{"id":30887,"date":"2020-10-27T07:30:24","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T11:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/?p=30887"},"modified":"2021-12-12T21:26:26","modified_gmt":"2021-12-13T02:26:26","slug":"hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Hard Lessons I\u2019ve Learned About Fighting Depression As A Therapist (and a Patient)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#What_Is_Major_Depressive_Disorder\" title=\"What Is Major Depressive Disorder?\">What Is Major Depressive Disorder?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#A_basic_definition_of_depression\" title=\"A basic definition of depression\">A basic definition of depression<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#The_Impact_of_Depression_in_the_United_States\" title=\"The Impact of Depression in the United States\">The Impact of Depression in the United States<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#7_Hard_Lessons_Ive_Learned_About_Fighting_Depression\" title=\"7 Hard Lessons I&#8217;ve Learned About Fighting Depression\">7 Hard Lessons I&#8217;ve Learned About Fighting Depression<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#Share_this_Image_On_Your_Blog\" title=\"Share this Image On Your Blog!\">Share this Image On Your Blog!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#1_There_is_No_Silver_Bullet\" title=\"1. There is No Silver Bullet\">1. There is No Silver Bullet<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#2_Accept_That_People_Wont_Understand_and_Thats_OK\" title=\"2. Accept That People Won\u2019t Understand (and That\u2019s OK)\">2. Accept That People Won\u2019t Understand (and That\u2019s OK)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#3_Do_The_Exact_Opposite_of_What_Your_Brain_Tells_You_To_Do\" title=\"3. Do The Exact Opposite of What Your Brain Tells You To Do\">3. Do The Exact Opposite of What Your Brain Tells You To Do<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#4_Disconnection_Is_The_Real_Killer\" title=\"4. Disconnection Is The Real Killer\">4. Disconnection Is The Real Killer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#5_Fighting_Depression_Means_Embracing_Change\" title=\"5. Fighting Depression Means Embracing Change\">5. Fighting Depression Means Embracing Change<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#6_Make_The_Most_Out_Of_Your_Good_Days\" title=\"6. Make The Most Out Of Your Good Days\">6. Make The Most Out Of Your Good Days<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#7_Seek_Therapy_Its_Essential\" title=\"7. Seek Therapy. It\u2019s Essential\">7. Seek Therapy. It\u2019s Essential<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#Final_Thoughts\" title=\"Final Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#References\" title=\"References\">References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>I\u2019ve been <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/lethality-of-major-depression\/\">fighting depression<\/a> for more than 25 years. If you are reading this, chances are you suffer from it, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re not alone. In the United States, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/major-depression.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">more than 17 million adults<\/a> are diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) each year. Another three million struggle with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/persistent-depressive-disorder-dysthymic-disorder.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Dysthymia<\/a>, which is a low-grade and long-term type of depression that is officially called Persistent Depressive Disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-1.jpg\" alt=\"7 Hard lessons I\u2019ve Learned About Fighting Depression\" class=\"wp-image-30894 lazyload\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-1.jpg\" alt=\"7 Hard lessons I\u2019ve Learned About Fighting Depression\" class=\"wp-image-30894 lazyload\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-1-83x125.jpg 83w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-1-150x225.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-1-768x1152.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>7 Hard Lessons I\u2019ve Learned About Fighting Depression<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It took a lot of trial and error, but these days I have my depression mostly under control. I\u2019ve learned what works and what doesn\u2019t. Hopefully, it won\u2019t take you as long as it did for me to learn how to manage it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you want to learn how to fight depression, you first have to know what you\u2019re up against.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t need to be afraid of it, but you do need to respect its power. To that end, let\u2019s pop the hood and take a look at this monster.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-e08fd2a7-81c0-44d2-9c2f-6d050ebb6419\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\"\n                    data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\">\n                    <div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\"><strong>What you\u2019ll Learn In This Post\u00a0<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-2-column \"><ul><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#0-what-is-major-depressive-disorder>What Major Depressive Disorder Is<\/a><ul><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#1-a-basic-definition-of-depression>A basic definition of depression<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#2-the-impact-of-depression-in-the-united-states>The Cost and Impact of Depression<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#3-7-hard-lessons-ive-learned-about-fighting-depression>7 Lessons I&#8217;ve Learned About Fighting Depression<\/a><ul><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#4-1-there-is-no-silver-bullet>1. There is No Silver Bullet<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#5-2-accept-that-people-won%E2%80%99t-understand-and-that%E2%80%99s-ok>2. Accept That People Won\u2019t Understand (and That\u2019s OK)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#6-3-do-the-exact-opposite-of-what-your-brain-tells-you-to-do>3. Do The Exact Opposite of What Your Brain Tells You To Do<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#7-4-disconnection-is-the-real-killer>4. Disconnection Is The Real Killer<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#8-5-fighting-depression-means-embracing-change>5. Fighting Depression Means Embracing Change<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#9-6-make-the-most-out-of-your-good-days>6. Make The Most Out Of Your Good Days<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/#10-7-seek-therapy-it%E2%80%99s-essential>7. Seek Therapy. It\u2019s Essential<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-what-is-major-depressive-disorder\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Major_Depressive_Disorder\"><\/span>What Is Major Depressive Disorder?