Echos of despair: how to overcome thoughts of depression that can hold you back emotionally. Just a heads up, this post may get a bit heavy.
Of course, I’m no stranger to that. My motto is to be open and direct. If I can help, I will! Remember, you’re not alone.
For those who may not know much about depressive thoughts, let’s explore what they mean.
Depression is a very common issue. About 1 in 5 adults will face symptoms of depression at some point in their lives. It’s the most frequent reason people visit their doctor.
In severe cases, depression can become life-threatening, leading to thoughts of death and suicide.
Research supports the idea that negative thoughts can both trigger and keep depression going. Additionally, being depressed can influence how easily positive and negative thoughts come to mind.
What Causes Negative Thoughts in the Brain?
Echos of despair: how to overcome deep feelings of sadness.
Negative thoughts can come from many places, like going through a tough experience.
Scientists are discovering that some mental health disorders play a big part in creating these dark thoughts.
Right now, researchers have found three specific conditions that often affect our thinking.
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)
A third mental health disorder related to negative thinking is obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD.
This condition is marked by recurring unwanted thoughts.
As a result, a person feels compelled to do certain actions (often small and unhelpful) to avoid harm or problems.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is a condition that can lead to negative thinking.
People with GAD constantly worry and feel anxious about all parts of their lives, even when everything seems fine.
Depression
Furthermore, depression is a mental health condition that brings strong feelings of sadness, tiredness, and hopelessness about the future.
It can also cause physical symptoms like low energy, less appetite, and sleeping more than usual.
Other effects include trouble concentrating and, in some cases, self-harm. It’s easy to see how depression relates to negative thoughts.
What are Examples of Depressive Thoughts?
A person with depression may have thoughts such as:
- Firstly, ‘I’m a failure. ‘
- ‘It’s my fault. ‘
- ‘Nothing good ever happens to me. ‘
- Fourthly, ‘I’m worthless. ‘
- ‘There is nothing good in my life. ‘
- ‘Things will never change. ‘
- ‘Life’s not worth living. ‘
- Additionally, ‘People would be better off without me. ‘
- ‘I just hate myself’
- ‘I feel like crying all the time’
- Lastly, ‘I am so tired and can’t get interested in anything.’
Depression Intrusive Thoughts
Echos of despair: how to overcome depression
Intrusive thoughts can be very frustrating. It’s like a tape that keeps playing in your head. These thoughts can be disturbing and often repeat themselves.
When I lived alone for a few years, I had very dark thoughts and felt lost. I thought I was worthless and didn’t deserve to live, and over time, I began to believe it. I ended up in the hospital several times.
No medication seemed to help with these thoughts, and it felt like they would always be there. It was not a life I wanted to live.
Six years ago, after my last suicide attempt, I realized in the hospital that I didn’t want to live that way anymore. I decided to take action. I changed my mindset and refused to see myself as a victim. I took back control of my life.
Bipolar Thoughts and Feelings
Having bipolar thoughts and feelings can be very unpredictable. One moment you feel amazing, and the next, you dislike yourself.
When I felt good, I often spent money I didn’t have, especially on music that helped show my feelings when I couldn’t express them.
When I was feeling low, I would sleep a lot to avoid facing my sadness and self-hate.
If I could choose, I would always pick the happy times. Who wouldn’t want to feel great? It’s more enjoyable to be around someone who is feeling good.
Depression and Anxiety Thoughts
Echos of despair: how to overcome depression mixed with anxiety.
When anxiety hit me, I felt depressed and anxious all the time (before I started medication). The anxiety took it to a whole new level.
I had never experienced anxiety like this before. I couldn’t sit still and felt like I wanted to crawl out of my skin. I was scared to talk to anyone, even my family. Eventually, I stopped talking to everyone.
The mix of both feelings made me feel like giving up, and I tried to do that several times. I’m grateful to God for bringing me back each time.
Now, I’m in a better place. I no longer have suicidal thoughts, wild mood swings, or anxiety. I’m thankful to God for that.
Depression and Homicidal Thoughts
This is where things took a darker turn. At my lowest point, I started having thoughts of harming others. I believed people were trying to kill me because of my schizophrenia.
Because of this, I thought everyone I met was out to get me. Living with schizophrenia only made it worse.
There was a time when I was so overwhelmed that I ran from the police, not realizing they were looking for me. I had called my therapist, and she ended up calling them.
I reached a point while driving where I thought I might veer into oncoming traffic and hurt someone. I convinced myself it was okay because I believed everyone was out to get me. My thinking was completely twisted.
If I crossed that line, I would have to die too. I’m just thankful I never harmed anyone because that would be a hell worse than my mental illnesses.
Thoughts of Death and Dying Depression
Echos of despair: how to overcome thoughts of depression and death. At that time, I often thought about death.
It’s surprising how depression can change the way you see life.
My life felt empty. I just wanted to escape the darkness I was in. Because of my distorted thinking, I thought that dying was the only answer.
Gradually, I realized that life could be good again if I changed how I thought. So, day by day, life started to improve. And I’m thankful to still be here today.
How To Stop Depressive Thoughts!
Thought Reframing
Thought reframing, or cognitive restructuring, is a method that helps people notice and change negative thoughts.
It can improve mental health, relationships, and problem-solving skills.
