What To Do When Depressed And Stressed

Why am I so depressed and stressed? This question came from a client in a recent session and it's one that I hear a lot.

So I wanted to address what to do when depressed and stressed in this ultimate guide helping you to overcome depression, stress, and anxiety.

Unfortunately, this was the start of insomnia that seemly got worse. He had anxiety at work, irritation with his family, which soon led to total exhaustion. He had physical issues that cropped up including feelings of sadness and wanting to cry to overeating, and thoughts of suicide.

He was told by friends that it could be hormones but he just felt as though he was slowly dying and was concerned that he'd never be the same again. 

Although he visited a doctor, nothing out of the ordinary came up but others suggested, that he might be depressed. He had so much going for him and discounted this thought immediately.

I remember our first session when he told me, "I think I'm going to become completely unglued, I feel like I'm losing my mind." He goes on... " I feel lost. I have big goals but don't know where to start. I've also been battling with drug use but feel like that is partly because I seem to be stagnant in life. I am looking for help to get me on the right path and start to thrive not just get by."

A lot has happened lately with the pandemic, all of the lockdowns, the prices of homes and food skyrocketing and now we're facing a war.

It's obvious that anyone might feel depressed and stressed.

What’s the Difference Between Stress and Depression?

The feeling of being overwhelmed by stress is common anymore. This is the biggest complaint that I get from my clients while trying to reach their goals at work, in their personal lives, and while they're growing a business. 

I always tell my clients that stress can be good but only if it motivates them to reach their goals. Stress on its own when allowed to continue, will wear you down and cause burnout. 

This can cause you to think, "am I having a relapse of depression?" But you may be wondering, "what's the best way to fight depression without medication?"

In answering the question, what's the difference between stress and depression, we first need to understand that depression is definitely a bigger issue and can last a long time where stress needs a different kind of help. 

In both cases, these are both treatable conditions but typically not something that you can fix easily by yourself. Stress and depression can affect you in the same ways but the symptoms of depression can cause people to feel things deeper and more intense. Depression can make you feel hopeless and unable to do the normal activities of your life. 

These feelings can make you scared and anxious too, I've even had some pregnant clients ask, "can being stressed and crying affect pregnancy" or "can depression affect unborn baby" and the short answer is yes.

It's important for our health and our relationships to learn what to do when depressed and stressed.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Stress And Depression

You might be asking yourself, "how do I know if I'm depressed or stressed?" Great question and that's why I wanted to explain the signs of stress and depression so that you can distinguish for yourself then I want to break it down so you'll know what to do change things in your life and feel better in your body.

Why Am I So Depressed And Stressed?

Now that you're narrowing it down to what might be going on with you, the concern about this passing or you possibly sinking into something deeper and debilitating is in your awareness. 

Recognizing the symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety is the first part of healing and getting through it. What you must realize is that like having cancer or some other issue like diabetes can't go untreated. You need to make some changes. 

Fortunately, there are answers to learn what to do when you're depressed, full of anxiety or stressed.

Even though depression and anxiety have different signs or symptoms, they are related. You might be surprised to know that 85% of those with depression also experienced some level of anxiety. This happens when there's a malfunction in the brain chemistry.

What Can Cause Depression And Anxiety?

There is some research that states genetics is related to depression while that may have some truth in it, we know there are still solutions. 

Other reasons that cause depression can be abuse, a traumatic event, major life changes, a sudden illness, some personal problems, hormones, and even some medications that have been known to cause both anxiety and depression. It's one thing to know about your risk factors but it's more important to know you can be in control of drastically changing your life by taking specific actions to help eliminate anxiety so that you don't have a relapse of depression.

Can Depression Make Your Anxiety Worse?

What To Do When Depressed And Stressed - Part I

When we're experiencing anxiety, we don't realize that we can make it worse. An ironic fact is, just knowing you're having anxiety can actually make it worse and more likely to experience anxiety attacks. 

Depression can feel like hopelessness that seems to close you into a painful box. As your online life coach, I want to explain how even simple, every day habits can actually be making your depression worse.

Just getting out of bed can be one of the biggest tasks of your day. It's a struggle that some people feel so distraught about and are at risk for suicide. 

When you’re depressed, just getting out of bed can be a monumental challenge. Depression is a terrible struggle and a serious medical condition that is linked to an increased risk of suicide.

What else can make your anxiety worse?

• Alcohol - Alcohol can dull anxiety symptoms but it creates a dependency on one's ability to learn coping skills with depression, stress, AND anxiety so it's really best not to consume alcohol if you're feeling anxiety, especially if you're on some sort of anxiety medication.
• Inactivity - Some people who experience depression realize it can last for several weeks and a "depressed mood" can make you lethargic and only interested in watching Netflix. This inactivity will make your anxiety and depression worse.
• Poor Sleep - When you're not sleeping well, it can put you on a path to insomnia and a cycle difficult to fix so be mindful of getting quality rest. 
• Social Isolation - Recent research highlights that those with depression and anxiety tend to turn inward. They feel awkward and embarrassed and think about hiding but this is the worse thing that they can do. Getting support even if it's through a therapist or a certified life coach, is exactly what you need right now.

How Can You Overcome Depression And Anxiety

If you're struggling, I don't have to tell you that anxiety and depression can take your life into a tailspin if not properly addressed. There are changes that you can make in your life that can help you to not just get through your day but actually thrive and help you to overcome depression, stress, and anxiety.

Motivation and a strong will aren't enough to help you to overcome depression and anxiety even if you're depressed and stressed at work, depressed and stressed while pregnant, or dealing with the fall out of COVID-19 social distancing, isolation, and lockdowns which make it even harder to cope with symptoms of depression.  There's so much more you'll need to do.

Here are some strategies which will give you some protection to keep you mentally and emotionally healthy and to overcome depression naturally.

If you're wondering what to do when depressed and stressed, then check out the Depression Destroyer treatment plan to work for you.