FOUR WAYS TO COMBAT DEPRESSION
I had suffered from depression for most of my life. No joke. I’ve been institutionalized on three occasions for it. Being on a locked psych ward really teaches you things about yourself. I came to understand that there may have been some part of me that enjoyed being depressed. I know that sounds odd, who could enjoy the desire of wanting to end their own existence? My father had committed suicide when I was eighteen years old. I know that he had contemplated the act for many years before going through with it. The thing that leads me to believe that, perhaps, I enjoyed feeling that way, and perhaps my father did too, is that I would be so reluctant to do anything about it. I would lay on the couch for weeks at a time being absolutely despondent. People would make suggestions to bring me out of it and I would reply (usually just in my head as I wouldn’t even speak to people) “you just don’t understand. Do you think I want to feel this way?” Well, if I wasn’t willing to do anything about it, maybe I did. Let’s face it, if you were told that you were guaranteed a million dollars cash, no taxes no nothing, and all you had to do was to get off the couch and walk around the block, you’d ask “how many times do I have to do it to get the money?” Why wouldn’t you do it to get rid of the soul sucking feeling of wanting to do yourself in constantly? Anyway, here are four things you can do that may bring you out of your depression. If you do them and you’re still depressed, you’ve lost nothing. You’ve actually proven a point. And at that point I suggest you seek professional help. Depression is no joking matter, no one understands that better than I. I know all to well what it can do to an individual and a family. So, please, if you have feelings of harming yourself or anyone else- seek professional help. That being said, if you’re feeling down try these things to bring you out of it.
1. MOVE A MUSCLE.
Lying about on the sofa in stinky clothes that you haven’t changed in a week will not do anyone any good. Get up off the couch and go for a walk. Breathe deeply when outside and, if possible, do it in nature. There is something very soothing and uplifting about being in nature and breathing fresh air deep into your lungs. Even in a city (I live in New York City) there are parks to walk in and enjoy. If you don’t want to walk, at least (if only for the sake of those around you) take a freaking shower!! Talk about refreshing and mood altering. A good shower can do wonders for the soul.
2. CHANGE A THOUGHT.
For the love of God, turn off the news!!! There isn’t a worse prescription for depression than watching the news 24/7. Doesn’t matter which way you lean either, left or right the world is going to hell and they will give you every reason for depression under the sun. The news is no longer the news, it’s a running diatribe of why the other side sucks and how if they get their way it will be the ruin of us all. Trust me, if it all comes crashing down, you’ll know. There is no need wasting what precious time you may have left dwelling on it. These people make their money getting you to tune in tomorrow to show you what evils the other side had done while you dared to sleep. Put on a funny movie, by all means read a good book, call a good friend that you’ve been neglecting and tell them how much they mean to you in your life.
3. MAKE A GRATITUDE LIST.
Personally, I think I should have listed this first. However, depression is such that it makes people highly narcissistic. Many years ago, I was in such a state that I really would have traded places with anyone walking down the street sight unseen. I felt my problems were so monumental that anyone’s were rendered insignificant in comparison. If you live in the western world, especially in the US, chances are very good that every day you experience things that millions if not billions of people around the world go to sleep for want of these very things. Even if you’re currently living in the shelter system (granted not an optimal situation) you at least have a roof over your head and are warm and dry. If you’re eating on a regular basis. If you have clothes on your back. These are things that you may not even be considering when in a state of depression. If you don’t think they’re a big deal, go without them for a few days and you’ll have a much better understanding of just how important they really are. If you’re healthy, if you’re loved ones are healthy, if you have loved ones, these are all things to be so very grateful for. If you don’t have these things, you can be grateful that you live in a place that has outreach programs for people in need. I have a good number of Haitian friends who tell me that things are very different in their country. And there are many countries like Haiti that just lack the means or the desire to help their struggling citizens.
4. THIS IS TEMPORARY.
Ironically, this is something that people with chronic depression should understand better than anyone. The fact is that, so far, you have survived one hundred percent of your worst days. Each has passed without drastic permanent changes. It is a shame to give a permanent solution, such as taking your own life, to a temporary problem. And folks, anything short of death is a temporary problem. If you are grieving the death of a loved one, please see my blog on that topic as well. I have lost two children in a car accident. I know what loss is about. Whatever it is that is bringing you down, it will pass, I promise. You will be a better person for having gone through it and will be better poised to help others do the same. I have found it helpful to allow myself two days to wallow in self-pity. Then it’s time to get off my ass and do something positive in my life.
