7 More Ways to Manage Depression Beyond Therapy and Medication

{Etsy print by SnapshotSeven} When Deborah Serani’s chronic depression symptoms worsen, color helps to lift the darkness. She finds all kinds of colors by taking a walk and focusing on birds, flowers and trees along the way. Painting and drawing also are pivotal. “The deeper the colors I see and touch, the better I feel.” Therapy and sometimes medication are essential in treating depression. Serani credits psychotherapy with saving her life after a suicide attempt at 19. But other tools and techniques are important, too. “As with any chronic illness, it’s vital to lead as full a life as possible,” she said. For Serani, color and art add to life’s fullness and richness. “While the work we do in therapy is very important in your healing journey, the work you’re doing outside of therapy is what truly makes the difference, and often enhances our work in session,” said Laura Kacere, LPC, a therapist and yoga instructor in Chicago providing individual therapy for women and LGBTQ emerging adults. Building a broad range of healing and coping strategies and activities doesn’t only manage depression; it also helps you live a fuller, more joy-filled life, Kacere said. Below are some of these healing and coping strategies. Feed your senses. “Depression is an illness of depletion,” said Serani, Psy.D, a clinical psychologist, professor at Adelphi University and author of three books on depression. “You feel empty and hollow.” Which is why she suggested f...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Creativity Depression Disorders General Habits Mental Health and Wellness Motivation and Inspiration Personal Self-Help Depressive Episode Medication Mood Stabilizer sensory perception Suicide Source Type: blogs