During the depression experience, there is no normal, 100%, happy day like there once was. Instead, there is a depression process that has its lows and then there are the really, really lows. Every once in a while there is a happy moment. Overall, the journey requires finding your best way through a truly difficult experience.                               

Unfortunately, there is not one right way to navigate through the overwhelm of depression. Each person experiencing their journey must reach both outward and inward for support. Below are five powerful tips that can help you discover your own unique approaches to help you cope with the rough patches of depression.

Accept the Situation
If you’re like most people, you really don’t want to accept the situation. After all, this experience feels so terrible you don’t want to accept it. You want to fight it. You want to push against it. You want to do anything to make it to go away. Struggling against depression is an automatic and immediate reaction, however, it is a reaction that only makes you sink deeper. There is a way out, and that way begins with acceptance. Acceptance brings you to a place of stillness to assess the situation from a non-reactionary perspective. 

Prioritize Your Obligations
There are a lot of obligations in our day-to-day lives, but during depression some of those less than critical obligations need to be set on the back burner. Of course, you want to do it all, to live your “normal” life, but acceptance helps you recognize that this is not your “normal” life. You are in a depression process. Carrying too many obligatory “should do’s” will weigh you down, pull you under, and slow down the healing process. So lighten up your load by eliminating all those less than top priority essential actions. Even though you are depressed, you still possess the ability to discern which of your life activities must be sustained, which activities might even be helpful to continue, and which activities must be set aside. 

Breathe deeply
Depression easily keeps your body, mind, and spirit in the quicksand grip of worry, anxiety, fear, and overactive thinking. Learning to manage your breathing is a core skill necessary to lower the stress and calm down. Deep conscious breathing gets you centered and helps you get out of your own way. Breathing is the lubricant that disentangles fear, lifts out heaviness, and brings in hope. With some of that heaviness dispersed, you feel a little lighter, a little more energized, and a little more capable to get through the day. Don’t worry about finding the right way to breathe, just allow yourself to take slow deep breaths often throughout the day and especially when things feel overwhelming. 

Self-Talk that Works
Go to the nearest mirror and talk to your body, your mind, and your spirit. Acknowledge the difficulty of your situation, and thank your body, mind, and spirit for doing their best to help you get through this. 

Your body, although it feels terrible, is not the cause of your depression; it’s the part of you that carries the physical effects of the depression process. Your body must deal with the stress and overwhelm of depression, as well as the lethargy, emotional effects, and aches and pains. Let your body know that you appreciate the hard work it’s doing in helping you move through this experience. 

Also talk to your logical mind with compassion. Your mind is most likely overtaxed and overwhelmed trying to figure out a solution to end this depression. Since depression is a process, there aren’t any mental solutions that your mind can produce to suddenly end this experience. In the mirror, tell your mind that you appreciate all the logical efforts and intellectual attempts at solutions. Let you mind know that it hasn’t failed you, but instead there are no mental solutions that will quickly end depression. 

Lastly, speak with your spirit. You will know instinctively what to say. Offer your spirit gratitude, a plea for help, or even offer your anger. Communication with all parts of you will keep the depression process moving forward. 

Healing Spirit of Nature
Take one walk a day, in a park or natural setting. While you are outside, notice anything that strikes you as colorful, interesting, or pleasing to your senses. Feel the wind on your skin, notice the temperature of the day, smell the flowers, feel the grass beneath your feet, listen to the leaves rustling in the trees, or sit by a creek and watch the water flowing by. Because you are depressed, you may not be able to experience happiness as you once did (and will again), but nature opens your senses and gently heals your wounds. When you don’t know of anything else to do to get yourself through the day, take yourself  outside. 

Depression interferes with life and routines, and disrupts emotions. If you are having a difficult day look both within and without to help you survive. Ask for support. Reach out and be honest. You might be surprised at how many people have been where you are right now. Also reach within and notice the best ways to take care of yourself. 

Are you looking for new ways to end depression? Even if you are angry at yourself for being human and have lost all hope, Depression Freedom shows the gentle steps you can take to skillfully lead yourself through depression and restore the joy of living. It is impossible to read this book without being changed by it. The inspiration within these pages will captivate you and be the inspiration you need to stop the reign of darkness and embrace a new celebration of life.

{ 2 comments }