Here are some tips for thought reframing:
- Identify the thought: By all means, recognize what your mind is telling you, and whether it’s based in fact.
- Question the thought: Ask yourself questions like, “How likely is the outcome I’m worried about?” or “Are there other explanations?”
- Create balanced thoughts: By the same token, try to challenge and replace automatic thoughts with healthier alternatives.
- Acknowledge and validate your emotions: Recognize that your thoughts and feelings might not always be truthful, and validate all emotions.
- Practice: Besides, the more you practice, the more natural it will become.
Thoughts to Overcome Depression
Echos of despair: how to overcome negative thoughts through changing how you think. As I said before, you need to change your mindset.
Say “I can” instead of “I can’t.” Or “I will” instead of “I won’t.”
You might be wondering, “That sounds good, but where do I start?” Start with the “I can” phrases. Pick one and repeat it in your mind over and over.
It really works (I experienced it myself); you start to believe it. Then, move on to the next one. You’ll notice a shift in how you see yourself.
Soon, those “I can’t” thoughts will fade away for good.
I should also mention that meditation has helped me over the years. I’ve practiced it on and off, but I’m committed now. I’ve had ups and downs, but they aren’t as intense as before.
Motivational Thoughts for Depression
Repeat those mantras again and again to strengthen your new inspiration. Before long, you’ll have motivational thoughts frequently.
The negative thoughts will fade away. That was the most important thing for me. I didn’t want to have any more thoughts about hurting myself or others.
I believe meditation is a big part of my recovery. It has helped me relax and focus on my feelings. But I also needed to stop avoiding them.
I learned to relax my body using a muscle relaxation technique before each meditation. You begin with your left leg and move all the way up to the top of your head.
You’ll be surprised at how well this works. Just think relaxing thoughts as you go through each part of your body.
Ketamine Treatment for Suicidal Thoughts
Echos of despair: how to overcome depression thoughts through Ketamine.
Treating suicidal thoughts in people with depression is a big challenge for doctors and emergency rooms.
Choosing the right medication is very important. Ketamine has been found to quickly lower suicidal thoughts, but it’s not clear how strong this effect is.
More and more studies show that ketamine and esketamine can quickly help reduce suicidal thoughts in depressed individuals who are at risk of suicide.
There are also research findings that show even patients who have not responded to other treatments can benefit from ketamine, and that medium to long-term use is effective for many of them.
Help is available
Speak with someone today
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Languages: English, Spanish
Hours: Available 24 hours
Meanwhile, consider the following:
Get help. Being depressed is miserable and impacts all aspects of life, including your relationships and long-term health. If you think you may be depressed, see a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Set realistic goals in light of the depression and don’t take on too much.
Break large tasks into small ones. Set priorities, and do what you can as you can.
Try to be with other people and confide in someone. Given that, it’s usually better than being alone and secretive.
Do things that make you feel better. Going to a movie, gardening, or taking part in religious, social, or other activities may help. Doing something nice for someone else can also help you feel better.
Get regular exercise. Studies show exercise can improve mood.
Expect your mood to get better slowly, not right away. Feeling better takes time.
Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
Stay away from alcohol and drugs. These can often make depression worse.
It’s best to delay important decisions until the depression has lifted. Before deciding to make a big change—such as changing jobs or getting married or divorced—discuss it with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.
Remember: People don’t “snap out of” a depression. But they can feel a little better day-by-day.
Try to be patient and focus on the positives. This may help replace the negative thinking that is part of the depression. Therefore, the negative thoughts will fade as your depression responds to treatment.
Sum It All Up
Echos of despair: how to overcome depression thoughts so you can live a happy life again. In short, depressive thoughts are really tough!
They can take your life in a direction you didn’t want to go.
I have had a difficult time, but the important thing is that I made it through. There is hope ahead. I never thought I would say that.
“I’m a true survivor of depression.” It feels good to say this. I know you can feel the same. For those facing depressive thoughts, there is hope.
You need to look within yourself to find it. Once you find that hope, hold on tight. Embrace it. Your new life begins there 🙂 Until next time…
Articles About Depressive Thoughts
-Learning About Thought Reframing
-Ketamine can be transformative for people with suicidal thoughts — if they can access it
https://www.statnews.com/2023/09/07/ketamine-suicidal-thoughts/
-Depression: Stop Negative Thoughts
Have a Good One,
Cindee Murphy
” One Voice Through Depressive Thoughts, I Am Still Alive Today” 🙂
“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.” – Laurell K. Hamilton
“I wanted to talk about it. Damn it. I wanted to scream. Regardless, I wanted to yell. I wanted to shout about it. But all I could do was whisper, “I’m fine.” – Unknown.
“Depression is living in a body that fights to survive, with a mind that tries to die.” – Unknown
“I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless, and they don’t want anyone else to feel like that.” – Robin Williams
Interesting Posts
Understanding the Motives: Why do People Commit Suicide?(Opens in a new browser tab)
Becoming A Psychiatric Patient(Opens in a new browser tab)
The Many Faces of Depression: Types and Symptoms(Opens in a new browser tab)
Unlocking the Potential of Ketamine Therapy for Severe Depression(Opens in a new browser tab)
Suicide(Opens in a new browser tab)
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