Carrasco Psychological Health Services

Depression and anxiety may be affecting you on a daily basis. It may be that this has been a struggle for many years. Ultimately, there is a way to better manage your depression and anxiety. We cannot get rid of worry and sadness completely. We are humans and these emotions are a part of the human experience. Here is a quick list of helpful tips to remember to manage your anxiety and depression.

1. Let go of the rope. Sometimes people feel the harder they fight against their thoughts and emotions, they will get better. Instead of being in tug of war, tell yourself that you are no longer going to react to the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Instead you will just notice them when they show up.
2. Use self-compassion. Life is hard enough so do not make things harder. If you are using harsh statements on yourself for not being happy or for struggling, you will likely struggle more. Instead, use more self-compassionate statements with yourself. Think of what you would say to a loved one who is struggling with the same thing you are struggling with.
3. Do not fall into the happiness trap. The happiness trap is a concept from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). People fall into that trap that the natural state of human beings is to be happy. This is not correct. The natural state of human beings is to experience various emotions and that’s normal.