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If you suffer from a chronic illness, you are not the only one in that shoe. Even if you think your case is the worst, remember that they are a lot of people around the world that also battle with depression due to the bad symptoms associated with their illnesses.
I feel or notice that you will develop depression due to your medical condition, there are some ways you can take this include: dealing with your illness and talking to your medical advisor to provide special care of your mental health, which can prevent the emergence of depression.
Stay happy even if you feel burdened and sad about your illness
Stay active throughout the day and try not to think at night
Take care of your mental health like an egg
Recognize the symptoms and risk factors of the illness you are battling with.
Furthermore, if you think you or someone you love is mentally drained, it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible
Structure your days or week, making a plan for each day can help you keep your mind away from negative thoughts. If your days are full of positive things that keep your time busy, you will have less time to think about your condition and feel depressed.
The activities you can implement include: Having a time to eat and sleep, a time to attend to work activities, a time to visit friends. When our time is well segmented it helps to occupy our day with positive activities.
Dealing with a chronic illness can be a big distraction – make sure that keep up with eating well and getting enough sleep, this is very important.
Always include things you enjoy and a little light exercise in your plans for the day. Both can increase morale. Choose small tasks that you can easily work on and help you feel fulfilled.
Try to avoid unplanned times that can become moments or hours of negative thoughts. Learn everything you can about your condition. Knowledge is something that can make you feel stronger and in control of the situation.
Usually, people are afraid of what they do not understand, so knowing more about your condition can help you calm down, give you more control and increase your positive thoughts.
Talk to your doctor or surgeon about your condition and the treatment you will undergo or if you have to get surgery.
Do your research online, in a library or talk to nurses and other qualified professionals.
Work on your mind to accept your illness. It will take time, but it is something important to consider. If you embrace your current state or condition is it something that can lead us to depression.
On a more frank note, it is important to try to accept your condition. When you accept what has happened to you, you will be able to have or create a more positive mindset that will help you avoid becoming depressed.
Keep in mind that it can sometimes be harder to accept your illness or condition than others. This is normal. The important thing is to remember that these days will pass and you will have the strength to face your condition the next day.
Do not blame yourself for any reason. A common thought among people with chronic illness is that the illness is somehow their fault. However, you should stay away from these thoughts as they can lead to depression.
Trying to blame someone else, either yourself or someone else, will not cure the disease and will not make you feel better, so it is a much healthier exercise to make your energy think positively. Work as hard as possible to avoid thoughts like, “It’s my fault” “I could have avoided drinking” or ” I should have not eaten that junk food”.
Thoughts like this are likely to lead people into depression, so when you think like that, imagine a big, clear signal that says “STOP” and order the idea to leave your head.
If the stop sign does not work, create your image, such as pushing the thought into a box that you close, which will help you regain your composure.
Create a support system for you. Being around others who make you happy can have a very positive effect on the way you handle your condition.
Depression can often emerge from being lonely always, so it is important to spend time with the people you love. Tell them often that their support means a lot to you. You can also join a support group consisting of people who do the same thing as you.
Talking to people who are facing the same challenges, or who have overcome them, can help you deal with your struggles.
Fight depression through physical activity. Your physical and mental health are related in many ways. If you are always alone, without work and nothing to do, you are more likely to feel depressed. On the other hand, when you are full of energy or active, whether, through exercise or just doing something you want, your body gives out hormones like endorphins that will help you feel excitement and positivity
Structure an exercise routine that wouldn’t be strenuous or affect your condition or illness.
Although some chronic illnesses do not allow you to run a marathon or long distances, this does not mean that you should stop exercising.
Exercise is a very important method of combating and holding back all forms of depression.
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins and dopamine, which make you happy and increase your self-confidence. Create an exercise routine that suits your condition.
For example: If you are in a wheelchair, you can try to get a book 1mile away.
This moment would help you exercise well to forget your present condition.
If you are obese, you can take a jog or work for one hour daily, but do not go beyond your limit so a not to break down.
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