I Think I Am Depressed - What Can I Do?

Are you thinking or feeling, 'I am depressed' or 'I feel depressed'?

Depression can be triggered by certain unpleasant incidents, health issues, death of a loved one, financial setbacks, etc, and under the circumstances, one can slip into severe depression if the condition remains untreated over a period of time.

Once it has been established that you are suffering from depression or are constantly feeling down, it is advisable to assess the type and severity of depression. There are various scales and tests that can be taken online or in a clinical setting that will help arrive at the type and the degree of severity of depression one is going through.

While most of the tests available online cannot replace the clinical evaluation and interpretation of a psychiatrist or psychologist, they will certainly help identify the situation, and confirm or debunk your thoughts of 'I am depressed'.

To check out your thoughts or feelings of 'I am depressed', click here to find out more about depression scales and inventories for identifying depression, or click here to take a depression test online.

By taking a scale or test like the ones mentioned on this website, one can identify that there is a problem that needs immediate attention and, depending upon further evaluation and examination, one can confirm the diagnosis and start with the various treatment options that are available.

Depression can be extremely difficult to deal with, since it is not easy to control the mind and to consistently remain positive. Life is full of challenges and to stay focused and detached is something that requires training the mind to not get entangled.

Fear, guilt, shame, and negativity are real emotions that occupy huge mind space and can completely bog someone down endlessly if one does not make a determined effort to overcome the challenge. Therefore, every time you feel 'I am depressed', it is time to wake up and take stock of your thoughts, emotions, words, and actions.

Some of the best possible methods of overcoming these challenges are to keep the body and mind occupied by doing something creative and productive. Taking up new hobbies like solving crosswords; cultivating new interests like cooking and gardening; as well as joining a dance, yoga and aerobics course will certainly help divert one's mind from negative thought processes. This will encourage one to look beyond these thoughts and help one overcome the challenge of controlling the mind.

In addition to the above, if you feel 'I am depressed', it is also important to explore various treatment options. During the initial stages of depression, it might be a good idea to not go in for high-dose medications which bring with them a whole lot of side effects and drug interactions - these can create additional problems.

Alternative treatment options like herbs and herbal remedies, acupuncture, naturopathy, yoga and meditation, tai-chi, dance and music therapy, aromatherapy, etc, can be explored so that one does not have to stick to the regular medication routine and create dependencies which will later become difficult to shake off.

Eating well, especially a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids, drinking a lot of water, exercising regularly, and sleeping well go a long way in helping one feel less depressed. These dietary and lifestyle habits also improve one's overall health, which will contribute to effectively healing the mind along with the body.

To check out your thoughts or feelings of 'I am depressed', click here to find out more about depression scales and inventories for identifying depression, or click here to take a depression test online.

To explore various natural remedies for depression, including diet, herbs, and therapies, click here.

Useful Depression Resources