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For the purposes of this discussion, the terms \u201cdepression,\u201d \u201cclinical depression,\u201d and \u201c<a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/what-is-major-depression\/\">major depression<\/a>\u201d all mean the same thing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-a-basic-definition-of-depression\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_basic_definition_of_depression\"><\/span>A basic definition of depression<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Depression is a common but dangerous mood disorder caused by a number of biological, situational, cognitive, and environmental factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a diagnosis of major depression, at least <a href=\"http:\/\/psycom.net\/depression-definition-dsm-5-diagnostic-criteria\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">5 of the following symptoms<\/a> must be present for more than two weeks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.<\/li><li>Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.<\/li><li>anger and\/or irritability.<\/li><li>Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.<\/li><li>A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).<\/li><li>Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.<\/li><li>Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.<\/li><li>Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.<\/li><li>Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/suicide-in-the-united-states\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">committing suicide<\/a>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For the diagnosis to be valid, the symptoms can\u2019t be caused by something else (like grief). They must also be severe enough to cause significant disruption in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I also caution you at this point to refrain from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/the-problem-with-mental-health-self-diagnosis\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"637\">self-diagnosis<\/a><\/strong>. Given the seriousness of the disorder, it\u2019s best to have a licensed <a class=\"rank-math-link\" title=\"mental health\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/category\/mental-health\/\">mental health<\/a> professional perform a proper assessment.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As there are a number of conditions whose symptoms mimic those of MDD, it\u2019s in your best interest to have an objective third-party examine you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"lazyload\" title=\"8 Signs of Major Depressive Disorder\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KSClXw4Wfxs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>8 Signs of Major Depressive Disorder. Courtesy, YouTube.<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-the-impact-of-depression-in-the-united-states\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Impact_of_Depression_in_the_United_States\"><\/span>The Impact of Depression in the United States<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As I had previously mentioned, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/what-is-major-depression\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">clinical depression<\/a> affects about 20 million American adults every year. That\u2019s roughly 1 out of every 10 men and women <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depression is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dbsalliance.org\/education\/depression\/statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">leading cause of disability claims<\/a> in the US. Each year, it costs this country 100 billion dollars in terms of healthcare costs and lost productivity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/answers\/mental-health-and-substance-abuse\/does-depression-increase-risk-of-suicide\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Department of Health and Human Services<\/a>, about 60% of all those who have died by <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/suicide-in-the-united-states\/\">suicide <\/a>were also diagnosed with clinical depression.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depression affects men and women, young and old, black and white, rich and poor. While depression can be an inherited trait, there\u2019s no way to predict who it will (or won\u2019t) afflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dbsalliance.org\/education\/depression\/statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">frequently co-occurs<\/a> with a number of other mental and physical disorders. Some of these include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Eating Disorders, like Anorexia<\/li><li>Diabetes and Cancer<\/li><li>Heart Disease<\/li><li>Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/how-to-help-an-addict\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Substance Use Disorders<\/a><\/li><li>Parkinson\u2019s Disease<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you struggle with depression, you\u2019re not alone. And despite what you may have been told, <strong>having depression doesn\u2019t mean that you are defective, or <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/people-who-are-broken\/\">broken<\/a>, or weak<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It actually takes a great deal of strength to fight it, so if anything you are stronger than most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-7-hard-lessons-ive-learned-about-fighting-depression\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Hard_Lessons_Ive_Learned_About_Fighting_Depression\"><\/span>7 Hard Lessons I&#8217;ve Learned About Fighting Depression<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You know that depression is serious, so I\u2019m going to be pretty blunt in this section. This is not the time for coddling. You\u2019re here for answers to a serious question. I\u2019m going to give it to you straight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I owe you nothing less than that.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-lessons-learned-about-fighting-depression.jpg\" alt=\"7 lessons learned about fighting depression\" class=\"wp-image-30950 lazyload\" width=\"600\" height=\"1500\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-lessons-learned-about-fighting-depression.jpg\" alt=\"7 lessons learned about fighting depression\" class=\"wp-image-30950 lazyload\" width=\"600\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-lessons-learned-about-fighting-depression.