Actionsets help people take an active role in managing a health condition.  Depression: Using positive thinking

Introduction

Depression is an illness that makes a person feel sad and hopeless much of the time. It's different than feeling a little sad or down. Depression can be treated with counseling or medicine, or both.

Positive thinking also can help prevent or control depression.

Key points

  • If you have thoughts of harming yourself or others, you need to see your doctor or therapist right away. Positive thinking can help with depression. But you may also need medicine and therapy.
  • Negative thoughts can make depression worse or can raise your chance of having depression.
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a type of therapy that can help you replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
  • Changing your thinking will take some time. You need to practice healthy thinking every day. After a while, positive thinking will come naturally to you.

What? - What is the medical information or key concepts related to the action? What is positive thinking?
Why? - Why the action is important? Why is positive thinking important to help you cope with depression?
How? - Learn the steps involved in taking action. How can you use positive thinking to cope with depression?
Where? - Other resources and organizations that can help you take action. Where to go from here

If you would like more information, see the topic:

Click here to view an Actionset.Positive thinking: Stopping unwanted thoughts.

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Author: Marianne Flagg Last Updated: August 27, 2008
Medical Review: Catherine D. Serio, PhD - Behavioral Health
Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry

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