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Depression can be mentally exhausting, and asking for help isn’t always easy. Try these resources for depression care.

When you’re living with depression, just getting through the day may feel draining. Exhaustion might keep you from reaching out to a professional for help.

However, getting help for depression doesn’t have to be complicated or scary. You can take a small first step with a phone call or using an app on your phone.

With the right treatment plan for your mental health needs, you may find that depression is highly treatable.

By boosting your mental health through therapy, medication, and self-care, you can prepare for more balanced days ahead.

Everyone feels sadness, low self-esteem, and burnout at some point. So, you may be wondering when these feelings are considered symptoms of depression.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) considers your mental and physical conditions when evaluating for depression. In order for a doctor to give you a depression diagnosis, you would have to have 5 or more symptoms for at least 2 weeks.

In addition, you may notice other side effects in your life if you’re dealing with depression.

Consider making an appointment with a doctor if you’re feeling some of the following symptoms:

  • loss of interest in hobbies
  • oversleeping or insomnia
  • overeating or sudden weight loss
  • brain fog
  • loss of energy
  • irritability
  • feelings of worthlessness
  • suicidal thoughts

It’s important to remember that only a medical professional can provide a depression diagnosis.

Sometimes, even when the resources are there, your mental health can keep you feeling isolated. While people may seem more open to talking about depression now, people still repeat common misunderstandings of depression.

Depression is not a weak personality trait. It’s a mental health condition that you can experience, and it’s not a reflection of a person’s character. Depression is common and highly treatable.

Whether you’re weeks into feeling depressed or you suspect that your symptoms have just started affecting your day, don’t hesitate to find help with a medical professional.

You have several options on where to turn for help. Helpful resources exist, and they can fit your time schedule, interest, and budget.

First, your general physician can help recommend therapists and programs local to your area.

You can also search the following resources for mental health professionals around you:

Once you start looking into professional help, consider trying different forms of psychotherapy with a qualified therapist. This can include therapy programs like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Online depression resources

Depression is a mental and physical condition that can leave your brain and body feeling exhausted.

Talking about these issues with a doctor can be intimidating. If you’d like to ease into a face-to-face interaction, you could try a resource like online therapy first.

You can receive mental health support right on your phone from a mental health professional. These may be the most affordable options as well.

Consider these online depression services:

If you need immediate assistance, depression hotlines are available for free 24/7.

To get medical treatment for therapy, you’ll need to know what types of treatment are available in your area and how much they cost.

If you have insurance, you can call them to see exactly what types of depression therapy programs your policy covers. Also consider your out-of-pocket costs, like copays, and your yearly deductible amount.

Once you have an idea of what therapy will cost you, you can connect with a resource provided by a general practitioner, or try searching one of the resources listed above.

Looking for help?

Looking for a therapist, but not sure where to start? Psych Central’s How to Find Mental Health Support resource can help you find professional help.

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Sometimes, hang-ups like waitlists and insurance transitions might leave you without professional medical help for your depression.

Depression severity can vary. But lifestyle habits can help improve your depression symptoms.

During a depressive episode, try eating nutritious foods like bananas, apples, and avocados, all of which have been associated with helping depression symptoms.

Research from 2019 continues to show that exercise can reduce depression symptoms. If getting up and going is too much to manage, try exercises from exactly where you are — even if you’re lying down. Consider working up to a physical goal, like one 30-minute walk a day.

Living with depression can mean granting yourself plenty of breaks as you manage symptoms. Try to stick to a routine to make sure you’re staying healthy and regular in your practices.

This can help you manage your day-to-day responsibilities as you start to get better.

Even if depression makes you feel sad and exhausted, you may find that taking baby steps to care for yourself will get you toward helpful coping tips and treatment.

Whether you make a phone call to your doctor or pick a peanut butter banana over processed fast food, your decisions can help improve your depression symptoms. Eating, sleeping, and exercising regularly can help you as you look into other treatment plans.

Effective treatments are out there. Your perfect treatment plan may include a mix of therapy, medication, and lifestyle choices.

Either way, help is out there to manage this serious but highly treatable mental condition.