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-lessons-learned-about-fighting-depression-50x125.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-lessons-learned-about-fighting-depression-120x300.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-lessons-learned-about-fighting-depression-150x375.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-lessons-learned-about-fighting-depression-768x1920.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-lessons-learned-about-fighting-depression-614x1536.jpg 614w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<center><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Share_this_Image_On_Your_Blog\"><\/span>Share this Image On Your Blog!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><textarea onclick=\"this.focus();this.select()\" style=\"width:540px;height:120px\">&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Please include attribution to https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com with this graphic.&lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;br \/&gt;&lt;br \/&gt;&lt;a href=&#8221;&#8221;&gt;&lt;img src=&#8221;&#8221; alt=&#8221;&#8221; 540px=&#8221;&#8221; border=&#8221;0&#8243; \/&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;<\/textarea><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-1-there-is-no-silver-bullet\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_There_is_No_Silver_Bullet\"><\/span>1. There is No Silver Bullet<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you perform a Google search with the query \u201cwhat is the cure for depression,\u201d you\u2019ll get about 212 MILLION search results. Unfortunately, none of them really answer the question. And the reason for that is simple.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no \u201ccure\u201d for depression. There are only ways to manage it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem here is that many of us refuse to accept that there is no silver bullet for depression, so we waste years looking for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take medication for example. How many people do you know who are on antidepressant medications but are still depressed? Perhaps that describes you, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Antidepressant medications were never intended to be taken as a single remedy for clinical depression. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3918025\/#:~:text=In%20this%20meta%2Danalysis%2C%20we,%2C%20panic%20disorder%2C%20and%20OCD.\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">The research on this is clear.<\/a> Any proper medication regimen also includes psychotherapy and lifestyle changes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, many who suffer from depression are looking for an easy way to manage their symptoms. I don\u2019t blame them. It\u2019s just that there isn\u2019t anything easy about fighting depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is, you have to hit depression from multiple different angles. <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/why-am-i-still-depressed\/\">No one approach<\/a> is going to get you the results you need. And it&#8217;s going to take a lot of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are some of the things I suggest to my clients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul><li>Start <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/mental-health-benefits-of-dogs\/\" title=\"exercising\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">exercising<\/a><\/li><li>Develop a routine and stick to it<\/li><li>Pay attention to personal hygiene<\/li><li>Avoid isolation<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/a-therapists-guide-to-cognitive-distortions\/\">Challenge negative thoughts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/a-therapists-guide-to-cognitive-distortions\/\">Don&#8217;t self-medicate with drugs<\/a><\/li><li>Make use of social supports<\/li><li>Volunteer<\/li><li>Follow a sleep schedule<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul><li>Start a hobby or rekindle an old one<\/li><li>Avoid depressing movies and music, and stay off <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facebook-depression-a-simple-but-complete-guide\/\" title=\"social media\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">social media<\/a><\/li><li>Take a close look at your diet<\/li><li>Avoid people, places, and things that make your depression worse.<\/li><li>Self-care, self-care, self-care<\/li><li>Discuss medication options with your doctor<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The list goes on and on. But, if you do start doing most of these things, I promise you\u2019ll see a reduction in symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-2-accept-that-people-won%E2%80%99t-understand-and-that%E2%80%99s-ok\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Accept_That_People_Wont_Understand_and_Thats_OK\"><\/span>2. Accept That People Won\u2019t Understand (and That\u2019s OK)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/j.1440-1614.2006.01741.x\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Stigma is real.<\/a> People who struggle with depression are shunned by family and friends. Employers don\u2019t want to hire them and potential suitors don\u2019t want to be with them. As a result, it\u2019s not surprising that you&#8217;d want the people closest to you to understand what you\u2019re going through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only problem is that they won\u2019t. Not really, at least. Not in the way you\u2019ll want them to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s so much bad information out there. There\u2019s also a lot of ignorance. Well-meaning but uninformed people will tell you that you need Jesus, or an attitude change, or to look on the bright side.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/dumb-platitudes-in-therapy\/\">platitudes aren&#8217;t helpful<\/a>. They just end up making you angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, we waste our time and energy trying to get people to understand that which they cannot. If someone does not have direct experience, with depression, it\u2019s almost impossible for them to truly understand what a nightmare it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It took me a long time to reach that conclusion. But when I finally accepted the truth, it ironically did wonders for my depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My advice? Stop worrying so much about what other people think. Fighting depression is hard enough. Neither you nor your depression owes anyone an explanation, and that\u2019s okay.