Why aren’t more people happy? And why does it seem so hard for the rest of us? Well, psychology tells us that it’s not actually that simple and that there’s a lot more to happiness than we think. In fact, some people can even come to fear happiness and become addicted to sadness instead. The good news is, we can unlearn being addicted to sadness, but it first step towards this change is mindfulness of what it all means. So, here are 6 psychology-backed reasons why you might be addicted to sadness.
Want to make your life happier? Watch this video too:
Writer: Chloe Avenasa
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
Voice Over: Amanda Silvera (www.youtube.com/amandasilvera)
Animator: Xingyi Lim
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong
References:
Sack, D. (2014 March 5). “Are You Addicted to Unhappiness?” Psychology Today. Retrieved from www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/where-science-meets-the-steps/201403/are-you-addicted-unhappiness
Fletcher, J. (2021 October 22). “Is It Possible to Be ‘Addicted’ to Depression?” PsychCentral. Retrieved from psychcentral.com/depression/is-depression-an-addiction#1
Seligman, M. E. (2012). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Simon and Schuster.
Glasser, W. (1999). Choice theory: A new psychology of personal freedom. HarperPerennial.
David, M., Ceschi, G., Billieux, J., & Van der Linden, M. (2008). Depressive symptoms after trauma: is self-esteem a mediating factor?. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 196(10), 735-742.
How to Treat Depression
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How to Treat Depression
Taking steps to treat depression is important. Taking medicine and making other changes to your lifestyle may help you get better. Some treatments may take weeks to work, while others are quicker. In some cases, you may need to make changes to your diet and exercise routine. If you are feeling depressed, it is best to seek help as soon as possible.
Getting better takes time, and you may experience ups and downs during the process. It is important to set goals and work with a health care provider to get the best treatment for you. You may also need to talk to family and friends to make sure they are aware of your depression and to provide support.
You may be able to find a self-help book that helps with your depression. You can also find support groups for people with depression. In addition, you may be able to access services through your employer or an employee assistance program. If your depression is severe, you may need to be admitted to the hospital.
Getting better takes time, and your depression may reoccur in the future. You should also prioritize healthy eating, exercise, and sleep. Exercise helps improve your mood and reduce stress. Exercise can also help you build confidence.
You may be able to find an employee assistance program for depression or access resources through your local senior center or religious organization. In addition, you may want to consider using a mobile health app that provides general information about depression.
Your health care provider may recommend medication or psychotherapy to help treat depression. It is important to work closely with your doctor to determine if medication or psychotherapy is the best treatment for you. Some antidepressants may cause side effects. You may also need to change medicines if you experience withdrawal-like symptoms.
You may also want to look into alternative medicine. There are some studies that suggest that alternative medicine may help with depression. However, you should not replace conventional medicine with alternative treatments.
A good therapist can help you identify the most important issues in your life and develop a treatment plan that works for you. You may also want to participate in group therapy with others who have similar illnesses. You can even find a reputable self-help website that can help you improve your mood.
Your therapist may also recommend a mobile health app that can help you learn about depression. Educating yourself about depression is important and can motivate you to stick to a treatment plan.
If you are looking for information on depression, you may want to check out the American Psychiatric Association’s website. The organization also has a directory of licensed providers. You may want to find a therapist who has experience with your type of depression. A therapist can also recommend self-help books and other resources.
Getting help for your depression may take time, but it can be well worth the effort. In fact, you may experience a dramatic improvement in your mood in as little as 10 to 15 sessions. You may even be able to find a therapist online with a company such as BetterHelp. This organization has over 25,000 licensed counselors.
