beautiful inside and out and one day you'll be a very happy successful woman!
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You did not supply this information so how was I to know this. There is help for you if you know where to look. Being diagnosed with psychotic features could, emphasis on could as you again have not said what the voices are telling you. Could place you as being a danger to yourself or others. If this is the case go to any hospital ER and they will help you and the hospital patient advocate will help you get the benefits available to you so that you can receive treatment.
If the voices are not telling you to hurt yourself contact your county or state mental health agency. Every state and most counties have one. They are there to help you. You might also want to contact a legal aid attorney for help with this agency.
If you have ever worked at all file for Social security disability benefits (SSI) with Medicare assistance. You can file on line, have you husband help you as it is quite a lot of questions that need to be answered. You may even be eligible to file under his social security benefits. Call SSI 1-800-772-1213 for information and help do not assume anything.
You replied you have no job, no money for medication. Yet in you writing you wrote; I basically get out of bed to go to work and when I get home, I just sit and do nothing." I see this as the depression talking. If your working and the company has and EAP program, ask don't assume they don't. Call the EAP hot line they can help you.
As far as skills to cope with depression; unless you know what is causing the depression it is hard to tell you what to do to cope. Thinking happy thoughts, trying to keep yourself active so as to try and ignore the pain of depression does not work. Treatment is the only coping skill I know that works. Please make the calls I suggest, there is help you just have to find it.
No one chooses to be Depressed. There are a number of different factors that go into why we become depressed. One major reason is hormonal which is why women sometimes suffer from depression after giving birth.
Once you fall into the pit of depression you fall into the cycle of depression which is not something you can exit without good professional help. Being diagnosed with Major depression with psychotic features; I would expect you would be being treated by a psychiatrist for medication and a psychologist. The psychologist would help you cope with this illness to start with and them to get at the root cause of your depression through talk therapy.
Having suffered with depression brought on by a major depressive episode I know how scary this can be for you. The depression causes pain both mental and physical, which causes more depression. This is called the cycle of pain which medication and talk therapy help to break.
I did not suffer with psychotic features so I cannot speak to it. I do know that while depressed what I saw and heard was perceived wrong messed up by my depression. Which of course caused me to be more depressed. This was the first battle that had to be fought. Once this battle was won we worked to get at the root cause. It was hard work and as much as I fought to hide from the truth when it finally revealed itself everything fell into place and we were able to talk about the problem and instead of hiding from it we dealt with it and put it in its proper perspective.
If you are not being treated by a psychiatrist and psychologist then you need to do so NOW. Especially with the psychotic features.. The psychiatrist should be Board Certified as a Board Certified Psychiatrist is the best qualified to deal with these types of problems.
It won't be easy, it wasn't for me. With hard work between you and the doctors and being compliant with your medications I can assure you there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Major depression does not have to be a lifelong event.
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Firs thing, your friends are absolutely incorrect! In no way do I mean this to be offensive, but if your friends are telling you that you are making your depression (psychotic or not) up- then they are not a great bunch of friends.
As somebody who has suffered tremendously through depression, psych hospitals and all- I know it can be extremely difficult to deal with depression and it can be even harder to indulge in the depth of your depression with people, no matter how close to you they are. Being depressed is in no way a choice. It is however, a choice to get help and live with your depression, but nothing is going to ever make you "un-depressed".
There are medications you can take to manage your depression, but this usually entails seeing specialized psychologists, which can be hard to come by. Also they can be very, very expensive. The best way in my opinion, that I have learned works far better than any medication that can be prescribed- is surrounding yourself with positive influence.
This probably sounds nearly impossible, after all when you are depressed you start to become irritable and the things you used to love you lose interest in. Find your niche, that thing that gets you through the day. Take every day just ten seconds at a time, tell yourself you can push through it. It is also extremely important for you to take care of yourself! No matter how many people tell you that you are crazy, or call you a liar- only you know how you are feeling.
At the end of the day, if the best decision you can make for yourself is to cut people out of your life, you should do it. Your husband being understanding of the situation is a great thing, but there will most likely be days where your husband lashes out at you for being the way you are. This does not mean he hates you, or he is mad at you per-say- he will most likely do this because he doesn't understand it on a personal level.
Seeing something and understanding the text-book behind it, does mean somebody understands the reality of it. Some things I do when I get depressed are-
1.) Talk to somebody (as cliche as it sounds, I find it helps!) But it has to be somebody who will listen
2.) Go for a walk
3.) Write down my feelings (No, this is not just something children do! It really helps!)
4.) Take a hot bath, light some candles, and open your mind to all of your problems and come up with a logical and safe solution for them.
5.) Anything distracting. Shopping, watching a movie, baking, etc.
I hope that these all helped, and never feel ashamed for the way you are feeling. For any more questions/advice feel free to visit my column and ask any questions you may have.
~Kenzieanonymous
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