How do most people cope with depression?
Updated: May 18
Top 10 ways most people cope with depression
Table of content
#1 - Antidepressants
Generally to cope up with depression people use antidepressants as they are unable to hold their thoughts. They are into anxiety, stress and under a constant attack of overthinking. Hence they have lost control over their mind and do not know how to stop it. Therefore, they think the fastest way to shut down mind is medicine. Antidepressants do slow down the brain. It feels that mind has calmed down with these medicine dosages.
Pro of antidepressants
To an extent helps during severe or clinical or bipolar depression to shut down the brain and mind.
Con of antidepressants
Expensive and lots of side effects
Caution
Do not take any antidepressants on your own. Consult a doctor first.
#2 - Counseling
Some people feel that they need to talk to someone. This is still a better way to begin with. Hence, to cope up with depression they go for counselling. It helps a lot when you start expressing what you are feeling inside. Suppressing emotions and thoughts never help. Therefore, counselling is a good coping mechanism during depression.
Pro of counselling
Emotions are released in a better way.
Con of counselling
Expensive
Caution
Do not wait until your mild or moderate depression becomes severe to meet a counsellor.
#3 - Therapy
Yet another way to cope up with depression is therapy. There are few people who prefer to go with therapy. They understand the side effects of medicine. They are aware that it is better to take a longer route than shortcut. Depression therapy may take some time but you wont regret for sure. In fact, once you will be out of depression using therapy for depression you will feel more lively and happy.
Pro of Therapy
Profound way to come out of depression without any side effects.
Con of Therapy
Residential therapies are expensive.
Caution
Ignoring symptoms of depression will not help in coping up with depression.
#4 - Exercise
People are mostly in mild depression use this method of doing exercise on their own to cope up with depression. Whether you have mild, moderate, severe, clinical, bipolar or unipolar depression, exercise is always a good way to cope up with depression. It is better to create your regular exercise routine on a daily basis.
Pro of exercise
Works as preventive and curative.
Con of exercise
Personal coaching, gyms etc. may be expensive.
Caution
No physical exercise may lead to various physical and mental health issues.
#5 - Buddy
During our research we also found that few people are coping up with depression by having a buddy. A buddy can be your friend, relative, colleague, neighbour or a loved one. It is difficult to share with anyone about your depression status. However, speaking to someone who can empathise with you is always the best option rather than taking short cuts of anti-depressants without prescriptions.
Pro of buddy
Great support system.
Con of buddy
Selecting a wrong buddy may not help you or adversely affect you.
Caution
Do not select a buddy out of impulsiveness.
Learn more about depression
#6 - Food
Proper diet always nourishes not only your body, but has significant impact on your mind. Your physical health, mental health and emotional health can be improved with healthy food. Temptation of junk food during the depression phase may happen. However, if you select healthy food like fruits, dry fruits, cereals, green vegetables, etc., then it helps you to cope up with depression with more ease.
Pro of buddy
Healthy food will positively impact your body, mind and emotions.
Con of buddy
Junk food will negatively impact your body, mind and emotions.
Caution
Do not get into eating too much or too less mode during depression.
#7 - Course
Interestingly many people cope up with depression by joining some or the other online course subject to depression. Self paced online courses are also good for coping up with depression. Live online course has an additional benefit of a handholding support. You can also try to find some offline courses in your nearby area by using google maps.
Pro of course
Self paced courses helps you to maintain your privacy.
Con of buddy
Many online and offline courses are expensive.
Caution
Courses are not merely for entertainment. Understand it and implement it.
#8 - Discourse
Yet many people feel that their depression is connected with their spiritual growth. Hence, they listen to various online and offline discourses conducted by spiritual masters. They want to understand the spiritual sign and significance of depression.
Pro of discourse
Deeper inquiry into spiritual aspect of life.
Con of buddy
If under the incorrect guidance of someone who is not on a high plane spiritually, then it might have adverse effects.
Caution
Select your spiritual guide wisely.
#9 - Group work
Many people join online or offline groups or forums where depression patients get together. In this way, they cope up with depression while giving each other mental and emotional support. One can receive help and motivation from such groups as overcoming depression becomes a group journey and one does not feel alone.
Pro of group work
Strengthens mental and emotional support system.
Con of group work
For those who are shy, not a team player, not open to share, then group or forum becomes a threat.
Caution
Choose your group wisely.
#10 - Self Help
While we were doing our research on depression, we found that quite a few people who asked for self help solutions for depression. Usually most people are not aware that self help methods for depression exist. By maintaining your privacy, you can cope up with depression. Even if you are on medication, self help treatment becomes your supplementary tool. A perfect blend of various alternative therapies and treatments will help you to uproot depression from your life and be positive.
Pro of self help
Cost effective treatment maintaining your privacy.
Con of self help
You have to keep yourself motivated and strong throughout the treatment duration.
Caution
Only if you are 100% WILLING to overcome depression, then this option is the best option for you.
Most useful resources to cope with depression
Here are some powerful depression resources that will help you come out from depression with ease.
Reading - Depression Ebooks
Therapy - Self Help Online Depression Therapy for mild depression and moderate depression
Treatment - 45 Days Self Help Online Depression Treatment for mild depression, moderate depression, severe (clinical) depression, major depressive disorder, bipolar depression and unipolar depression.
PPD Treatment - 45 Days Self Help Online Postpartum Depression Treatment
Courses - Self Paced Online Depression Treatment Courses
Kits - Self Help Depression Treatment Audio kits and Full Kits in Hindi and English
Blog - Learn more about depression
Forum - Get your answers from Dr. Falguni Jani