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-3-do-the-exact-opposite-of-what-your-brain-tells-you-to-do\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Do_The_Exact_Opposite_of_What_Your_Brain_Tells_You_To_Do\"><\/span>3. Do The Exact Opposite of What Your Brain Tells You To Do<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Depression lies. Bold-faced, and with gusto. Don\u2019t listen to it. Don\u2019t negotiate it with it. Don\u2019t try to understand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just do the exact opposite of what it tells you to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Does your brain tell you to isolate? Go spend time with your friends.<\/li><li>Does your brain tell you to sleep all day? Force yourself to get up, take a shower, and get some exercise. A 15-minute walk will do wonders.<\/li><li>Does your brain tell you that you are worthless? Write a gratitude list instead.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Fighting depression requires you to stand up to it. I know how hard it is. I really do. You still have to do it. Because if you don\u2019t, depression will find a way to win.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-4-disconnection-is-the-real-killer\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Disconnection_Is_The_Real_Killer\"><\/span>4. Disconnection Is The Real Killer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If depression has a motto, it\u2019s \u201cdivide and conquer.\u201d If you are fighting depression, you know that the urge to isolate is overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s by design.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can judge a person\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/mental-health-and-oral-health\/\">mental health by the degree to which they are connected<\/a> to the society in which they live.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we foster healthy <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/category\/relationships\/\" title=\"relationships\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">relationships<\/a> with others (and ourselves), we tend not to be depressed. If we isolate or find ourselves enmeshed in toxic, unhealthy, or one-sided relationships, then it\u2019s just a matter of time before depression rears its ugly head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Healthy connections are one of the keys to fighting depression.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a TED Talk on the subject. Don\u2019t take my word for it. Listen to what this guy has to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"lazyload\" title=\"This could be why you&#039;re depressed or anxious | Johann Hari\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MB5IX-np5fE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>This could be why you&#8217;re depressed or anxious | Johann Hari. Courtesy, YouTube.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Our relationships define us, in both good ways and bad. As you progress in your recovery, take a hard look at yours. Doesn\u2019t matter who they are. Friends. Family. Bosses. Co-workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easier said than done, but fighting depression means choosing carefully who you allow in your life. For better or for worse, your mental health depends on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-5-fighting-depression-means-embracing-change\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Fighting_Depression_Means_Embracing_Change\"><\/span>5. Fighting Depression Means Embracing Change<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I come from a 12-Step background. In the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, you\u2019ll hear a saying over and over again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cThe only thing you have to change is everything.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Talk about a bitter pill to swallow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it\u2019s true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depression is not just a matter of biochemical imbalance. It\u2019s not just a matter of regulating neurotransmitters. That\u2019s only part of the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depression is often a sign that something is wrong in our lives. And unless we do something about that \u201csomething,\u201d we\u2019re going to stay depressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I know what I\u2019m saying. It is often a gargantuan hurdle to make even small changes in your life. It\u2019s another story entirely when you\u2019re talking about family, or work, or chronic illness, or trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nothing about this is easy. But that doesn\u2019t make what I\u2019m saying any less true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no such thing as a pill that fixes a crappy life. While medication and <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/category\/therapy\/\" title=\"therapy\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">therapy<\/a> work wonders, we often have no choice but to abandon the people, places, and things in our lives that contribute to our depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Do you work at a job you hate? It may be time to look for another one.<\/li><li>Are your relationships unfilling, abusive, or otherwise toxic? It may be time to make a change.<\/li><li>Is your life devoid of direction and meaning? If so, you might want to start doing something meaningful.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In my work with clients, I\u2019ve discovered that hope is one of the most powerful antidotes to clinical depression. To that end, I always encourage them to set goals and to develop a plan to fight their depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s hard to overstate how effective this is. Plans give us hope. Even if it\u2019s not a great plan, it\u2019s still better than nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What is your plan for fighting depression? If you can\u2019t answer that question, that may be part of the reason why you\u2019re still depressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-6-make-the-most-out-of-your-good-days\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Make_The_Most_Out_Of_Your_Good_Days\"><\/span>6. Make The Most Out Of Your Good Days<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Depression is a filthy monster that often overstays its welcome. While it\u2019s certainly possible to experience nonstop depression for weeks and even months at a time, sometimes the waters do recede. When they do, it\u2019s important that you take advantage