Tip #5:
Cognitive therapy, analyzing negative thoughts and feelings, is a very effective way to help people get past their depression and anxieties. But some psychologists say that there is another important approach often overlooked. Emphasize the positive and your strengths, and increase self esteem and happiness.
I remember working with an adolescent in downtown Baltimore who went to school each day, afraid for his life. Regardless of what the parents and Mental Health Center tried, they were unable to get the city to transfer him to another school.
There had been several knifings at the school he attended and there was no use telling him his “danger” thoughts were not realistic. Telling his stories over and over again and emoting during the period he faced danger would have made him even more vulnerable. He needed to be strong.
The thing that increased his self esteem and therefore his confidence most was to explore his strengths, like the fact that although not a big teenager he was a compassionate human being with resilience and creativity. Each week he would find creative ways to take care of himself and to befriend and help his classmates. They formed a team to defend themselves and each other.
I also taught him how not to walk or look like a victim, and he enrolled in a community Karate class.
What a change in his depression and anxiety level! The truth was that he could not change where he went to school, or his classmates, but he had learned how to cope in one of the worst circumstances imaginable.
Increasing your strengths:
1. Write down five of your strengths.
2. Remember and write down incidences when you have used them in the past.
3. Practise consciously using them each day.
4. Stand straight and tall with head up, swinging your arms beside you as you walk.
4. Think confident thoughts and create images in your mind of you using your strengths.
Hi there cheers, excellent info
Great article. I appreciate for the awesome information!
Thanks a lot. Is there anything you would like to know more about? Let me know.
Ana
Truly appreciate your effort in putting togeather this post. Very good information.
I need someone to talk to, i have depression, nothing really bad or tradgic has really happend to me. Which is why it is more a mental illness. I am trying to move past it and overcome it but it is hard while trying to live a normal highschool life. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry Wendell I didn’t see your comment sooner. It looks like you have some really good information on drdepression.org. Yes it is very important for you to talk to someone who can help you. Do you have a mental health center or crisis center near by? Just call them. Everything is confidential. If not talk to your school counselor and he or she will get you help. Because of hormone changes etc. adolescence is frequently a time when people become depressed regardless of their past, but there is no need to continue feeling so down. Hope this helps.
Hi, I’m here for the first time and I am delighted that I could get here. Thank you for your words in this article: http://181.224.139.83/~anaparke/?p=341.
Thank you Twoje. Sometimes I’m lax in writting but please keep coming back and tell others if you think this site could help them in any way. I am open to questions.