Depression is often a feature of clinical neurological rehabilitation. Depression can often precede periods of challenging rehabilitation and the accompanying frustration and growing awareness that progress may be slow. Furthermore, the limited physical progress, together with a realisation of all the losses and an acknowledgement that life will never be the same again, can deepen the depression.
Depression can be viewed as an inevitable stage of adjustment following brain injury. Going through a period of depression can be viewed as a sign of progress and moving forward.
Tips for coping with depression.
- Talk about how you feel to your friends, family or a counsellor.
- Do not bottle it up.
- View your situation as a journey full of obstacles and challenges. View problems as challenges.
- Try not to keep comparing life with how it was before the injury. Instead compare life with how it was immediately after.
- Monitor your progress-keep a diary.
- Join a brain injury support group and share with other people.
- Set up goals.
- Separate the goals into large and small activities.
- Reduce your expectations.
- Write down your negative thoughts and challenges.
- Get professional help if you feel really desperate.
