Depressed? There Are Things You Can Do To Help Yourself And Others

Sitting inside alone and waiting-out winter is not the answer.

The days are ever-so-slowly getting a bit longer. The daylight can’t come soon enough for those dealing with depression this time of year.

Mental health professionals say there are many things that can contribute to that feeling.

The holidays are over, most of us are not as physically active in the winter, and there are things we like to do that the weather may make impossible.

Amy Fullerton is the Director of Mental Health at Lake Superior College.

She says younger people may find themselves dealing with their first episode of depression.

But for everyone, she says this time of year we may tend to stay inside, withdraw and have less fun.

Fullerton says staying in touch with others is really helpful and important.

“Our relationships with other people, making connections are a huge source of support, and one of the things that we can do to try and help ourselves too, when we’re not feeling at our best,” said Fullerton.

“It’s really important, if you notice something, to say something. I think oftentimes there is a misunderstanding that if we ask people if they’re not feeling well, or if they’re thinking about suicide that somehow we put those ideas in their head, but we don’t,” she said.

Fullerton added, “So, we want to be checking in and we want to be asking those questions. And not underestimating how important it can be and how much of a difference it can be for someone to know that we care enough to ask if they’re doing okay.”

She says there are two important things you can do for yourself.

One is to get moving, do some kind of exercise, something you enjoy, even if it’s only ten or fifteen minutes.

The other thing is to get good sleep and a sleep routine.

She says when we’re tired, everything else is more difficult.