Social Support and Depression

Aug 21, 2016, 04:59 PM

Just as an individual, I think I have significantly depreciated the impact of social support and depression. I do not have a support system, I live alone -- and spend almost 100% of my time alone. I socialize at work, but nothing more than typical conversation.

I do have 2-3 close friends, and from time to time we talk, and I realized spending time with other people you care about can really do a lot in terms of mood. It is the only factor that I've not really "done all I know to do" with in terms of treatment of depression. I have a psychiatrist, I have a therapist -- I spend most of my days alone, in my head. There are days where I don't even utter a single word out loud. I dip into lows where I go weeks without talking to anyone. Medicine only goes so far, so does therapy... recently I've kind of hit a brick wall and I'm trying to figure out an answer... how can I feel better? I suffer from dysthymia and reccuring bouts of MDD. I know where I am, and where I need to be... but have no idea how to get from point A to point B.

Anyway, my point with all this is -- personally I've been struggling very much recently with my depression and these last few months have been some of the worst. However I do think there is something to reaching out and just being with someone for a while. Let's say being with a close friend isn't something plausible -- something I love to do is laugh. I love watching vlogs or comedians and just taking time to laugh, especially with people with the same humor and tastes. If I spent a lazy sunday laughing.. it couldn't have been that bad, right?

The "take away" from this was simply that you definitely want to truly consider all aspects of your depression and things you do to combat it.. you may find places where you can find strength and solace instead of sadness and tears.