Opinions of others - Perhaps the most common cause of depression is the opinion of others. At the end of the day, you do not need to be around people who make you feel bad about yourself. Their opinion should be void because they obviously do not know you as well as the people who are in your life for no other reason then that they want to be. These are the people worth listening too. These are the people who know you, so it is their opinion that really counts. Don't waste your time dwelling on the opinions of people who do not deserve to be of any significance in your life.
Opinions of ourselves - Often it is our own strict opinions of ourselves and where we think we should be in that particular point in our lives that get us feeling worthless and/or disappointed in ourselves. It is important for our emotional stability to focus on all the things that we have accomplished in our lives and to remember all the amazing people in our lives that choose to be in it because they care about us and enjoy being around the person we are, even if all we can see are our own flaws.
Focusing on the negatives - It is only human to see the negatives in our lives over the positives. Some situations leave us in a need to be by ourselves which leads us to think too much, causing us to relive negative moments or look too deep into situations that manifest into a lot of "what ifs" and "maybes" that 9/10 times have no basis in reality. Although it is hard to be around people when you are feeling depressed, it is more harmful to allow yourself the alone time to dwell on things that be, or more often then not, things that we convince ourselves that are.
Unhealthy workplace - Some may think that this is a silly reason to get down, but if you are unhappy in the workplace where you spend most of your time, it is no surprise that it is bringing you down in other areas of your life. It is easier said then done to leave your work at work. Yes it is vital to a living that we work, but it is also important for your happiness to fight like hell to work in a place that you can be yourself and feel appreciated. In order to be happy in other areas of your life, you must also be able to enjoy the environment in which you spend most of your time.
Struggling with everyday necessities - It can often feel like all that hard work you do is for nothing. Once pay day comes and bills chip at your hard earned cash, you often have nothing left to show for all the effort you have put in during the week. Everyday necessities are expensive and you should not be hard on yourself if you find yourself struggling to keep your head above water. As living expenses rise and wages comfortably stay at minimum, it is no wonder that struggles are apart of your daily life. You can only work so hard, do not place unrealistic expectations on yourself because of the realities of the times we are in.
We would all do well to remember that at some point in our lives, everyone has felt that they are not good enough or trying hard enough. Do not be ashamed of these thoughts. If you feel you need help, do not be afraid to ask for it. There is nothing worse then bottling up depressing feelings. Help is always there if you are strong enough to admit you need it and are not afraid to seek it. Your family and friends will be supportive and try their best to help you in your time of need. Sometimes this does not always do the trick, but remember that your doctor is always there to help you without judgement. There is nothing shameful about admitting that you need some help.
For more useful information on depression please visit beyond blue.
