Good advice

Irene Oestrich, psychologist

The depression is easing again. But you must learn to live with it until it eases and you must remember that your depression is a condition that you find yourself in, but the depression is not you!

Depression makes you look at life in an unrealistically black way. Depression is linked to negative thoughts, also called "catastrophic thoughts". The more negative thoughts you have, the less energy and desire you have to do anything. But it is important that you keep active, even when you don't feel like it. You can learn to overcome your lack of interest and passivity. If you keep active, you will slowly recharge your batteries. This is an experience which many people suffering from depression have felt - you need to keep active in order to get out of your depression. Yet at the same time you don't feel up to what you normally do.

You will of course have a lot less energy when you are depressed. But you should maintain a level of activity which gives you satisfaction. You can easily do a lot, even if you do not feel the same desire that you used to feel.