Some Practical Helps - Part II
© karenjoy
Depression is yet another issue common to survivors of abuse. Depression is more than having just a blue day or feeling occasional sadness. We must know the difference between Dysthymia, a despondency in mood, and clinical depression. Major Depressive Disorder is a serious condition that needs to be recognized and treated.
Depression, on some level, at least, is common to the human experience, but it should not be left to itself. Learn what triggers it and take proper precautions. For those who have suffered with such a condition for long periods of time it may not be easily recognized. Bouts may come on without notice - especially during difficult and highly stressful times. Take extra good care of yourself physically. Proper diet, exercise, and medication when merited, will all help to alleviate the symptoms of depression. Allowing yourself to become overtired and exhausted in the healing process will only add to it. While some level of depression may not be avoidable altogether, we can certainly learn what we can to do to lesson its affects upon us.
Often, we become so overwhelmed by what we cannot do about a situation that we do not do what we can! We need to be determined that we will find just what will alleviate depression and how to apply it in a balanced, healthy manner. One way we can begin to break the frustration of feeling so out of control of our circumstances is to intentionally exercise our ability to choose. Refuse to remain in bondage. Fight victimization. Reject the whole "victim mentality" thing. This is much easier said than done, unfortunately, mainly because many of us don't realize we're trapped in it. One survivor describes it this way:
"You know what I find for myself? Sometimes I'm so 'stuck' in this mindset that I don't have the discernment or the ability to recognize what is actually going on. I tend to be a bit thick when it comes to that because it's so ingrained. So for me, personally, it's incredibly helpful when someone spells out exactly what victimization (obviously the more subtle every day things - I'm not talking about obvious physical abuse here) looks like and what the victim mentality actually IS with lots of practical, everyday examples on how to recognize it. What can I say? What's an appropriate way to act or think? I've discovered that at times when I am faced with a situation where I actually think to myself, I should be saying 'no' or protecting myself, I don't have a clue as to how to do it in an appropriate way. How on earth does one recognize it? Give me concrete examples on how I can deal with it once I do recognize it!"
