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What action should a person take?
05/10/11 13:00 View entire series at: It's All In The Mind
It’s All In The Mind is a series of helping tools for doing pastoral care with people suffering from mental illness. It is written by Kirk Vette from Shore Vineyards Churches, who is a clinical worker for YouthLine NZ. Kirk and his wife, Caroline, live in Auckland with their three children and on his day's off you will find him sneaking off for a surf.
What action should a person take if they or you recognise the signs depression?
The most important thing to do is to start to get help, talking about it with someone. Don’t think that by not doing anything about it a person is coping, most often people will get worse if they do not get the help they need.
If the key signs of depression are what you recognise then I recommend that people see their doctor or GP and get some help from them. As well as the GP find a counselor who is experienced in working with depression and talk with them about what they are experiencing. The medical to help enhance what your body is not producing in terms of the natural feel good chemicals and the counselor who will be able to help them to understand what is happening and how to move forward. They can also help to explain more fully the following treatment options such as self help techniques, and talking therapies.
The self help techniques include getting good sleep, reducing stress, regular exercise ,keep doing the things that you would normally find fun, stay connected with your friends and stop alcohol use .
Your Doctor can prescribe you antidepressants that will replace the feel good drugs that your body stops producing when you are depressed.
Talking therapies can be helpful to work through the possible underlying issues of the depression.
Creating opportunity for the presence of God to touch their life is an excellent treatment also.
Thinking holistically about dealing with depression will help the person embrace treatment. Medical, environmental, lifestyle and spiritual interventions will all work towards moving through depression.
Working with a doctor and counselor will greatly enhance the likely hood of the depression reducing faster. If the person finds that the treatment that they are receiving is not going well for them review what they are doing with your doctor or counselor.