Depression is an enormous problem all around the world. Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from it, according to the World Health Organization. Some say it’s our environment, some say it is technology’s increasingly strong grip on our lives – the theories are many and varied.
I know some say it runs in families and some say it’s just lifestyle. For me, years ago, I was depressed. But, it was situational. There was a time that I needed medication. It is something that we as women need to talk about and share our stories. These great tips are something I wish I had at the time I was going through some depression.
Susanna has had enormous success with aiding depressive individuals. Here are some of her top tips to help people see a different way of living:
- Don’t allow your past to determine your future. Your past does not have to be a limitation. It can be a contribution to you to know what changes you would like to create to have a future that works for you.
- Know that you have choice. Don’t let people tell you are a prisoner of your brain chemistry. Things can always be different – whether that means a 10% improvement or a 180-degree turnaround.
- Make a choice. Today. No matter what your life has been so far, no matter what occurred, you have what it takes to change it.
- Find people who support you. People who do not judge you and are kind to you. Allow their kindness into your world.
- Examine how much of your sadness belongs to others. Ask yourself, “Does this feeling actually belong to me or did I pick it up from someone else in my life?” It’s more common than you may imagine.
- Learn to trust yourself. If you’ve been depressed for a long time you may have lost sight of how to employ your intuition. Play with the idea of heaviness and lightness when contemplating thoughts and situations. If it feels heavy to you it’s potentially not true. If it has a lightness and ease, it’s probably right. Overanalyzing and judging yourself all the time is exhausting – try and feel things on a gut level rather than all up in your head.
- Put some thought into who you actually want to be. And who you are when you’re not trying to please – or be liked – by family, friends, teachers, workmates or others. There’s an enormous sense of internal calm that comes with being yourself and not fighting the tide trying to be someone else all the time.
Are you or someone you know having a hard time? Get the support you need.
Susanna Mittermaier is a psychologist and author of the #1 International Bestselling book, “Pragmatic Psychology: Practical Tools for Being Crazy Happy.” A highly sort after public speaker, she has also been featured in magazines such as TV soap, Women’s Weekly, Empowerment Channel Voice America, Om Times, Motherpedia, Newstalk New Zealand and Holistic Bliss. Susanna offers a new paradigm of therapy called Pragmatic Psychology and is known for her revolutionary perspective on mental illness. Her unique perspective identifies depression, anxiety, ADHD and other forms of mental illness as a capacity that has not yet been acknowledged. Her unique perspective identifies depression, anxiety, ADHD and other forms of mental illness as a capacity that has not yet been acknowledged. Susanna is also an internationally accredited Being You Facilitator, a specialty program of Access Consciousness. She transforms people’s problems and difficulties into possibilities and powerful choices. Follow on Twitter @AccessSusanna.
