You’ve been down for a while. You’re not really sure the last time you felt like yourself or the last time you’ve felt 100%. You know that depression is the culprit, but if you’re being honest, you’re not really making it any easier on yourself.
You’re your own worst critic. When you get in front of the mirror, you tear yourself apart. The thoughts in your head are often negative. And those negative thoughts are usually directed at yourself.
You’re not doing yourself any favors by criticizing yourself day in and day out. Here are 4 ways in which self-criticism could be compounding your depression symptoms.
1. Ruminative Thoughts
Those negative thoughts that keep circling in and out of your head aren’t going anywhere. This is what can lead to rumination. To make matters worse, these types of thoughts can actually make the signs and symptoms of your depression even worse. Rumination can be a vicious cycle, especially for individuals who struggle with depression.
You know that you’re being negative, and even if you want to try to stop the cycle from happening, you can’t seem to shake those thoughts or replace them with more positive ones, especially when you’re already feeling down and out of sorts.
2. Isolating Yourself
One of the main signs and symptoms of depression is self-isolation. You may not have the energy or desire to hang out with other people. Maybe you didn’t get enough sleep or didn’t eat enough food to fuel your day. Or maybe you just don’t feel good about yourself. Criticizing the way you talk to friends or get emotional when asked how you’re doing can lead to you isolating yourself. You may feel better or safer in the comfort of your own home.
While your self-criticism and your depression may make you believe that isolating yourself is for the best, doing so can actually lead to worsening signs and symptoms. Being alone with yourself and those negative thoughts and feelings isn’t going to make you feel any better about yourself.
3. Not Enjoying Activities
Depression can make you have little to no interest in activities that you once enjoyed. Because you know that you used to enjoy these activities that you’re no longer showing interest in, it can lead you to be too hard on yourself. You may start to question what’s wrong with you or why you’re not feeling the same way about a certain activity that you used to. Overcoming depression as well as the signs and symptoms isn’t that simple.
4. The Comparison Game
Comparison is often described as the thief of joy. Another thief of joy is depression. When these two are combined, it’s not exactly a good thing for one’s mental health. Self-criticism and depression can lead to comparing yourself to your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, classmates, and more. Comparing yourself to others is never going to make you feel good about yourself. Plus, you’re only seeing what they want you to see. You’re only able to see their highlight reels, not the actual behind-the-scenes of their life.
Seeking Help
Depression is a serious mental illness. If you or a loved one is showing signs of any of the ways listed above, it could mean that there’s a larger issue at play. While there are lifestyle changes you can make on your end to help improve and reduce some of the signs and symptoms of depression, there is no replacement for proper treatment from a depression therapist.
Depression is a lot more common than you may think. If you’re struggling, there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. In fact, it can be one of the strongest things you do for yourself. Reach out today to set up a consultation.