Do you suffer from a serious health condition?
If yes, you are more likely to develop depression. Read this article to find out more about depression and how you can live with it.
Do not let your health condition make you feel isolated. Even though there are activities you can no longer take part in because of your illness, do your best to get out of your house often and spend time with people you appreciate. You could for instance join a support club to meet people with similar health issues. There are also a lot of online communities you could join to talk about your health problems and interact with people you have a lot in common with. Let your friends and relatives know you need them and invite them over if you cannot get out of your house because of your condition.
Educate yourself about your health condition and do your best to remain in control. Go to the doctor frequently to monitor the progression of your health problem and feel free to ask any question you have about your condition. Do not let your health condition scare you or make you feel guilty. The best thing you can do is follow the treatment your doctor recommends and learn as much as possible about your health condition to reduce the anxiety you feel. If your treatment makes you feel isolated and depressed, find people who are going through a similar thing and share your experience with them. You could also have a friend or a relative go with you to the doctor and keep you company during your treatment.
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If you developed a health condition because of a bad habit such as smoking or overeating, do not blame yourself. It is important that you learn from your mistakes and adopt a positive attitude so you can focus on your treatment instead of thinking about your past mistakes and getting depressed. If you find it hard not to blame yourself and have a hard time accepting and appreciating who you are, do not hesitate to go to a psychiatrist to talk about your issues.
It is important that you understand where your depression is coming from. Having a serious health issue increases your risks of getting depressed but there is a more specific reason for your depression. Perhaps you are feeling isolated or cannot accept your body or the side effects of your treatments. In some cases, the fear of dying or the pain caused by your health problem can cause depression. And some treatments will even alter the chemical structure of your brain and make you more likely to get depressed. You should go to a psychiatrist to talk about your depression and make sure it is caused by your health problem and not some deeper issue. Perhaps you could try taking some anti-depressants to make some of the symptoms of your depression go away.
Living with a health problem makes you more vulnerable to depression. If you feel depressed, you should actively look for a solution to this problem such as getting some support from your relatives and friends or going to a psychiatrist.