Depression Blogs That Provide Support—And Additional Media
If you're experiencing depression, it can be easy to feel like you’re alone. However, depression is a common mental health condition that can affect people from all walks of life. According to the American Psychiatric Association, depression affects 6.7% of the population per year.
If you live with depression, you might feel like your family and friends don’t understand exactly what you're going through or why your feelings are occurring. Also, you might not know exactly where to turn, which can make a frustrating and emotional situation even harder. However, in recent years, the internet has made it easier to find the support you need while you work on overcoming your mental health conditions. There are numerous depression blogs, books, and podcasts addressing this topic.
Finding the right one may help you feel understood while also allowing you to discover evidence-based tips you can use as you work toward overcoming depression.
Below are seven blogs about depression that provide support and personal experiences of others who live with this disorder. Some are from professional organizations, and others are from people who have experienced this disorder themselves. This may allow you to get professional opinions, read about personal experiences, and receive advice about handling mental health conditions.
NAMI stands for National Alliance on Mental Illness. This is a nonprofit organization that works to support individuals who are experiencing mental illnesses. While NAMI’s blog isn’t exclusively dedicated to depression, it allows you to filter the blog posts for those that focus on this condition and related topics.
You can find posts that aim to help you understand what depression is and how to recognize it, along with how to get help. There are also posts about media portraying this condition, tips for improving relationships, and tips for living with a mental health disorder.
You can find the blog at: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog
Wings of Madness
Wings of Madness has been around for more than 25 years, having been founded in 1995. It can serve as a resource for both individuals who are living with depression and those who love someone who is experiencing this disorder. You can find out about the latest treatment options, in addition to learning important tips that you can use as you seek assistance or help a loved one to get the help that they need.
Visit the blog at: https://www.wingofmadness.com/
The Blurt Foundation exists to help individuals affected by depression. As soon as you arrive at the website for Blurt, you see the words "Increasing Awareness and Understanding of Depression." The writers work to help educate people with this disorder, so they have the tools they need to forge ahead on the potentially long journey and work toward recovery. You can also find content on how to support loved ones living with this disorder.
Find the blog at: https://www.blurtitout.org/
OC87 Recovery Diaries
OC87 Recovery Diaries offers stories from people who have overcome a variety of mental health conditions, including depression. This may serve as a great way to see that you aren't alone and to find out what has worked for others as they worked to overcome their mental health conditions.
Read recovery stories at: https://oc87recoverydiaries.org/
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
This blog can serve as a valuable resource to spread awareness and support those with anxiety and/or depression.
Check out the ADAA blog at: https://adaa.org/blog
This blog was created by a runner and health professional who experiences depression. It has won multiple awards for being one of the best websites about depression out there. Through this blog, the author intends to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and increase awareness of treatments available.
Check it out at: https://depressionmarathon.blogspot.com
Patrice M. Foster (Teenage Depression and Secrets)
If you are a parent of a child or adolescent who is experiencing anxiety and/or depression, this blog may be a valuable resource for you. Written by a registered nurse with more than 30 years of experience, this blog emphasizes teenage depression and stressors that can affect the mental health of adolescents. There are plenty of articles on how to support teenagers experiencing this disorder as well as a comments section where you can hear from other readers.
Read the blog: https://patricemfoster.com/blog
Helpful books about depression and other mental health conditions
If you prefer reading books rather than blog posts, there are some books on depression that may offer you insight into the disorder and help you make progress in your journey. There are books for individuals who are diagnosed with depression, people who are trying to understand the condition, and those trying to support others who are living with it.
In his book, Stephen Ilardi discusses his theory on why we are seeing more depression in the modern age than there was in past generations. His findings led him to identify six areas that he believes we need to focus on more to naturally overcome depression:
- Brain Food
- Don't Think, Do
- Antidepressant Exercise
- Let There Be Light
- Get Connected
- Habits of Healthy Sleep
His program has high success rates and has been found to even help people who haven’t found relief through traditional medication.
Dr. Alex Korb wrote this book to teach others about the neuroscience behind depression that causes people to move on a downward spiral. In this book, Dr. Korb aims to help people rewire their brains and begin an upward spiral of recovery for brain and body.
This book was written by four mental health professionals who explain why people often become more depressed when they try to think their way out of being depressed. They combine Eastern traditions with cognitive therapy and discuss ways to avoid mental patterns that can lead to despair.