of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve all been there. You&#8217;ve been fighting depression for months. Then, you wake up one morning and suddenly you realize you can hear the birds chirping. The sky is blue. You have energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take advantage of the reprieve. You don\u2019t know how long it will last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the problems with clinical depression is that we get into the habit of being miserable. Then, when the fog lifts, we feel an overwhelming desire to stay stuck in a rut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve learned you have to push past this, difficult as it may seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reconnect with friends and family. Get some exercise. Go to a department store and buy yourself a new shirt. Start a hobby. Do something. Do anything. Take advantage of the time you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea here is to build forward momentum. Depression is fueled by indecision and despair. Don\u2019t pour gas on the fire. Douse it by making the most of your good days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-7-seek-therapy-it%E2%80%99s-essential\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Seek_Therapy_Its_Essential\"><\/span>7. Seek Therapy. It\u2019s Essential<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Good <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/how-to-get-results-in-therapy\/\" title=\"psychotherapy\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">psychotherapy<\/a> is essential for the treatment of depression. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/depression\/guide\/treatment-resistant-depression-psychotherapy#1\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Research on this is quite clear<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Often, my clients report a decrease in depressive symptoms after a few sessions. Why? Because it\u2019s awesome to have someone you can talk to about your depression. We keep so many things bottled up. Talking about depression has a way of relieving the pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But many people see cost as a legitimate barrier to therapy. I see this notion expressed all over the internet. Perhaps you\u2019ve said it a time or two yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cI can\u2019t afford therapy.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is, you can\u2019t afford <strong>NOT <\/strong>to get therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I used to believe this nonsense myself. Then I began to realize that it was just the depression talking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider the consequences of untreated depression. Your suffers. Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/category\/relationships\/\">relationships<\/a> suffer. Your finances suffer. And, of course, your mental health suffers, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depression is a straight-up disease, one that is potentially deadly. If you are under the impression that therapy is too expensive, or not worth it, I need you to seriously rethink that assumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First of all, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5451128\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">psychotherapy is incredibly effective<\/a>. When you combine it with proper medication and lifestyle changes, your depression is all but guaranteed to diminish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second, don\u2019t ever assume that therapy is too expensive. If you know what to look for, you can sometimes even get good therapy for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"11-here-are-some-actionable-tips\">Here are some actionable tips.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>If you have insurance, call your provider and ask about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/category\/mental-health\/\">mental health<\/a> services. Many insurance plans have reasonable copays for therapy. Mine, for example, is 25 bucks. That\u2019s a steal.<\/li><li>Many private practices offer sliding scale fees, or financial aid. Some of them have scholarships. Call providers and ask. Many of them will work with you.<\/li><li>If you are in college, chances are your school offers free services to students.<\/li><li>When therapists are in grad school, they have to do internships. Often, they are assigned to agencies where they can\u2019t bill for services, as they are not yet licensed. What ends up happening is that they do a ton of pro bono (free) counseling services. You might literally pay nothing. To find out, start contacting agencies in your area.<\/li><li>If you work, there\u2019s a decent chance that your employer offers something called an EAP. That stands for Employee Assistance Program. This is a free service for employees, Usually, you\u2019ll be eligible for 3-5 therapy sessions. Your company can always authorize more if need be. Go to your human <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/resources\/\" title=\"resources\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">resources<\/a> department and ask them.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f0f8ff\"><strong>You should also consider taking advantage of <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/betterhelp-counseling-review\/\" title=\"online counseling\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">online counseling<\/a>. I\u2019ve used it myself and it\u2019s terrific. It\u2019s not free, but it is considerably less expensive than traditional face-to-face psychotherapy. <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow rel=&quot;sponsored&quot;\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"BetterHelp\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/recommends\/betterhelp\/\" data-shortcode=\"true\">Try BetterHelp today and get 10% off your membership.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please, rid yourself of the notion that therapy is too expensive. It\u2019s not. You will have to do some work to find low-cost or free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/category\/therapy\/\">therapy<\/a>, but I assure you that it does exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start with a simple Google search. Type in \u201ccounseling services near me.\u201d A list of providers in your area will appear in the search results. Give each one of them a call, and don\u2019t stop until you\u2019ve made an appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"lazyload\" title=\"Depression Treatment Options: A Quick-Start Guide: What to Do If You&#039;re Diagnosed With Depression\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lAdp3nT4BFA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>Depression Treatment Options: A Quickstart Guide-What to do if you&#8217;re diagnosed with Depression. Courtesy, YouTube.