By Mike Martinez

You are feeling depressed and just need a way to pull yourself out of it. You don’t want to pay someone to listen to your problems. Instead, you’ve decided to go online and see what you can do to treat depression on your own. Does this sound familiar?

If so, you’re not alone. A person’s instinct is to try to solve problems on his or her own- especially today when we are expected to be strong and independent. Mix in some cultural values and expectations and now you have guilt and shame.

It seems your depression is now compounding on itself. Don’t worry. There are a few things you can do when treating depression on your own.

Here are 3 steps you can take to help treat depression on your own:

#1 Doing is the first step.

You need to do something – going online to do some research (like reading this article) is a great start. You are already taking the steps to make yourself feel better!

#2 Pick something to do (take action) and do it.

You can do anything- whether it is exercise, journaling, a hobby, or simply deciding to make your bed. Pick one. Schedule it, and do it. This first step of doing something may help you to feel accomplished. The smaller the step the better. It’s important to not set very large goals here. Start small. Setting too large of a goal can set you up for failure which can then lead to more depression.

#3 Repeat positive affirmations

What do you like about yourself? You may need a friend or loved one’s help to answer this question but try to think of something you like about yourself or a time you felt accomplished.

Try to keep this in mind and tell yourself this as often as you can. Set it as a reminder on your phone to have this thought. Little by little you should see your general mood begin to improve as you practice this feeling.

In conclusion, depression itself is like a disease or sickness. Yes, it is possible to treat depression on your own, but I would recommend speaking to someone, just as you would go see a doctor if there’s something wrong with your body, a plumber if there’s something wrong with your pipes, or a mechanic if there’s something wrong with your car.

If after completing some of the steps above you still find yourself struggling, then please reach out. It never hurts to ask for help when you need it. Give Mike a call at Life Counseling Solutions, 407-622-1770, to schedule an appointment. Or, book your first appointment online here. 

Mike’s goal is to assist clients in reaching their full potential by helping them explore within themselves to find their strengths. He pays special attention to building a therapeutic relationship in order to create a safe place for change and growth. Mike provides counseling services to people of many different backgrounds, but specializes in helping men with anger management struggles. Continue reading here.