Depression

Depression

When you realize how much life throws at us, it is no surprise that sometimes we feel beat down by it, or that we don’t have the energy in us to keep going. This life brings many moments of exhaustion, loneliness and sadness. For some people, it becomes difficult to recover from these experiences. We may become stuck in unhappy thoughts and low moods. It may seem like we are just not up to the task of living this life and so our lives begin to fall apart or we just end up participating less. Our motivation dwindles. It’s easy to become disconnected from the people in our lives at this point.

When these experiences prevent you from doing what matters to you, like keeping up relationships, enjoying yourself and contributing to the world, you may be stuck in depression. Depression can have many causes, both psychological and physical. There may be a trauma in our past that sets it in motion. We may have a genetic predisposition to it. Usually there is a mix of causes that can be tricky to work with. Commonly there are negative emotions and though patterns that need to be worked with. Counselling, medication, exercise and nutrition have all been proven to help with these kind of challenges.

SADNESS ANTIDOTES

Disappointment	Understanding that sadness is natural in appropriate circumstances, but also that experiencing loss is part of life and that one should not let oneself be overwhelmed. Trying to find a place of peace within oneself and thinking of constructive things that could be done instead.
Distraughtness	Understanding that a permanent state of sadness will not bring any real benefit. In the case of mourning someone, falling into long-term sadness and despair should not be seen as an homage paid to that person. It is better to pay homage by doing meaningful and altruistic acts.
Discouragement	Understanding that a permanent state of sadness will not bring any real benefit. In the case of mourning someone, falling into long-term sadness and despair should not be seen as an homage paid to that person. It is better to pay homage by doing meaningful and altruistic acts.
Helplessness	Understanding that a permanent state of sadness will not bring any real benefit. In the case of mourning someone, falling into long-term sadness and despair should not be seen as an homage paid to that person. It is better to pay homage by doing meaningful and altruistic acts.
Misery	Understanding that a permanent state of sadness will not bring any real benefit. In the case of mourning someone, falling into long-term sadness and despair should not be seen as an homage paid to that person. It is better to pay homage by doing meaningful and altruistic acts.
Grief	Understanding that a permanent state of sadness will not bring any real benefit. In the case of mourning someone, falling into long-term sadness and despair should not be seen as an homage paid to that person. It is better to pay homage by doing meaningful and altruistic acts.
Despair	Understanding that a permanent state of sadness will not bring any real benefit. In the case of mourning someone, falling into long-term sadness and despair should not be seen as an homage paid to that person. It is better to pay homage by doing meaningful and altruistic acts.
Anguish	Realizing that things and people are impermanent by nature. Revolting against this cannot lead to a fulfilled life.

– from Dr. Paul Ekman’s Atlas of Emotions

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