During the winter months, it’s natural to feel more down and depressed than you would during the summer months. However, if the depressive symptoms last longer than a few months, you may want to seek professional guidance.
Depression affects about one in five individuals living with a spinal cord injury, compared to one in twenty Americans in the general population—the estimated rates of depression among people with SCI range from 11% to 37%. Depression is not just “feeling blue” or “down in the dumps.” It is a severe medical disorder (just like diabetes) in which both biology and behavior can help or hurt. Depression is closely linked to your thoughts, feelings, physical health, and daily activities.
The good news is that the symptoms of depression can almost always be treated with specific types of counseling or antidepressant medications. However, a combination of both counseling and antidepressant medication has been shown to have the best results. Regular exercise or physical activity can also help improve mood, especially with counseling or medications.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with symptoms of depression, we highly recommend reaching out to your healthcare professional for support. And, contact friends, family, and/or loved ones for additional help. If you are in danger of harming yourself now, please call 911, the 24-hour National Crisis Hotline at 800-273-8255, or your local Crisis Clinic right away. Remember, depression is not a necessary or inevitable part of living with SCI. Most people with SCI are not depressed and live full, happy lives. If you are struggling with depression or feeling low for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor. Depression is treatable and beatable.
You are worthy of healing your depression.
The Model System Knowledge and Translation Center (MSKTC) is a national center that helps facilitate the knowledge translation process to make research meaningful to those with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Burn Injury. MSKTC works closely with researchers in the 18 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Model System Centers to develop resources for people with spinal cord injuries and their supporters.
They have several user-friendly resources grounded in research evidence and available in various formats, such as printable PDF documents, videos, infocomics, courses, podcasts, and slideshows. For more information on depression and spinal cord injury, visit MSKTC at https://msktc.org/sci-topics/depression-sci
I do have a free 2-week journaling guide you can download from my shop to start a journaling practice. Journaling can help you become aware of thoughts, patterns, and themes you are focusing on. This is the first step in knowing what you want to change. If you are ready to dig deep, I have a 30-day ‘Spring-Cleaning’ downloadable Journal in my shop for purchase to help you declutter your life and start moving toward the life of your dreams. Each prompt will ask you to reflect on an area of your life and develop actionable steps to work toward your dream life. Use the space I provide in my journal or whatever you already have/like.
If you would like more information on anything I spoke about here, leave me feedback either here – below this post, e-mail me (thewheellifeblog@gmail.com), or on any of my social media platforms! (IG/TW/TT @megs_hammond). If you want to hear anything, please let me know! I can’t do this without YOU, so I would love to connect!
Let’s keep those happy thoughts, productivity, and self-care going! Until next time, live honestly, passionately, and with kindness! Take care!
