Every year, the month of August is celebrated as Happiness Happens Month in dedication to all the unique ways to be happy. However, it’s not always easy to feel happy. Social media and toxic positivity trends can make you feel like an outcast or like it’s your fault you’re not as happy as you could be. But you might need a little help to feel happy, and that’s okay.
Port St. Lucie Hospital offers mental health resources and provides tailored treatment plans for adults who are struggling with depression. With that in mind, happiness can be expressed through the desire to improve your mental health. It’s normal to not feel happy all the time. But it can be a problem when you generally feel unhappy.
Below, we’ll discuss what Happiness Happens Month is and what you can do if you’re struggling to find happiness.
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What Is Happiness Happens Month?
Happiness Happens Month was started by Pamela Gail Johnson. Not only is she the founder of the movement, but she also founded the Society of Happy People, which comes together to celebrate happiness every year. In addition, she is a certified professional coach (CPC), and author of the book, “Practical Happiness: Four Principles to Improve Your Life.”
Her Society of Happy People was originally known as the Secret Society of Happy People when the group was founded in 1998. However, her group and its movement weren’t a secret after being recognized on television and in People Magazine in the early 2000s. Beyond just Happiness Happens Month, the Society also created Happiness Happens Day, which takes place on August 8th. The main focus of these observances is to recognize the unique meaning of happiness and all its different forms.
What to Do When You Struggle to Feel Happy
If it’s hard for you to achieve happiness, you may feel like you need to hide your sadness. But you shouldn’t feel like you can’t be honest about your feelings, even if they’re different from those around you. The idea that you can “choose to be happy” may be inaccurate if you’re dealing with a mental health issue.
While it’s partially true that happiness is a state of mind, not everyone can easily control their emotions or feelings. Your ability to feel happy is also influenced by a variety of factors including biological components, past experiences, and your present circumstances. This is why some adults have a harder time being happy. And if you’re struggling to feel happy or content, you may be living with a depressive disorder.
Depression affects millions of adults worldwide. For these individuals, it can feel difficult or impossible to feel happy for longer than a few brief moments. But depression doesn’t have to stop you from celebrating Happiness Happens Month.
Signs of Depression
While getting enough sleep each night and carving out time in your day to enjoy your hobbies can increase your happiness, sometimes these wellness methods aren’t enough. You might need some extra support from medical professionals. This Happiness Happens Month, it’s important to take stock of depression symptoms you may experience.
You can experience symptoms of depression only once, following a difficult time in your life. On the other hand, you may experience multiple episodes that cause problems in your day-to-day life. You might not even be sure why you feel so bad. For this reason, knowing depression symptoms can go a long way in helping you figure out how to fix this issue.
The symptoms of depression include:
- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness
- Outbursts of anger, irritability, or frustration
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most activities
- Sleep pattern changes
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Appetite or weight changes
- Anxiety or restlessness
- Slowed thinking, speaking, or body movements
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Concentration and memory problems
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Unexplainable physical problems or pain
Available Treatment Options for Happiness Happens Month
Just because you don’t feel happy this Happiness Happens Month doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to If you’ve tried different ways to make happiness happen, but nothing seems to work, it’s time to consider getting professional help. There are a variety of treatment methods for depression. However, you may benefit from more intensive treatment, such as rehab for depression, if your symptoms are severe.
In addition to therapy, medication may be helpful to balance the neurotransmitters in your brain. Medication is typically added if therapeutic treatments alone aren’t enough to ease your symptoms. Individuals who take antidepressants to manage their depression can take them for several months to several years, depending on the severity of the symptoms.
But how do you get help? Port St. Lucie Hospital is a mental health center that provides personalized care to help treat your mental health condition. It can be hard to see the point in getting help when you’re in an active depression, but mental health treatment can go a long way in improving your quality of life.
Adult Mental Health Program
The adult mental health program consists of personalized treatment plans created for each patient by an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals at the center. The first step of inpatient treatment is the assessment. This is where you can receive a diagnosis in addition to your new treatment plan. Moreover, the assessments will determine the level of care and the right treatment modalities to match your mental health needs.
From here, you will begin taking the necessary steps toward recovery with the support of staff and other patients who share similar experiences. Through the different treatment modalities, you will find the right coping skills to manage your depression and the self-confidence to put your mental health first any time of the year.
Dual Diagnosis Program
The dual diagnosis program is for adults who are struggling with co-occurring disorders. In this case, treatment would be for depression and addiction. Whether you have depression as a result of your substance use disorder or developed an addiction to cope with your depression, this treatment program can help you.
If you’re ready to take the first steps toward sobriety during Happiness Happens Month, this program will treat both disorders simultaneously. As a result, this increases the chances of long-term recovery. With this method, the medical staff works with you to get to the root of your mental health struggles. Patients typically begin with detox before moving on to additional recovery options.
Getting Help During Happiness Happens Month
When you seek treatment for depression, the main goal is to return home with the necessary skills for managing your symptoms long-term. Happiness Happens Month is a time to reflect on what happiness looks like for you. But if you find that you’re not happy, then it may be time to look for professional mental health support.
Don’t hesitate if you have any questions about how Port St. Lucie Hospital can help you with your depression. Give us a call at (772) 238-7734 or fill out our confidential contact form. It’s okay if you need a little help to feel happy. Port St. Lucie Hospital can help you find ways to feel your version of happiness this month and every other month of the year.