Podcasts about experiencing depression and finding support options
If you’re more interested in podcasts than in articles and books, there are many podcasts on mental health. The following are just a few:
This podcast is hosted by comedian John Moe. Depression is a serious condition that can affect anyone, including comedians. In this podcast, Moe interviews other comedians who have experienced this disorder to provide insight and let people know they are not alone in their experience of depression.
The Brain Warrior's Way
This podcast is hosted by Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen. They work to explain the neuroscience behind things like depression, anxiety, ADHD, memory loss, love, and more. Their podcast also aims to provide practical tips for “building the best brain possible.”
The Hardcore Self-Help Project with Duff the Psych
This podcast is hosted by psychologist Dr. Robert Duff, who aims to use his expertise to help people, but without what he calls “psychobabble." You can find episodes on a variety of topics, including anxiety, mental health, and relationships.
Getting help with mental health conditions
If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, it may help you to learn more about the disorder and hear encouraging stories from others through depression blogs, books, and podcasts. However, that alone might not be enough to give you the help that you deserve. These media formats may be helpful to use along with traditional forms of treatment, such as medication and therapy. If you don’t feel well enough for traditional in-office therapy, you may benefit from online therapy.
With online therapy, you can choose the most comfortable way to communicate with a therapist, whether by phone, live chat, or videoconference. You can also contact your therapist at any time through in-app messaging, and they’ll respond as soon as they can.
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can be an effective way to work through mental health conditions, and it can be provided online. CBT may help you identify and challenge inaccurate thoughts and then replace them with more positive thoughts. Research has shown that online CBT is just as effective as that done in person. One study published in eClinicalMedicine (part of The Lancet Discovery Science) concluded that online CBT was “at least as effective” as traditional in-person CBT.
Takeaway
Because of its complex nature, there is no leading cause of this disorder. Mental health professionals believe it results from a combination of biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
Mental health stigma can create inaccurate perceptions and beliefs about people with depression. Some people that experience this disorder face labels like “crazy” and are told they “just need to get over it.” These types of misnomers can create significant difficulties for people striving to cope with this and other mental health issues.
Severity of depression varies between individuals, and everyone’s experience is unique. That said, major depressive disorder (MDD) is sometimes considered to be one of the more serious types because of its chronic nature and severity of symptoms. MDD is also challenging to treat because it is often comorbid with other severe mental illnesses such as borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and more.
While they may not prevent depression, there are various activities one can include in daily life to serve as coping skills and help lessen its impact on well-being. A few of these include:
- Participating in outdoor activities like reading, walking, or riding a bike in the park. Swimming and gardening are also helpful for some.
- Engaging in a favorite hobby like cooking, arts and crafts, or gaming.
- Participating in recreational activities outside the home that stimulate thought. For example, one may go out to dinner, the cinema, or an art gallery. These types of activities are an excellent way to socialize with friends and family or like-minded people through a mutual interest group.
- Some people find it helpful to read books, listen to podcasts, or read depression blogs focused on recovery.
- Engaging with your community in a service capacity can also be effective for managing this disorder. This may mean volunteering for an organization or social enterprise that aligns with your values.
- It may be helpful to connect with others who are experiencing similar mental health conditions. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website is a good resource for comprehensive information on support groups either online or in your community. It also has a library of articles aiming to educate people about mental illness.
NAMI may put people from specific groups in touch with social justice advocates for communities that are often underrepresented in mental healthcare, including, but not limited to, the LGBTQ+ and black communities. There is also information available for young people and adolescents experiencing teenage depression.
What activities improve mental health?
There are many forms of self-care activities that can help you manage stress and assist you if you’re feeling sad. These include getting plenty of quality rest, regular exercise, and a healthy diet. Many people choose to engage in a mindfulness practice like yoga or meditation to cultivate better mental health.
As of yet, there is no cure for this disorder. However, it can be effectively managed with time, support, and help from a mental health professional.
It could take weeks, months, or even years before notable relief from symptoms. Again, this might vary due to each person’s unique experience and treatment plan.
The most commonly used clinical interventions for this disorder include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication.
If you’re facing depression, it’s essential to reach out to a mental health professional for help. It is possible to overcome this condition with time, patience, and adherence to a treatment plan. Many people also find that practicing self-care and staying connected with others plays an integral part in managing depression on a day-to-day basis.
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