<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"12-final-thoughts\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span>Final Thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Fighting depression isn\u2019t easy. But then again, suffering from depression isn\u2019t easy, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For years, I had a passive, hopeless attitude towards my depression. It damn near killed me. I just sort of waited for things to change, but of course they never did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was only after I made a decision to fight it that things got better. It was hard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it was worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t want you to suffer as I did. There\u2019s no reason. Depression may feel like a deep dark hole that you\u2019ll never climb out of, but it only feels that way.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is, you can learn to manage and even overcome your depression. It took me years to learn these lessons, but you don&#8217;t have to do things the hard way. You\u2019ve been fighting depression long enough. It&#8217;s time to start fighting with the right weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-uagb-section uagb-section__wrap uagb-section__background-color uagb-block-540ad93d\"><div class=\"uagb-section__overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"uagb-section__inner-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-call-to-action uagb-block-73105e3b wp-block-button\"><div class=\"uagb-cta__wrap\"><h5 class=\"uagb-cta__title\">Private Practice  with No Overhead and No Shortage of Clients.<br><\/h5><p class=\"uagb-cta__desc\">Join\u00a0the more than 34,000 full and part-time therapists who are earning more with BetterHelp! Supplement your income, or build your own practice from scratch. Bonuses &amp; Incentives for High Performers! <strong>Sponsored Advertisement<\/strong><\/p><\/div><div class=\"uagb-cta__buttons\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hasofferstracking.betterhelp.com\/aff_c?offer_id=20&amp;aff_id=1614\" class=\"uagb-cta__button-link-wrapper wp-block-button__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Join BetterHelp<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"13-references-\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"References\"><\/span><strong>References<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/persistent-depressive-disorder-dysthymic-disorder.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">NIMH \u00bb Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymic Disorder)<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/major-depression.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">NIMH \u00bb Major Depression<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dbsalliance.org\/education\/depression\/statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Depression Statistics<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/psycom.net\/depression-definition-dsm-5-diagnostic-criteria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Depression Definition and DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5451128\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">The Effects of Psychotherapy for Major Depressive Disorder on Daily Mood and Functioning: A Longitudinal Experience Sampling Study<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2748674\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Cognitive therapy vs. medications for depression: Treatment outcomes and neural mechanisms<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/depression\/guide\/treatment-resistant-depression-psychotherapy#1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Psychotherapy for Depression<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK361016\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Depression: How effective are antidepressants? &#8211; InformedHealth.org &#8211; NCBI Bookshelf<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3918025\/#:~:text=In%20this%20meta%2Danalysis%2C%20we,%2C%20panic%20disorder%2C%20and%20OCD.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication in depression and anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/j.1440-1614.2006.01741.x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Stigma about Depression and its Impact on Help-Seeking Intentions<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Depression is a serious mental illness that affects millions. I&#8217;ve been fighting depression for years, so I&#8217;m going to teach you 7 things I&#8217;ve learned about it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":30895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","ub_ctt_via":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[781,16],"tags":[760,972,825,29,30],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Randy Withers, LCMHC","author_link":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/author\/randy-withers\/"},"modified_by":"Randy Withers, LCMHC","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression.jpg",1600,900,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-150x84.jpg",150,84,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-768x432.jpg",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-400x225.jpg",400,225,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression-1536x864.jpg",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression.jpg",1600,900,false],"tiny":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression.jpg",60,34,false],"thumbnail-medium":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression.jpg",480,270,false],"thumbnail-square":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression.jpg",480,270,false],"thumbnail-portrait":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression.jpg",480,270,false],"thumbnail-large":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-Hard-lessons-Ive-Learned-About-Fighting-Depression.jpg",720,405,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Randy Withers, LCMHC","author_link":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/author\/randy-withers\/"},"uagb_comment_info":3,"uagb_excerpt":"Depression is a serious mental illness that affects millions. I've been fighting depression for years, so I'm going to teach you 7 things I've learned about it.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30887"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30887"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30887\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}