Q: How Do I Get Help for My Depression?

Posted by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen Jul 21, 2009

A reader asked how to get help for depression, on my Physical Signs of Depression article. She's just turned 15, and wants to get into the future because her past and present aren't that great.

To this depressed teenager -- and all young adults struggling with depression: My friends, I know exactly how you feel. I felt the same way when I was in my teens....and it's hard. But, you have to hold on to the fact that this WILL pass and you WILL move out of this stage of your life! There are things you can do in the meantime, to get help for your depression...

Getting Help for Your Depression

1. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good. To lift yourself out of depression, you need to connect with people who like and respect you. It may seem like nobody likes you and nobody cares -- but I guarantee that if you look around, you'll find friends or family members who care.

2. Remember that it takes effort. The ironic thing about depressed feelings is that you don't have the energy to get help with depression, yet getting help for depression requires energy!! It's a vicious cycle. Part of getting out of this cycle is knowing that you have to make an effort....you have to find your own ways of getting help for depression.

3. Talk to someone who can help you. If you're in school, talk to your guidance counselor or a teacher you trust. Call a distress line, depression help hotline, suicide line -- find out how you can get help! You have to reach outside yourself to find the support you need.

4. Be honest about how you feel. Stop hiding your depressed feelings. If you pretend that everything is fine, nobody will know how you really feel -- and you'll be even more isolated. Isolation is unhealthy, and so is pretending that you're fine, or that you don't care what's happening in your life. Find people who can help you, and friends or family members who love and support you, and be honest with them.

Read Natural Treatments for Depression - they're easy, effective ways to stop feeling depressed.

And, here's a list of Resources for Overcoming Depression -- there are lots of articles about depression there.

To get help for your depression, you really have to reach out and change your life. It's not as overwhelming as it sounds -- just take it one step at a time, and you WILL feel better!