How to handle a depressive episode

Remember that depression is an illness. Realize that these feelings won’t last. Know when to ask for help. You are not your depression. Track triggers and symptoms.

Understand and accept depression.

Separate yourself from the depression. Recognize the importance of self-care. Breathe deeply and relax the muscles. Put on your favorite upbeat, happy music and dance the day away if you need to.

Give love to a pet that you already have. Do you seem to become depressed in the winter? Research reported in the Journal of Psychiatric Research has found a link between family history and MDD. Hormonal shifts can trigger a depressive episode , particularly in women.

Pregnancy, the postpartum period , and menopause are all common causes of major depression.

But during these depressive episodes , which come on suddenly and can last from day to a few weeks, he withdraws almost totally. Stops or severely curtails communicating. Drops all forms of endearment.

He can get very fatalistic and angry. You start experiencing pain or discomfort, burn with fever , or just ache all over. Make sure they take their medication and talk to their doctor about it. When they do have these episodes, just walk away.

But honestly, if those episodes really hurt you then I would advise you to just leave your loved one. I dated a gal who was bipolar and nothing ever seemed to help when she was having an off day. To be clinically diagnosed with bipolar in the depressive phase, the individual must have experienced the depressive episode for at least two weeks. Watch for changes in sleeping patterns.

During a depressive episode , a person may sleep more or less than normal. You could have all of these symptoms or some of them. Someone with bipolar disorder can sometimes feel very sad but also full of energy. You might have these episodes rarely or several times a year. Most Common Triggers for Bipolar Mood Episodes Spats with your sweetheart, chilly weather, grief — a number of scenarios may provoke bipolar mania or depression.

On the other hand , spending time with people you care about can help improve your mood. Invite friends or family to your home to spend time with you.

Additionally, try to go out with your friends as often as you can manage it. I deal with depression on a daily basis, so I know firsthand how difficult it can be to function like a “normal” human being when in the midst of an episode. I define an “ episode ” as any time depression seeps into my mind and spreads its darkness through me until I’m hollow. Practice Compassionate Listening. Depression seldom gets better without treatment,.

If your loved one tends to internalize emotions,. Offer Assistance with Daily Tasks. Reminder: One of the previous two mood symptoms has to be there for a major depressive episode to be diagnosed.

Every depressive episode has its own pattern, and. Go through the following steps: 1. Say exactly what the problem (or goal) is. List five or six possible solutions to the problem. Evaluate the good and bad points of each idea in turn. Choose the solution that best fits your needs.

Plan exactly the steps you will take to put the. Investigate the validity of the thoughts that are going on in your mind. If a thought says “I am worthless” or “I am a failure.