7 Positive Coping Skills for Battling Clinical Depression

Wouldn't it be great if our path on the journey of life was as smooth as a newly paved road? Think of it for a moment. No detours, bumps, potholes or objects in the road to get in our way and cause us any discomfort or stress. Just smooth sailing. Sure, it sounds nice but we know or should know that's only a fantasy. In the real world the only way to deal with any problem we encounter is to deal with it head on. That means we have to be proactive. We can't get someone else to solve our problems, we have to do that ourselves. At times that might be easier said than done. But if you suffer from clinical depression, dealing with discomfort or stress caused by external sources can be downright impossible.

Sometimes when we are confronted by problems, we choose to ignore them. People with clinical depression are no different with one major exception. The emotional pain that they experience is typically caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. However when emotional triggers are also caused by the environment the intensity of the depression increases. As a result, the pain is almost unbearable. Unfortunately some will attempt to numb the pain by self medicating on prescription drugs ingesting illegal drugs, drinking alcohol, or cutting themselves.

Do you deal with your depression by using these negative and dangerous coping skills? If so, please stop and think for a moment. The emotional pain will return and ultimately you will have destroyed your health, so what good is it? Your time has come to "take the bull by the horns" and to deal with future depressive episodes in a positive way.

Here are 7 positive coping skills that you need to learn in order to overcome your depressive symptoms:

1. Walking - I'll admit it, walking is my favorite coping skill so I placed it first. Something wonderful takes place within our brains during a brisk 10 minute walk. The serotonin levels in our brain begin to rise and we feel better naturally. Make walking a part of your daily routine and you'll feel better for a longer period of time . Aside from the psychological benefits there are a number of physical benefits associated with walking as well.

2.. Deep breathing - Easy deep breathing exercises are extremely effective because they can help you start to feel better literally within minutes and you do not have to go anywhere to do them. However, I did some of my best deep breathing whenever I was out in public and felt a crying spell coming on. Deep breathing literally saved me from many an embarrassing situation. Watch the video, practice the exercise and start feeling better.

3. Build a support system - Many people who are depressed typically isolate themselves from family, friends and the outside world. Does that sound like you? Probably the last thing you feel like doing is socializing. I felt the same way for quite a while but after several months of almost total isolation, I realized that my behavior was adding fuel to the fire. I literally was more depressed after isolating myself than before. Having a social network is absolutely necessary for your recovery. If you currently do not have a strong support system ask a professional for information on a support group in your area. If any of your family, relatives, or friends are generally caring, helpful, trustful, and nonjudgmental by all means include them in your social support system as well.

4. Laughter - One great thing about emotions is that we can only experience one at a time. Try laughing and crying at the very same time. Impossible right? So what happens when we laugh? The positive emotions that we feel act as a buffer against the suppressive effects of depression on our immune system. That's why we all feel so great after a good hardy laugh. It is relatively easy to trigger laughter and there are countless ways to do it. Just remember not to do it at someone else's expense. There are a number of ways that you can create laughter for yourself. Mine is easy. Just one episode of "The Three Stooges" and I'm on the floor. Nothing fights depression better or faster than a good hardy laugh.

5. Write, write, write - Get yourself a piece of scratch paper, a notebook, or a diary and begin to write. What you'll be doing is also know as journaling. What you need to do is focus in on the present or the now because you want to write about anything that comes to your mind in the moment. Do not worry about spelling, grammar, or punctuation. It is your journal and you do not have to show it to anyone. Journaling will help you to unravel your thoughts and feelings, build your self esteem , vent, and get to know yourself better.

6. Spirituality - I've already mentioned that people who are depressed feel and many times are isolated and alone. Spirituality helps to fill that void by providing individuals with a feeling of connection to a "higher power". This connection can give us a sense of purpose and meaning to our daily life. My connection to God is through prayer, reading The Bible, and attending church. Your connection can be totally different such as meditating, prayer, or attending a synagogue or a mosque. Regardless of the means, it's the connection that helps ease and reduce depressive symptoms.

7. Call a professional - If for any reason you find that your depression is getting worse, please seek professional help. Remember that requiring additional help from a professional is never a sign of weakness. In fact the very act of making the call shows that you recognize your limitations when dealing with an overwhelming depression and that you value yourself enough to get the help you need.

All of these skills, with the exception of calling a professional, can be learned and incorporated into your daily life if you so choose. The more skills that you have to deal with your depression the less intense and less frequent your depressive episodes will become. Also, remember that these coping skills are a compliment to and not a substitute for your standard treatment of clinical depression

Dave Kanofsky is a proud qualified affiliate with Wealth Creations Network, your zero out of pocket way to creating wealth. Dave Kanofsky is also passionate about helping people who have depression to overcome their symptoms and to create wealth for themselves. So what are you waiting for? Sign up now and start to make money online.