Depression is a very serious, deadly illness. It takes many lives each year because one of the hardest things you can do is fight your own brain.
The illness is like a dark virus that creeps into your head and replaces all your happy thoughts with feelings of despair and hopelessness. It is a thief that steals your hopes and dreams and feeds you lies until you believe that you will never find success in your life, and that you’re no more than a burden to everyone around you.
And because of the stigma around mental health, there are not enough tools and resources available to those struggling. Most of the time, depression will make you feel like it’s invincible–that you are a slave to it forever, and the most you can do is to try to keep breathing. That’s not true. You may have the illness for most of your life, but that doesn’t mean that it has to stop you from living a good life.
Here are some of my personal tips for how I fight my depression, and I think it can help you too.
My first tip is to stay ahead of it. On the days that I wake up and the depression is no higher than a 6, I know I have to take my remaining strength to fight it. Most days when it starts off slower, I’m able to keep the severity from increasing by keeping myself busy. For me, that means I clean, I cook, I go for walks, I do whatever small things need to be done. Creating a to-do list on those days can really help you keep your mind on the right path. The busier you are, the less time you have for your thoughts to get clouded and become dark.
However, there are inevitably days when I wake up and find my dark cloud has not only already begun to rain, but it is actually a full blown heavy thunder storm. On the days when I wake up an 8 to 10 on the scale of severity, I barely have enough strength to get out of bed. So all I can do is try to create a peak through the dark clouds for the light to shine through. I do that by doing activities that bring me comfort and tranquility.
Some examples:
A movie. Movies/TV shows can be a great way to focus your mind on something other than your pain, but it should also be one that’s extra special to you. My movie is Meet the Robinson’s. For those unfamiliar to it, it’s an animated film about a kid genius inventor. One day he gets a visit from a kid who claims he’s from the future and there is someone trying to mess up the future so he needs his help. Not only is this movie adorable and funny, but it has an ending that is so happy that it makes me feel like things are gonna work out in my own life and it will be okay. Find the movie that does that for yourself and re-watch it as many times as you need.
A song. I would recommend something light and uplifting. It can even be fully instrumental–my calming song is a piano composition. It’s called River Flows Through You by Yiruma. If you’re looking for your special song, I recommend listening to this one. Lay in bed, close your eyes and let it envelop you. Breathe and focus entirely on the song. When I am at my worst and have difficulty taking a breath, I listen and my entire body relaxes. It’s like magic.
Read. The avid readers among us will already know the superpower a book holds to allow you to ‘escape’ from your worries. If you have never been a big reader, I highly recommend you give it another try. If it’s not for you, that’s fine. But if you find the right book and succeed in getting lost in the world that you’re reading, then you will have gained a life-long skill and passion to help you deal with life’s difficult times. There’s nothing quite like it–there’s a reason people always say, “the book was better than the movie”. It’s because you can rarely duplicate the special experience that a book gives you.
Go outside. This one may be harder to do on the really bad days when the energy has been sucked out of you, but gather up any remaining strength you have and get out there. We live in such a fast-paced chaotic world now, but nature continues to move slow. So even when you’re in a good mental place, try to set aside some time every week to go for a walk in a trail. Leave your phone in your pocket, take your headphones out and breathe in the fresh air that the trees gives us. Take time to listen to the rustling of the trees, and the songs of the birds. When life gets to be overwhelming, that can be the exact thing that you need and I truly believe doing this can make a big difference in your day-to-day life.
Workout. I’m sure it’s the one you’ve heard the most. We are always being told that working out helps improve mental health, among it’s many other advantages. But there’s a reason for they say it; it’s because it’s true! Exercise releases endorphins and endorphins make us happy! So find out what works best for you–whether it be going to a gym, or following workout videos at home. There are all kinds of different types exercises and a choice of the level of intensity to choose from so you can find your own preference. One of my personal favourites is yoga. On days when I want to work out harder I can choose a higher level, but I also have the option of a slower kind of yoga to help me relax and get centered.
Spend time with your loved ones. I’ve left this one for last, but it is probably the one that helps me the most. Depression can be a very lonely and isolating thing. Sometimes you don’t want to leave your bed and you don’t want to see anyone; and it’s okay to do that at times. When you do, you can use the other tools I listed to help yourself get into a better place. But you should never completely isolate yourself, because your friends and your family can be a great help. Not only can they distract you from your pain and keep your mind occupied on something happier, but they can also be a great comfort when you need to cry or to vent. Don’t be afraid to let the closest people to you in; they love you and they want to help you. They may not always know the exact right thing to do, and sometimes they’ll even say the wrong thing, but it’s always so much better than being alone with your darkness.
I hope this helps someone out there.
Yours truly,
Fashionably Natalie
FASHIONABLY NATALIE 