Depression is one of the most common. mental health problems In America. It is a mental health illness characterized by ongoing sadness, hopelessness, and negative mood.
The World Health Organization estimates that depression affects 350 million people worldwide. Although depression and other mental health problems are widespread, stigmas still surround them. According to researchonly 25% of adults experiencing mental health symptoms think others have compassion for people struggling with mental health issues.
The stigma surrounding mental health illnesses can cause embarrassment and embarrassment for many. That prevents them from seeking the desired help and treatment. It can also make associated symptoms worse.
While our society is making progress in terms of how we perceive mental health illnesses, there is a long way to go before people with mental health problems experience shame and guilt.
Ways to stop feeling embarrassed about your depression
You are not the only one who may experience a mental health condition. You’re also not the only one who may experience shame and embarrassment in relation to your condition, but you don’t have to keep feeling that way.
Shame and embarrassment are like a spiral. It can make you feel like you’re not fully present in a situation. Here are five ways to stop feeling ashamed about your depression:
1) Write it down
Writing or even thinking freely about your shame could be almost as helpful if you hesitate to address it with someone else, even a compassionate therapist.
Writing is a simple approach to cultivating mindfulness and creating a healthy distance from negative thought patterns. Bottom line: Writing down your experience helps you be more in the moment and more aware of the reality of your circumstances.
For example: You can write a few paragraphs describing how you felt when someone mentioned your depression, or your coworker pointed out that it’s just lazy.
After 20 minutes of typing, you’ll almost certainly be able to take a step back and view the experience more objectively. You may find that while it may not seem as bad or terrible the next day, you almost certainly won’t feel that way in a week, a month, or a year.
2) Ignorance is not bliss
A lots of pop culture artists, actors and musicians have opened up about their mental health problems. They do so in recognition that ignorance is neither the key nor the treatment for mental health problems.
When we ignore emotions, thoughts and behaviors associated with what harms our well-being, we fall into a deep spiral.
However, you will discover something unexpected if you reflect, discuss, or write about what made you feel ashamed. You start to feel a lot less embarrassed after the first few minutes of talking about it, or even after the first few seconds.
3) Be compassionate
We are often much harder on ourselves than on loved ones, close friends, or strangers. Try to be kind to yourself if you criticize your depression. What would you say if someone else was going through the same thing?
the nature of depression it can make it very difficult to practice self-compassion. Self-care is simply not a high priority due to negative thoughts, depressed mood, exhaustion, and lack of motivation.
Despite how difficult it may be, admit that you have problems. Allow yourself to heal without the pressure of having to meet unreasonably high standards. Every day, no matter how insignificant they may seem, remember to rejoice in your victories.
4) Ignore negative conversations
Some expressions, such as “Get over it” and “Others are worse off than me,” imply that positive thinking is all it takes to treat depression. If that doesn’t happen, you may feel humiliated or even guilty for not thinking highly enough.
Keep in mind that depression has an impact on brain function. You wouldn’t advise someone with high blood pressure to imagine pleasant thoughts to lower her blood pressure, and the same goes for depression. There is never any shame in needing medical treatment for depression to control symptoms.
5) Seek help
While it can be difficult to seek help, especially from a mental health professional, it can be one of the best ways to work on shame and embarrassment. When we have a cold, sometimes we can handle it on our own and feel better.
However, if you have a serious physical illness, you tend to visit a doctor. Similarly, if you’re feeling sad or typically anxious, it’s okay to take care of your own mental health. However, when you notice that these emotions and thoughts are disturbing your day to day, it is a good idea to look for Professional Help.
Put off
When experiencing shame, your natural impulse is to hide unpleasant events, comments, or interactions about depression in the depths of your mind. However, if you’ve ever dealt with crippling humiliation, you know it never helps.
It is important to remember that from time to time we all experience shame and embarrassment about our concerns. However, that does not determine what our lives will be like after we seek the right help and treatment.
Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a master’s degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.
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