Finding Help For Depression In Port St Lucie Florida
If youre struggling with getting out of a depressive episode, the best step you can take is to seek professional care. And at Port St. Lucie Hospital, we serve our community with an array of programs and services that have been specially developed to improve your mental health and wellbeing.
If youre ready to get help for your depressive episodes, theres only one thing that you need to do. Call our friendly admissions specialists at or fill out our confidential contact form. There will always be a reason not to invest in your recovery, but finding relief from depressive episodes will be worth it.
Make A Bedtime Routine
Sleep can have a huge impact on mood and mental health. A lack of sleep can contribute to symptoms of depression, and depression can interfere with sleep. To combat these effects, try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day, even at weekends.
Establish a nightly routine. Start winding down from 8 pm. Sip chamomile tea, read a book, or take a warm bath. Avoid screen time and caffeine. It may also be helpful to write in a journal before bed, especially for those whose racing thoughts keep them up.
Soothe Your Mind And Emotional System
It is so very important to take good care of your mind and emotional system. These are the tools through which you experience your life.
Your mind is constantly perceiving the world around you, you’re having thoughts, you’re thinking about the past, you’re thinking about the future, and all of this is triggering existing beliefs you have, and giving rising to certain types of feelings .
To create a shift in how you’re thinking and feelings means you need to provide NEW LEADERSHIP to yourself. If you do nothing, the same old difficult thoughts repeat and the uneasy feelings grow. If you instead intervene and introduce new types of thoughts, and soothe/nurture your emotional state, you can create a new healthy, peaceful, positive trajectory for yourself.
Here are a few easy ways to sooth your mind and emotional system, and lead them in a new direction:
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Prevention Of Depressive Episodes
Speaking to a healthcare professional and following the treatment program they recommend is very important in managing depressive episodes.
While there is no known way to prevent a depressive episode, certain positive behaviors may be helpful. These include:
- Talking about feelings when upset
- Staying active, e.g. exercising and getting outdoors
- Eating a balanced diet
- Writing down factors that may be causing the depression and trying to find solutions
How To Practice Focused Meditation
Here are six tips to help you practice focused meditation. Based on your availability and interest, these tips may change and evolve. Thats the point: to create a structured practice that caters to your needs.
1. Find a Comfortable Seat
As with any meditation practice, comfort is truly key. The physical body responds to meditation practice by alerting you to whether it is comfortable and supported or stressed out and in pain. This is best observed in practitioners who tend to slouch and lose the tall, supported spine that is essential to meditation practice.
A simple rule in meditative sitting is to ensure that your hips are higher than your knees. Therefore, choosing to sit in a chair instead of on the floor may be a smart decision or perhaps propping yourself up on a cushion. For meditation techniques overall, it does not matter how you sit. All that matters is that you are supported and comfortable sitting for some time.
2. Choose Your Object of Focus
Every meditation training session is going to be different because no single day is the same for any one person. Therefore, experienced meditators know that choosing an object is more about listening to what you need at this time versus following any doctrine or rule.
3. Set Your Desired Time or Go With the Flow
Likewise, if you have the time, you can also listen to your body and come out of your meditation when you feel its right to do so. This is often a beautiful practice of listening and tuning in.
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How To Get Out Of A Depression Episode
Everyone experiences low points in their mental health. When you struggle with depression, this condition can drain your energy, cause you to feel hopeless and make it difficult to take the steps you need to feel better.
Depression is a treatable mental health condition but if youre wondering how to not be depressed anymore, there is no simple answer. However, if you dont have immediate access to medical help, there are small steps you can take to punch holes in this curtain of darkness so you can find renewed hope.
Getting Out Of A Funk: How To Help Yourself Through Depression
Everyone has off days where they feel tired, irritable, and sad. Its normal to feel sadness as a response to challenging life events, loss, or changes, but sometimes these feelings can stick around for a while if left unaddressed and make it difficult for you to get through each day.
Heres how you can tell when youre in a funk or maybe even experiencing a mild depression as well as what you can do to help yourself feel better.
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How Can I Help Myself If I Am Depressed
Other things that may help include:
- Spending time with other people and talking with a friend or relative about your feelings
- Increasing your level of physical activity. Regular exercise can help people with mild to moderate depression and may be one part of a treatment plan for those with severe depression. Talk with your health care professional about what kind of exercise is right for you.
- Breaking up large tasks into small ones, and tackling what you can as you can. Don’t try to do too many things at once
- Delaying important decisions until you feel better. Discuss decisions with others who know you well.
- Keeping stable daily routines. For example, eating and going to bed at the same time every day.
