8 Thoughts that Fuel Depression

When you are depressed, you can't help but think negative. Even when you try to go back and think of good memories, the dark shadow will pull you back and stop you from being happy. Sometimes, you also think of bad things that have not actually happened yet. These are the unrealistic ways of thinking that just fuel depression.

Maybe knowing what those negative or unrealistic ways of thinking, we can help ourselves to pull ourselves from depression. Although, it's really hard specially when you are there, but it might help

Below are some of the negative and unrealistic ways of thinking that fuel depression:

1. ALL OR NOTHING THINKING

Looking at things in black-or-white categories, with no middle ground (“If I fall short of perfection, I’m a total failure.”)

2. OVER GENERALIZATION

Generalizing from a single negative experience, expecting it to hold true forever (“I can’t do anything right.”)

3. THE MENTAL FILTER

Ignoring positive events and focusing on the negative. Noticing the one thing that went wrong, rather than all the things that went right.

4. DIMINISHING THE POSITIVE

Coming up with reasons why positive events don’t count (“She said she had a good time on our date, but I think she was just being nice.”)

5. JUMPING TO CONCLUSION

Making negative interpretations without actual evidence. You act like a mind reader (“He must think I’m pathetic”) or a fortune teller (“I’ll be stuck in this dead-end job forever.”)

6. EMOTIONAL REASONING

Believing that the way you feel reflects reality (“I feel like such a loser. I really am no good!”)

7. "SHOULDS" AND "SHOULD NOTS"

Holding yourself to a strict list of what you should and shouldn’t do, and beating yourself up if you don’t live up to your rules.

8. LABELING

Classifying yourself based on mistakes and perceived shortcomings (“I’m a failure; an idiot; a loser.”)

 

There was a time when I was really in  a dark place that I didn't care what happen to me. I walk with nothing in my mind but the bad things that I did and how stupid I was for doing it. I can't talk to my parents and my family because of shame that I am feeling. I was just thankful that my fiance was with me that time, I confided in him, kind of. I still filtered what I told him because I am scared and worried that he will judge me.

 

If you have someone in your family you can trust, and I mean really trust, talk to him/her. They probably won't understand, but at least you can let it out. If you still don't want to talk to your family, find someone you can talk to, a stranger, a doctor, someone. There's always someone out there who is willing to listen and help.