Self-Direct Your Depression Treatments

A few years ago I attended an information session on depression and heard one of the greatest pieces of advice about depression treatment I've ever heard. The therapist said, "No single person or treatment is going to help you get better. It takes a variety of treatments to get you better."

Since then I've tried as many therapies as possible, spoken to as many people as I can, and have let myself be a little creative when it comes to healing from my depression. If I find that one approach to depression treatment works for me, I keep at it. If it doesn't feel right for me, I stop.

Depression Treatments That Work for Me

I'm on antidepressants to help with my depression, and I do psychotherapy with a trained therapist. These things help me, but they aren't enough on their own.

I try to do something social every day, because I know that's good for me. I have a rule that I have to talk to people when I'm out, even if it's just a small amount of pleasantries exchanged with cashiers.

Another way for me to interact with others is to do just what I'm doing now: writing online. My personal blog helps me connect with other people who have depression, and writing for HealthyPlace is a big help too. I talk about my experience with depression and that helps me feel like I'm not doing it all by myself.

I had the opportunity to try art therapy a few years ago. The therapist told us to paint, draw, or sculpt how we were feeling. At first I felt really overwhelmed by the lack of direction, but then I got into it when I realized that no direction meant no rules. I painted how I was feeling in bold colours, just like I did in kindergarten.

[caption id="attachment_3399" align="alignright" width="290" caption="Photo by Jeremy Tarling via Photopin"][/caption]

There's something about kids' paintings that is perfect for expressing emotions. Colours are bold and bright. I filled giant pieces of chart paper with black paint when I felt the most depressed. When I felt angry, I used red. Sometimes I just swirled the paint around.

Sometimes I get caught in a trap of thinking that I can't afford different treatments, I can't access treatments, or that I'm just not worth it. On those days, I try to just Google treatment options. Even if I'm curled up in bed, I can handle moving my index finger on my laptop. I read about everything I can then I think about how I could maybe look into those things in the future.

Put Your Depression Treatment In Your Hands

Public libraries often have free lectures on dozens of topics, and mental health is finally being talked about more and more. I sign out books from the library. If there's something I enjoy, I try to do more of it.

Fighting and treating depression takes practice, imagination, and dedication. Some days I can do more than others but every day I learn a little bit more about surviving on this incredible planet. There is always room to grow. You are worth it!

You can also find Erin Schulthies on Twitter, Google+, Facebook and her blog, Daisies and Bruises: The Art of Living with Depression.