2) SEE A DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
The first and most vital step in dealing with depression is to seek the advice of a professional. Making an appointment with your GP will cost you zero pence (as long as we have the NHS, anyways) and they can point you in all kinds of directions for getting the right sort of treatment. These people are paid a lot of money to know their stuff and they know a hell of a lot more about mental illness than you do so it’s vital you talk to one as soon as possible so they can help you to start feeling better. You’ve suffered enough, now it’s time to start getting your life back, and a doctor is exactly the person to help you do that. It can be tough taking that first big leap, but it will be worth it in the end.
3) TAKING MEDICATION IS IMPORTANT BUT ALSO NOT AS SEVERE AS SOME PEOPLE MAKE IT OUT TO BE
Some people dread the thought of taking anti-depressants, and it’s understandable. No-one wants to spend the rest of their life being dependant on pills for their happiness. One person I know didn’t want to take them as she made the mistake of looking up the side effects and suddenly became terrified. The fact is that for people who are sick of feeling shitty all the time and want a nudge to get them started on the road to recovery, medication can be a big help. Anti-depressive medication does not do anything irreversible to your brain, if anything it helps return it to a place that feels ‘normal’ so you’re not paralysed by overwhelming misery and anxiety all the time. As with many things in mental health, there are many different varieties of medication and some work quicker than others, but they do work. Side effects do exist but for the average person they are not severe and can be easily dealt with. Also, you don’t need to be on them forever. I know several people who took medication and then gently weaned themself off it (with the help of a doctor, of course) once they were on the mend. Again, depression has a lot to do with the chemistry of our brains and is therefore a physical ailment. You wouldn’t think twice about taking paracetemol if you had a cold, so why think any differently about taking medicine for your brain?
