6 Coping Skills for Major Depressive Disorder

Learn to Live Better With Depression

Depression is a mental health disorder that primarily impacts a person’s overall mood. The impacts on your mood can have a ripple effect on other areas of your life causing disruption and discord in your day-to-day activities. For many individuals living with depression, overcoming the significant impacts of this mental health disorder can often feel hopeless. There is help to overcome the negative effects of depression with proper mental health treatment and support, and there are coping skills for major depressive disorder that can help.

Alter Wellness Care offers patients a comprehensive, holistic approach to depression treatment and therapy. While there is no cure for depression, there are treatment methods that support you in learning how to manage your symptoms of depression and maintain a healthy, stable life free of the negative impacts of depression. The goal of a depression treatment program is to support you in recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression and be equipped with the tools to regulate your emotions, medications to stabilize your brain chemistry and moods, and develop the awareness to know your triggers and how to manage stress effectively. Alter Wellness Care provides cutting-edge treatment approaches that help you live a stable, healthy lifestyle with depression.

Click here to contact Alter Wellness Care today at 866-520-2943 to learn more about our highly structured clinical programs designed to overcome mental health conditions.

What Is Major Depressive Disorder?

Major depressive disorder, also called clinical depression, is a more severe form of depression. This mood disorder affects your whole body, impacting your thoughts or emotions, physical health, and well-being. Living with major depressive disorder doesn’t reflect who you are as a person. It’s important to remember that clinical depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that influences your overall mood and emotional processing or regulation.

The impacts and symptoms of major depressive disorder can range in severity depending on the person, some of the common indicators and symptoms of clinical depression are:

• Persistent feelings of low or depressed mood
• Having a feeling of an “empty mood” or apathetic
• Decreased interest in pleasurable activities or interests
• Lack of energy
• Intense feelings of tiredness or desire to do anything
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Changes in appetite
• Loss of motivation or concentration
• Psychomotor delays
• Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping more than normal or lack of sleep)
• Experiencing suicidal ideations

If you’re experiencing some of these symptoms, it’s important that you speak with your physician or call Alter Wellness Care to discuss your circumstances and symptoms you’re experiencing and explore the possibilities for depression treatment.

How Common Is Major Depressive Disorder?

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders that impact Americans. Approximately 21 million Americans have experienced one or more major depressive episodes within the last year. This mental health disorder can impact both children and adults. About 15% of the 21 million Americans impacted by this mental health disorder are considered to be youth (12-17). This disorder more impacts no specific demographics than others. Anyone regardless of age, ethnicity, or health situation can develop a major depressive disorder during their lifetime.

6 Coping Skills for Major Depressive Disorder

Although major depressive disorder doesn’t have a cure, there are methods of coping and treatment that can help minimize the severity of symptoms of depression allowing you to maintain your daily responsibilities and lifestyle. Coping skills for major depressive disorder that you can learn and utilize are:

1. Seek Support From Others
   Depression can lead you to isolate yourself from others leading to symptoms worsening. When you’re feeling the symptoms of depression, reach out to loved ones or professionals for support. It can feel hard when you’re in the depths of your symptoms of depression but a key component to maintaining stable moods and mental health is having a strong support system that encourages you to talk about how you’re feeling or engage in social activities.
2. Find Ways to Get Your Body Moving and Get in Some Exercise
   The symptoms of depression can make it feel difficult to get out of bed. Even if your symptoms tell you not to, push yourself to get up and try something to get your body moving. Whether it’s light exercise, simply walking, doing yoga, or going to the gym to workout, any physical movement helps release endorphins in your brain that can help alleviate the severity of your depression symptoms.
3. Take Time Outside in the Sun
   The sun provides natural vitamin D replenishment for our bodies. Taking even a short period of 15 minutes outside in the sun can significantly impact your overall mood, health, and well-being. While you’re inside, try opening up the blinds and allowing natural light to come inside your home.
4. Find Interests or Activities That You Enjoy
   Depression can make it hard to find motivation to engage in hobbies or interests you once had. Having a list of activities that you find enjoyable can be a helpful tool to turn to in moments of need when your symptoms negatively impact you. If you’re starting to feel like your symptoms of depression are getting to be too much to handle, try to do one thing on your list and see how it influences your depressive symptoms. The activities don’t have to be big, grandiose activities. Choose realistic items for you, such as listening to music, calling a friend, watching your favorite show, or journaling.
5. Maintain Healthy Sleeping and Eating Patterns
   Your body and mind require proper nourishment and sleep to function properly. Although your eating and sleep patterns may become impacted by your symptoms of depression, it’s important that you try to maintain a regular routine and choose healthy options for eating that will fuel your body and mind.
6. Recognize and Attempt to Change Negative Thinking Patterns
   Depression can cause you to have negative self-talk and thoughts. Challenge yourself to shift your ways of thinking when you start to have negative, shaming thoughts towards yourself. The power of positive thinking that is based on a strengths-based perspective can positively impact your overall mood and well-being. You may not notice it that same day but the more you change your thoughts the more your mind begins to affirm those positive, self-loving thoughts.

How Is Major Depressive Disorder Treated?

Treatment for major depressive disorder is completed through various comprehensive psychotherapy methods that minimize the severity of your symptoms and stabilize your mood and well-being. Psychotherapy supports patients in gaining an understanding of their thoughts, emotions, and actions and how they are interconnected. You’ll learn how to identify your triggers and stressors while developing coping skills for major depressive disorder to manage those symptoms effectively. Psychotherapy methods can be completed in individual or group therapy sessions and can include the following therapeutic approaches:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Mindfulness therapy
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR)
• Interpersonal therapy
• Acceptance therapy
• Support groups

In some cases, patients can be offered medication to treat symptoms of depression. Medications provided are designed to target the brain chemistry that has been changed due to depression and help to regulate the brain’s functioning again. Patients taking medications will feel the ability to stabilize their mood and alleviate the dark, empty moods that can occur.

Is Outpatient Treatment Available for Major Depressive Disorder?

Yes, there are 2 forms of outpatient treatment available within Alter Wellness Care for major depressive disorder. Patients can engage in the following:

• Intensive outpatient program (IOP): There are 2 IOP programs. IOP5 can last for 40 to 60 days and patients can reside within a sober living house and attend Alter Wellness Care for treatment several times daily. An IOP3 lasts for 30 to 40 days. Patients will still live within a sober living home and attend our wellness center for 2 morning or afternoon group sessions.
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP): This treatment option is a flexible model that lasts for 30 to 45 days. You’ll reside in a sober living house and have access to Alter Wellness Care treatment 3 to 5 times a week.

Click here to contact Alter Wellness Care today at 866-520-2943 to learn more about our highly structured clinical programs designed to overcome mental health conditions.

Call Alter Today and Learn More Coping Skills for Major Depressive Disorder

There is hope to find balance, stability, and happiness in your life. With the right treatment support and developing coping skills for major depressive disorder, you’ll feel confident in managing any presenting symptoms of depression. At Alter Wellness Care, we believe that treatment and healing come from a comprehensive, holistic treatment model. We’ll provide you with cutting-edge therapy methods to help you feel empowered to manage your symptoms of depression and start flourishing in the potential that life has to offer. Call our team today at 866-520-2943 or contact us online to hear more about our treatment programs and options for you. Healing is possible and we’re waiting for your call to get you started on your treatment process.