Fighting Depression – Healing Is Easier With Social Support

by Reuben Chow

Get A Pet

Some research has suggested that people with pets are healthier, happier, and live longer. There are many reasons why this makes sense.

Firstly, pets are an excellent source of companionship and friendship, adding “life” to the home. What’s more, pets are friends that don’t desert or hurt you, in the way that human beings often do. In addition, the friendship and affection which pets provide is non-judgmental – pets are unlikely to complain that you are too fat, or that you are stupid, or that you turned up 15 minutes late.

Further, when you take your dog out for a walk, you are getting some much needed fresh air and exercise, too; and, during those pet walks, you probably will make new friends, in the form of other pet owners.

Pets help to relieve depressive symptoms and reduce loneliness. By caring for and sharing with a pet, it gives life much additional meaning, which is something extra important for someone suffering from depression. And pets need you a lot more than other human beings do, which raises your sense of self worth and importance.

Believe it or not, nurturing pets and simply just stroking their fur can help to relax you. Even watching fish swimming around in an aquarium is a soothing activity.

Attend Group Therapy Sessions

One form of depression treatment which you may not have heard about before is group therapy. Basically, in group therapy, a number of people who are facing similar problems come together and talk about their situations. There is thus input – sharing, encouraging, advising and other constructive comments – from many others who are experiencing similar life issues. Therapists take part, too.

There is also another kind of group sessions, though no therapists are present for those type of self-help gatherings.

Group sessions are useful for several reasons. Firstly, everyone gets different perspectives from everyone else – it’s like pooling together everyone’s knowledge and experiences on a particular subject. Secondly, everyone is hearing about actual real-life experiences on an issue, as opposed to theoretical ideas spawned by a particular professional. Hearing about others’ problems also helps to put one’s own issues in perspective – there are many others going through the same thing, or even much worse.

In addition, being able to express and speak out one’s own situation, thoughts and emotions in itself already serves as a powerful healing tool. Further, it’s about sharing and give-and-take, rather than simply absorbing ideas from a supposed expert; giving and helping others is very much part of the process, and that in itself serves as a powerful healing tool.

Can you see how group therapy can be a powerful tool for overcoming depression? On a practical level, it’s usually less expensive than individual counseling or therapy, too.

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