Depression exists across all age groups and all populations. Also referred to as major depressive disorder, this condition is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness among a host of other symptoms. Individuals struggling with depression can find themselves battling restlessness, lack of interest, suicidal ideation, increase irritability, tiredness, cognitive disruptions, and so much more.
There are many protocols and techniques for treating patients with depression that usually involves some sort of talk therapy combined with the use of prescribed medication. With the right attention, depression can be managed, and individuals can get past many of its usual struggles.
For therapists looking for depression worksheet resources, therapistaid.com is a great place to start. Below are several depression worksheet resources pulled directly from their website to help mental health providers treat patients battling major depressive disorder.
Depression Worksheet Resources:
Caregiver’s Guide for Childhood Depression
This worksheet titled “Managing Childhood Depression: Caregiver’s Guide” is a helpful resource for parents or guardians whose children have been officially diagnosed with major depressive disorder. This guide lists helpful tips like how to establish routines, sleep hygiene, socializing skills, activities that can spark interest, and other activities. Caregiver support is recognized as essential to the child’s recovery and this depression worksheet resource is a great starting point.
Coping Skills: Depression
Common skill therapists try to develop in individuals who are learning how to manage their depression is how to cope effectively. Coping skills can reduce the symptoms of depression by teaching clients how to overcome overly negative thought patterns and cope with the difficulties of life and their emotional wellbeing. This depression worksheet resource is titled “Coping Skills: Depression” and details different activities that individuals can choose to accomplish like exercise, socialization, or personal care, and a guide to help them accomplish that task while establishing consistency. This depression worksheet resource also details other tools that help teach good coping strategies including mindfulness exercises.
The Cycle of Depression
Those struggling with major depressive disorder may find themselves in a repetitive cycle that makes it feel difficult to overcome their symptoms. This cycle can impact how individuals feel about themselves along with their skill set to manage those symptoms. This depression worksheet resource outlines the common cycle of depression and things that contribute to it. This informational sheet titled “The Cycle of Depression” helps clients understand what thoughts, stressors, feelings, and behaviors might contribute to their feelings of being stuck.
Supporting Someone with Depression
When a loved one has depression, it is not always easy to know how to effectively support them. This task, in and of itself can be taxing and impact their emotional wellbeing as well. This depression worksheet resource is titled “Supporting someone with depression” and outlines how to support someone with major depressive disorder. It details how to recognize depression, how to help, and what steps an individual can take to support their loved one and still maintain their own emotional health.
Postpartum Depression Information Sheet
Depression is difficult enough to navigate and understand on its own. When a woman experiences postpartum depression, the situation is often exacerbated by their new responsibility to take care of a newborn. Mothers with postpartum depression face unique challenges that need special attention for the mother to recover their emotional wellbeing. This depression worksheet resource titled “Postpartum Depression Info Sheet” helps individuals understand the signs and symptoms associated with PPD, risk factors, and treatments that can help them.
Cognitive Restructuring: Decatastrophizing
Depression can also lead an individual to experience large waves of irrational thoughts that are distorted and intrusive, meaning they cannot seem to push them away. These are called cognitive distortions. Catastrophizing is a common cognitive distortion that refers to an issue being over-exaggerated or “catastrophized.” For example, a person might assume the worst possible outcome for every situation. This worksheet titled “Cognitive Restructuring: Decatastrophizing” offers a step-by-step writing prompt to help a client reframe the issue they are blowing out of proportion. It forces the client to assess the likelihood of this happening or how likely it is to come true.
How to Practice Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness is and has been a great resource for clients learning to manage their depression. A common issue with depression clients is that they are unable to connect to themselves, their interests, the things around them, and more. Mindfulness meditation aims to center an individual, help them self-regulate their emotions, and more. This depression worksheet resource is titled “How to Practice Mindfulness Meditation” and helps clients understand how much time to dedicate to mindfulness, how to sit, how to breath, and how to center their thoughts.
There are thousands of other depression worksheet resources available to therapists on the internet. These resources were found at therapistaid.com, a great free resource for mental health providers looking for informational papers or activity worksheets for their clients.