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Reclaiming Balance: How to Self-Regulate After a Serious Depressive Episode


Reclaiming Balance: How to Self-Regulate After a Serious Depressive Episode

Experiencing a serious depressive episode can feel like being swept away in a powerful tide—overwhelming and isolating. However, the journey back to balance and emotional stability is both possible and deeply empowering. Learning to self-regulate after such an episode is a cornerstone of recovery, helping you rebuild your emotional resilience and create a pathway toward healing.


In this post, we’ll explore evidence-based strategies and holistic approaches for self-regulation after a depressive episode. These techniques are rooted in psychology, mindfulness, and self-care, offering actionable steps to help you regain control of your mental health.


What Is Self-Regulation and Why Is It Important?


Self-regulation is the ability to manage your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to promote well-being. After a depressive episode, the brain often struggles to re-establish a sense of equilibrium. According to research published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, depressive episodes can impair emotional regulation by affecting brain regions like the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Self-regulation techniques can help recalibrate these systems, allowing you to effectively navigate stress, triggers, and emotions.


Step 1: Reconnect with Your Body Through Grounding Techniques


Depressive episodes often leave you feeling disconnected from your body as if you're floating in a fog of emotional exhaustion. Grounding techniques can anchor you in the present moment, helping to calm your nervous system.


  • Practice Deep Breathing: Studies in the Journal of Clinical Psychology highlight the benefits of diaphragmatic breathing for reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms. Try a 4-7-8 technique: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, and exhale for 8. This can quickly shift your nervous system into a calmer state.


  • Engage Your Senses: Notice five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste. This sensory exercise helps redirect your focus from internal distress to external reality.


Step 2: Rebuild Routines Gradually


A depressive episode often disrupts daily routines, leaving life feeling chaotic or stagnant. Re-establishing routines can create structure and provide a sense of stability.


  • Start Small: Focus on micro-goals, like drinking a glass of water upon waking or making your bed. These small actions can build momentum and be clear markers of intentional and positive progress.


  • Prioritize Sleep Hygiene: According to the Journal of Affective Disorders, sleep disruptions are both a symptom and a contributing factor of depression. Create a consistent bedtime routine, limit screen time before bed, and practice relaxation techniques like progressive muscle relaxation.


  • Plan Pleasant Activities: Known as behavioral activation, scheduling enjoyable activities can counteract the inertia of depression. Choose simple activities that bring a sense of joy or accomplishment, like listening to music or going for a short walk.


Step 3: Cultivate Emotional Awareness


After a depressive episode, your emotions can feel overwhelming or even numbed. Cultivating awareness helps you process and manage these feelings rather than avoiding or suppressing them.


  • Journal About Your Feelings: Writing down your thoughts can provide much-needed clarity and serve as a healthy outlet for pent-up emotions. Research in Psychotherapy Research suggests journaling can enhance emotional regulation and resilience.


  • Name It to Tame It: Simply naming your emotions—“I feel sad,” “I feel anxious”—can reduce their intensity by engaging the rational part of your brain and acknowledging what you are experiencing.


  • Practice Mindfulness Meditation: A meta-analysis in JAMA Internal Medicine found mindfulness meditation to be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Apps like Headspace or Calm can guide you through short, accessible practices, or you can also find helpful guided meditations on YouTube.


Step 4: Nourish Your Body and Mind Holistically


Your physical health is deeply intertwined with your mental health. Nurturing your body through nutrition, movement, and holistic practices can accelerate emotional recovery.


  • Focus on Nutrition: Incorporate omega-3 fatty acids, leafy greens, and whole grains into your diet. According to the American Journal of Psychiatry, certain nutrients, like omega-3s, play a role in reducing depressive symptoms.


  • Move Your Body: Even gentle exercise, such as yoga or walking, can release endorphins and improve mood. A study in the Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing shows that regular movement can significantly reduce depressive symptoms.


  • Explore Holistic Therapies: Practices like acupuncture, aromatherapy, or reiki may complement traditional treatments. Essential oils like lavender and bergamot, for example, have been found to reduce stress and anxiety in clinical studies.


Step 5: Build a Support Network


Depression often thrives in isolation, but recovery flourishes in connection. Reaching out for support is a powerful step toward self-regulation.


  • Reconnect with Loved Ones: Share your experiences with trusted friends or family members who can offer empathy and encouragement. Connection is so important for each of us, so a gentle push to spend some quality social time can make a big difference in how you feel.


  • Join a Support Group: Hearing from others facing similar challenges can help normalize your feelings and inspire you. Online platforms like NAMI or local therapy groups are great resources.


  • Work with a Therapist: Professional counseling can help you navigate lingering emotions and develop tailored coping strategies. Licensed clinical therapists trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), like the therapists and psychiatrists at our practice are especially effective for depression recovery.


Step 6: Celebrate Small Wins


Recovery isn’t linear, and every small step counts. Celebrating progress—no matter how minor—can boost your motivation and reinforce positive habits.


  • Use Visual Trackers: Keep a journal or app that tracks your daily accomplishments, no matter how small, to recognize your growth.


  • Practice Gratitude: Reflecting on things you’re grateful for, even on tough days, can help shift your focus toward positive aspects of your life.


The Path to Balance


Self-regulation after a serious depressive episode is a journey, not a destination. By integrating grounding techniques, routines, emotional awareness, holistic practices, and supportive connections, you can rebuild your resilience and regain a sense of control over your life.


If you’re struggling, know that you don’t have to face this alone. Seeking professional help via depression therapy can help you immensely. Interested in joining our next DBT Skills Group? Contact us!


We encourage you to contact us at support@elevationbehavioraltherapy.com or call/ text us at (720) 295-6566 to schedule a free phone consultation or appointment. You can also schedule directly through our website.


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