Navigating Depression Alongside a Chronic Illness

Dealing with depression or managing a chronic illness can be difficult. Each condition can impact your daily life, and experiencing them together can compound the difficulties. Still, in recognizing the challenges, it’s important to remember that support and treatment are out there. 

Understanding Depression

Depression is a common mental health disorder, and it affects how people feel, think, and handle day-to-day activities. It’s also more than just feeling sad. Depression can persist for weeks or even years. It also often requires professional treatment.

Common Symptoms of Depression

Depression is presented in various ways, with common symptoms including:

• Persistent feelings of hopelessness
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Fatigue and low energy 
• Changes in sleep or weight
• Difficulty concentrating
• Thoughts of death or suicide

One of the most important things to remember is that depression is treatable. Therapy, lifestyle changes, and support from professionals can significantly improve your quality of life as well as your well-being.

What is a Chronic Illness?

A chronic illness is a long-term medical condition that progresses slowly. It may persist for a year or more. Even though conditions like the flu or broken bones resolve relatively quickly, chronic conditions often require ongoing management. 

Common Chronic Illnesses

There are a number of common chronic illnesses, including:

• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Asthma
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Autoimmune Disorders

Living with a chronic illness can be mentally and emotionally draining. Many chronic conditions can be managed properly through proper treatment and lifestyle changes.

When Depression and Chronic Illness Exist Together

It’s not uncommon for people who have a chronic illness to also experience depression. Studies have shown time and time again that those who have a chronic health condition are at a much higher risk of developing depression when compared to the general population. This link is present for several reasons. 

Chronic illnesses often disrupt life plans, and the physical pain can also be emotionally draining. Some chronic conditions also affect brain chemistry, which further increases the risk of depression. Conversely, if you have depression, then you may find that you end up struggling to manage your chronic illness. Dealing with depression and chronic illness can affect your self-care routine and create a cycle where one cognition exacerbates the other.

Recognizing the correlation between chronic illness and depression can be a first step toward seeking support.

Navigating Both Depression and Chronic Illness

Managing depression alongside a chronic illness can be challenging, but it’s possible. Self-care and professional services play a major role here. Self-care strategies can include taking the time to maintain a consistent, daily routine. Another approach is getting adequate physical activity. Eating a balanced diet is also important. Practicing mindfulness and setting realistic goals are also key.

Social support, experienced by interactions such as talking with trusted friends or family, can help in reducing general feelings of isolation. 

Professional help is recommended when depression persists, daily functioning is greatly affected, or an individual feels overwhelmed when managing chronic illness or emotions.

Jackson House’s Approach to Treatment

Jackson House offers a unique approach to treatment. We offer a caring and supportive environment to help individuals navigate the complexities associated with depression and chronic illness. We focus on providing compassionate care, recognizing that physical health and mental health are connected on a deep level.

By offering personalized experiences and engaging a multidisciplinary team of experts, we work to provide a safe space to grow while helping individuals develop skills that will help them live happy lives. We understand that living with various conditions can be difficult, and that is why our approach is empathetic, flexible, and focused on you and your individual needs.

Depression Treatment at Jackson House

Jackson House offers specialized depression services. We can also help you manage chronic health conditions. Our treatment plans are designed to address your unique needs, and we can also offer a combination of therapy, medication, and lifestyle support. Key approaches we use include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Our treatment involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can provide support to individuals while helping them to understand the factors that are contributing to their depression.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

We also offer dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), a form of therapy that focuses on emotional regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance. It can help those who have a chronic illness to learn how to cope with difficult emotions.

Medication management

For many, antidepressants can play a big role in recovery. We offer careful monitoring as well as personalized medication plans that account for the underlying health issues you may have.

Stress management

Chronic stress can worsen both physical illness and depression. We teach several stress-reduction techniques to help clients manage their symptoms more effectively. Jackson House also provides instruction on several coping mechanisms to support clients.

Professional Care from Jackson House

We offer an integrated approach that allows us to offer specialized services to those who are experiencing depression along with chronic illness. We want to ensure that your body and mind are always considered during the healing process. Contact us to learn about our services and to schedule a confidential consultation. Jackson House is ready to hear from you.