Depression Help: Practicing Gratitude

Depression impacts the way we feel, think, and behave. Oftentimes, we experience low mood, feelings of worthlessness, inability to concentrate, and loss of interest in activities. Our thought patterns become negative and then we feel more depressed.

Coping with depression can feel overwhelming, but little by little, you can build a skillset to help you manage these symptoms.

Part of depression recovery is building daily practices to improve your mental well-being. One of these practices is gratitude. Practicing gratitude does not mean ignoring your challenging feelings or faking happiness. Instead, gratitude helps us turn our attention towards things in our life that are going well while also acknowledging that there are things in life that aren’t going well. Both exist at the same time.

Take out a piece of paper and write down five things that went well today. These things don’t have to be big. A good cup of coffee and listening to your favorite song all count. Read your list over again and remember how all of those moments felt. Do it again every day this week (remember, doing these things one time will likely not help you feel better for long. Consistent action is what we’re aiming for). Notice how you feel after the activity and again at the end of the week.

Depression is a serious mental health condition and we recommend speaking with a professional (counselor or psychiatrist) to discuss how to best help you. If you need help, please contact our office today.