Positive affirmation for depression

Depression is a widespread mental health issue that does not discriminate. It affects people of all ages, races, and genders with varying degrees of severity. Unfortunately, there are few supports for those who suffer from depression and many resources meant to help do more harm than good. Therefore, it can be difficult for those living with depression to find hope in a sea of hopelessness.

Positive affirmations can help combat the negative thoughts that often accompany depressive episodes by replacing them with positive ones that change the way you view your world and yourself. This blog post will provide an overview of positive affirmation therapy as well as lists of positive affirmations geared towards overcoming clinical depression or low-level symptoms such as anxiety or insomnia.

What is Positive Affirmation Therapy?

The rationale behind positive affirmation therapy is that negative thoughts often fuel and perpetuate depressive episodes, and by replacing these thoughts with positive ones, an individual can move towards recovery. The theory behind this practice can be traced back to ancient philosophies such as Stoicism in which people like Socrates believed that their thoughts determine how they feel. In other words, how a person perceives the world around them will affect their emotional state and the way they interact with the world. Similarly, cognitive-behavioral theories of depression emphasize the connection between negative thought patterns and depression.

How Does Positive Affirmation Therapy Work?

Positive affirmation therapy developed from cognitive-behavioral theory and was developed by psychologists to help people with depression. The most popular technique used by people suffering from depression is to use a list of positive affirmations, which are one or two sentence statements that can be repeated several times throughout the day. These statements are chosen because they either reflect important beliefs or events in their lives and can be remembered easily. The list should include at least three to five positive affirmations that reflect the person’s life prior to experiencing depression.

The person with depression begins by reading their positive statement(s) and repeating it aloud twice. They then make a conscious decision to replace the old negative thought with the new positive one. For example, “I have a good job” may become “I am as happy as I used to be when I had that job.”

When a person is able to replace one or two negative thoughts with positive ones, they begin to see progress in their lives. As they continue thinking positively, they find themselves being more optimistic and happy. It is important that someone suffering from depression look at their life outside of their depression in order to see how the positive affirmations can help them. For example, someone may say, “I never thought I would get a promotion at work” when in fact their coworkers have often shown their support for them. When the person is able to see the benefits of the positive affirmations, it is easier for them to see that they are not dwelling on the negative thoughts and to move forward with their life.

Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations can be used in a wide variety of ways depending on the individual using them. However, there are some positive affirmations that almost everyone can relate to and can be used as a starting point for overcoming depression:

• I am warm and loving. I always feel safe now.
• I am making my life better. I deserve to be happy.
• I am able to think clearly and rationally again.
• I have the ability to learn and grow from these experiences.
• My life is no longer out of control or spineless. I know how to act with confidence again.
• I am worthy of respect and love. No one can take that away from me.
• I can forgive myself when stuff goes wrong in life.
• Life is not hopeless; I am now able to move forward in life again. I have learned from the past and have improved my chances for a great future.
• My depression will not last forever, but it is possible to overcome it completely. Things are getting better!
• I can be patient with myself, others and experience new things without anxiety or fear. I am capable of being happy again.
• I am in control of my life again. My happiness is now a matter of choice and not chance.
• I am capable of helping others as much as I want to now. I can do anything I want to do, no matter how big or small.

Positive affirmations should be repeated several times throughout the day and thought about often so that they become a part of your everyday thoughts and actions.