- Avoiding alcohol
As you continue treatment, gradually you will start to feel better. Remember that if you are taking an antidepressant, it may take several weeks for it to start working. Try to do things that you used to enjoy before you had depression. Go easy on yourself.
Know That Today Isnt Indicative Of Tomorrow
Todays mood, emotions, or thoughts dont belong to tomorrow.
If you were unsuccessful at getting out of bed or accomplishing your goals today, remember that you havent lost tomorrows opportunity to try again.
Give yourself the grace to accept that while some days will be difficult, some days will also be great. Try to look forward to tomorrows fresh start.
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Causes Of A Depressive Episode
The causes of depressive episodes are complex and varied, involving social, psychological and biological factors. Depression may occur as an isolated episode or as part of a chronic depressive condition. While the exact causes are not yet fully understood, the following may increase a personââ¬â¢s likelihood of experiencing a depressive episode:
- History of depressive episodes
People who have recently had a baby may experience postpartum depression.
Sometimes, there is no obvious cause for the occurence of a depressive episode.
Some health conditions, such as hypothyroidism, can cause symptoms of depression. While uncommon, adverse reactions to certain medications can also cause depressed mood. However, treating these underlying causes and disorders should alleviate the symptoms.
Correcting My Sleepmy Way
Iknow, I know. We hear it all of the time. But its true: Getting too much sleepor not enough sleep can really be bad for those of us with bipolar. For me, sleepis the key to jump-starting my way out of this hole of depression.
When Iam depressed, I cant sleep at night. I toss and turn, and I wake up so tired.So tired that I feel sluggish all day. It feels like I cant shake thesleepiness. I get home and I take a nap for a couple hours or more. Thissleeping pattern does nothing to help me. All those studies and reports andsuch are right. But I have to go about it a little differently.
So, what I do to combat this is I stay up a little later than usual to make sure I am good and tired. This usually helps me sleep through the night and get better sleep. If this does not work, I take medication that has been prescribed to me to help me finally catch those zs. Once I get a few good nights of sleep, I am definitely feeling better.
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Build A Support Network
One of the most important things you can do to help yourself with depressionother than medication and therapyis to develop strong social support.
For some, this may mean forging stronger ties with friends or family. Knowing you can count on supportive loved ones to help can go a long way toward improving your depression.
For others, a depression support group can be key. It may involve a community group that meets in your area or you might find an online support group who meets your needs.
Or Spend Time With Loved Ones
Depression can tempt you to isolate yourself and withdraw from your friends and family, but face-to-face time can help wash away those tendencies.
If youre unable to spend time together in person, phone calls or video chats can also be helpful.
Try to remind yourself these people care about you. Resist the temptation to feel like youre a burden. You need the interaction and they likely do, too.
When you do the same thing day after day, you use the same parts of your brain. You can challenge your neurons and alter your brain chemistry by doing something entirely different.
Research also shows doing new things can improve your overall well-being and strengthen your social relationships.
To reap these benefits, consider trying a new sport, taking a creative class, or learning a new cooking technique.
Knock out a few birds with one stone spending time with other people and doing something new by volunteering and giving your time to someone or something else.
You may be used to receiving help from friends, but reaching out and providing help may actually improve your mental health more.
Bonus: People who volunteer experience physical benefits, too. This includes a reduced risk of hypertension.
When you do something you love, or even when you find a new activity you enjoy, you may be able to boost your mental health more by taking time to be thankful for it.
Research shows gratitude can have lasting positive effects on your overall mental health.
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I Start From Where I Am
Self-care isnât all fancy spas or relaxing vacations. While I love getting massages or walking by the ocean, in reality I need to take better care of myself where I usually am â at home, in the car, at work, or out with family and friends.
As frustrating as it can be, mental illness is part of my life, so I needed to develop coping skills that I could use throughout the day. Making this perspective shift â from looking outside for self-care to also looking inside âhelped me cultivate skills and self-awareness that I can use to cope with depression and anxiety in my everyday surroundings.
What Causes Depression In Men
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S. Current research suggests that depression is caused by a combination of risk factors including:
- Genetic factorsmen with a family history of depression may be more likely to develop it than those whose family members do not have the illness.
- Environmental Stressfinancial problems, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, major life changes, work problems, or any stressful situation may trigger depression in some men.
- Illnessdepression can occur with other serious medical illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, or Parkinsons disease. Depression can make these conditions worse and vice versa. Sometimes, medications taken for these illnesses may cause side effects that trigger or worsen depression.
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Recognize And Prevent Depression
The manic and depressive phases of bipolar disorder donât necessarily follow a pattern. You can have a few bouts of depression before you have a manic phase.
