Strategies for Living with Depression

9. Support Systems are Important

Depression is a chronic illness and living with depression can be a difficult reality. Depressed individuals often feel alone and may push away those close to them. A support system is an important safety net. People with depression may isolate themselves from any social interactions, but this leads to increased feelings of rejection and low self-worth and worsens depressive symptoms. A caring, supportive group of people can ease the effects of living with depression by serving as connections to the outside world, offering fresh perspectives, and sometimes simply lightening the mood.

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