How hard can that be? When you're in survival mode, that's the only thing you can do because as soon as you release one tear, you're done. As a person suffering from depression, there are some days I just feel a sudden urge to give in. All I want to do is cry, but my inner voice reminds me to not let it go, because as soon as I give in, I won't be able to stop. "Not now, not now, not now", is my mantra, I have too much to do, too many people who need me right now. So just keep smiling.
Living with depression isn't easy, but I've learned quite a few tools that keep me going.......for now
- Be silly, many of my friends see me as serious, but as you can see in the photo, I do take opportunities to be silly every once in a while.
- Laugh, watch some video's, listen to jokes, seriously, find something that will make you laugh daily.
- Dance (I listen to music after dinner, it motivates me, gets my energy level up, and yes, I dance, and I sing. I'll go into a whole musical mode, which always makes Joe laugh. The air guitar, the microphone, and some pretty sensational moves, if I say so myself, but I feel good.
- Read, I always read, it's like a release from your real life.
- Yoga, find your Zen, really, take some time for yourself, you deserve it.
- walk, I know you've heard this one a million times, but trust me, it works.
- think positive, I know this is a hard one, especially when you have that monster whispering in your ear that life is just too hard, but you truly are what you think, so think good thoughts. Fight those demons, it will take practise, but you can do this.
- I personally find strength from reading the Bible, it inspires me, and reminds me that I'm not in this fight alone. God is always with me!
- Be lazy, who cares if you take a "me day" good for you! but don't do it everyday.
- talk to friends and family, luckily, I'm surrounded by a supportive family, and friends, but I don't often complain about being depressed. Most don't know that I'm going through a depressive episode, this is something I need to work on, but the signs are there if they really looked.
- make sure you go to your appointments, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, councillor, family doctor, or whoever you see, keep it!
- take your medication! If you've been prescribed medication for depression, anxiety, panic disorder, sleeping difficulties, or agoraphobia as I have been, taking your meds at the same time each day is a key factor in having them work effectively.
I smile, I laugh, I plan for the future, but there are days that I just can't cope, where I'm so tired of trying that I can't find a way out, but I look around me, and know that I'm loved. That's what gives me the upper hand, to know that my family, and friends would be there in a breath, to hold me up.
My husband has cancer, my sister has Parkinson's, what do I have to complain about? Let me tell you, everyone struggles with there own demons, don't let anyone tell you that your depression isn't real, because I know how much you struggle. Sometimes you have to be stronger than your disease to help those around you, but never underestimate the seriousness of your illness. If you need help, or don't have the strength to help those around you, whether you have kids, a husband, sickness in the family, know that you're no good to anyone else unless you take care of yourself first.
So keep smiling, but be true to yourself.