But over time, youâll notice things that cause changes in your mood and warning signs that depression could be setting in. When you catch those symptoms early, you can often avoid major depression.
Keep a mood chart to track how you feel, your treatments, sleep, and other activities. Take note of times when you feel stressed — maybe when youâre with certain people or in a specific place. The first signs of depression could be that you feel tired and canât sleep. Short periods of depression can be a sign that a severe phase is coming.
The people around you can help you recognize patterns, too. Ask your family and mental health professional to watch for changes in your behavior that signal an oncoming issue. They may be able to notice things that you donât.
Even when you feel great, make sure to keep up with your treatment — it can prevent a relapse of depression. Eat a healthy diet, exercise, and try new ways to ease stress and manage your moods: Join a support group, take up a hobby, or practice relaxation methods like meditation, yoga, or massage.
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Give Yourself Reasons To Leave The House
For those of us who recognize the signs, getting a heads-up on an upcoming depressive episode is a genuine opportunity to put some good groundwork in place. Combat the isolation that depression brings by scheduling some social time for the next little while. It doesn’t have to be big parties or things that may make you feel more depressed or alone â one-on-one time with understanding friends, group activities that you love, or anything that will make you feel connected are all good ideas. And tell somebody else your plans so that they can help you stick to them.
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Schedule Something You’ll Look Forward To In The Near Future
Your mood may be lifted if you have something to focus on besides the immediate problematic period you’ll be going through. It doesn’t have to be a Greek holiday or a visit to the Chanel store it could be something as simple as spending a day with friends, trying a cooking class, taking a day to walk in the country, or even devoting an afternoon to cake-baking. Knowing you have something to look forward to in your schedule can be a real mood booster, in my personal experience.
Know The Signs Of A Major Depressive Episode
It is very common for a person with depression to be unaware that they are entering a depressive episode. Recognizing the signs in oneself is challenging, but it helps to be able to see an episode coming. By being more aware of the return of depression, an individual can better deal with it: asking for help, reaching out to socialize, taking self-care measures, practicing stress-relief strategies, or making extra therapy appointments. Being aware of a coming depressive episode isnt easy, but there are practices that can help:
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Connect With Friends And Family
This can be one of the hardest things to do when feeling depressed, but it is one of the most rewarding activities. Isolating oneself from others may seem like a good idea, but put a limit on it and then get out there again.
Confiding in friends and family members can have a huge positive effect on your mood.
What Causes Depressive Episodes
If you are experiencing a depressive episode, it likely means that you are living with major depressive disorder. This is a common mental health issue, affecting almost eight percent of American adults. Generally, this condition manifests via major depressive episodes, where symptoms tend to flare up for weeks at a time.
Since depressive episodes are caused by an ongoing mental health condition, they are much more complicated to treat than a typical period of sadness. That said, there are ways to get out of a depressive episode, especially if you have professional help.
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Paying Attention To Nutrition
Become more self-aware about providing your body with the proper nutrition and hydration it needs, Weiss suggests. If your body lacks certain nutrients, this could potentially be feeding your depressive feelings.
You could start by limiting sugar intake and increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables when possible.
Track Triggers And Symptoms
Keeping track of moods and symptoms might help a person understand what triggers a depressive episode. Spotting the signs of depression early on may help them avoid a full-blown depressive episode.
Use a diary to log important events, changes to daily routines, and moods. Rate moods on a scale of 1 to 10 to help identify which events or activities cause specific responses. See a doctor if symptoms persist for 14 days or more.
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How To Cope With A Depressive Episode
Living with depression means learning to cope with change. Thats because depression isnt a constant rather, it comes in waves, known as depressive episodes. An episode can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, or even longer. During this time, you might feel restless, anxious, irritable, or hopeless, and find it hard to participate in your daily activities, even the ones that usually bring you pleasure. When youre depressed, the simple act of getting out of bed can feel like a chore.
Living with depression means learning to cope with change. Thats because depression isnt a constant rather, it comes in waves, known as depressive episodes. An episode can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, or even longer. During this time, you might feel restless, anxious, irritable, or hopeless, and find it hard to participate in your daily activities, even the ones that usually bring you pleasure. When youre depressed, the simple act of getting out of bed can feel like a chore.
Unfortunately, you cant prevent a depressive episode from happening. But you can learn strategies for coping with it, which can potentially make your episode less severe. Here are some tips for how to take care of yourself during a depressive episode.
Keep a diary
Confide in loved ones
Make plans
Avoid alcohol
Exercise
Practice mindfulness
Talk to a professional
Alvarado Parkway Institute can help you cope with your depression