As someone who has dealt with depression and anxiety for many years, I have gained some insight into dealing with your feelings in a healthy way. It can be so easy to let depression “win” and give in to those feelings of isolation and numbness. Pushing yourself out of that cycle is not only imperative, it is also a challenge that is not easily combated. I have learned some things along the way that may bring insight to anyone who has struggled with depression.
It is more than a simple “bad day,” so it requires more effort to overcome.
Here are some simple tips to help get you back on track to conquer the day in your favor.
1 | Practice Gratitude
It isn’t the easiest thing to put into practice, especially during down times, but for me, practicing a guided meditation before bed helps calm the mind and put life into perspective. Meditate on one thing that happened in your life today that you are grateful for.
2 | Spend Some “Me” Time
Quite possibly the hardest thing to do is get out of your scrubs and sweat pants and put some effort into yourself. I don’t think “fake it till you make it” means putting on a total mask of makeup and faking a crazy “Crest white smile,” but instead–slipping on a cute and comfy top, taking a warm shower with a lovely smelling body wash with enlivening essential oils, and putting on a refreshing face mask like my all time favorite, by 100 % Pure and face the day with a new mindset.
3 | Feed Your Body
Chunky monkey may seem like your best friend, but it isn’t doing your body any good to live off the stuff. Make it a priority to fuel your body with the necessary nutrients to function at a basic level. I recommend making a green smoothie in times when you are especially not motivated. It is a quick and easy way to get in those good-for-you ingredients that will help nourish your body and mind. Below is one of my favorite recipes to stuff in those greens!
- Spinach – 1/2 cup
- Kale – 1/2 cup
- Peaches (frozen or jar) – 1/2 cup
- Hemp Hearts – 2 tbsp
- Sunflower seed or nut butter – 1 tbsp
- Plant milk (flaxseed is my favorite) – 1/2 cup
4 | Remember To Breathe
Take a few minutes before you leave the house, your bed, etc., to take some breaths. Inhale and hold it for 4 seconds, then exhale and imagine all the negative, cloudy feelings and emotions exiting your body. Just getting some good ol’ oxygen into your system can help you refresh your focus for the day to come.
5 | Remember
Know that you are more than your depression. You are a living, breathing gift to the world, and nothing should have the power to stop you from sharing yourself with it–not even your own self. Remember that who you are is so much more than any feeling in any moment. You do not have to let depression “win,” you have the power to take your own life back, one day at a time.
6 | Accept Help
Always seek help if you need it, from professionals who can give you counseling and medication to friends who will be there for you when you want to withdraw from the world, entirely. Depression can be extremely isolating, so just knowing that you can break that barrier by asking for what you need is a step towards healing.
