Hey guys. It may come as a surprise to some, but I've had depression for quite a while. I know that depression isn’t a thing that really goes away (I mean you can get depressed and not exactly have depression I guess), but mine has gotten a lot better since I moved away to college and really started my life. However, I still end up having to fight back when I feel it creeping up on me. Sometimes, though, I don’t see it coming and WHAM, it knocks me right over. So to all of you out there who have depression or end up getting depressed for one reason or another, I wanted to give you a list of things (not necessarily in order) that I do to help me work my way out of a funk.
1. Favorite T.V. Shows or Movies.
Depending on how hard I feel depression settling in determines whether I spend my time watching T.V. or movies. If it’s just a little bit of a weird day, I usually watch a few movies. I say to myself, Okay, you have until the end credits to pull yourself back together. If by the end I’m still bummed out, I put in another movie and say the same thing until I can get my head back around to being productive. If I’ve felt really crummy for a few days, I give myself time to watch one of my favorite T.V. shows, usually one I’ve seen in its entirety so my brain doesn’t have to focus on anything.
2. Talk.
When I’m upset about something or not feeling so hot, I talk to other people. Not necessarily about how I’m feeling, usually I talk about other things to have a distraction. One of the things that really helps me get into a better mood is complimenting others. I’ve gotten over the fact that it might be awkward to tell the cashier that I like her hair or telling a friend how much their smile makes me smile. Whenever I see something about someone else that I find admirable, I let them know sincerely and not only does it brighten my day, it brightens theirs, too.
3. Draw or Paint.
I personally really, really like to draw, but this point may be a little difficult for some people to connect with and I recognize that. If you don’t think you’re very artistic or you have a hard time creating a picture from your head, just start with basic shapes and see what comes out of your drawing. That’s what I do and most of the time I don’t know what I’m drawing until the picture is done which is part of the magic.
4. Play Music.
I play trumpet and I’ve found that when I need to take a brain break from the world, playing my instrument allows me to express my feelings in a way that nothing else can. I pour everything I have into the music and by the time I’m done, I’m empty and refreshed, able to start my day over again. If you don’t have a talent for music though, there’s no reason you can’t jam out to some pre-made tunes and feel better that way!
5. Dress Up.
I don’t always dress up, but when I do- there’s a good chance I’m either depressed or I need to do laundry. Whichever the case may be, I’ve found that dressing up is a great way to put on a new face or identity for the day, tapping into a different, more positive part of myself. I’m able to look in the mirror and feel like I belong in a professional environment and can have a fresh start.
6. Go on an Adventure.
It doesn’t matter where, anything can be an adventure. Take a trip with your friend to the supermarket and buy some cake. Go out for coffee with your mom! (Shout out to my mom because this is my favorite thing to do :D) What really matters is that you’re with other people that make you feel good.
7. Do Something that Makes You Feel Worth Something.
Do something positive! I love to help people so helping my mom with a household task makes me feel worthwhile. Making a gift for someone is another option or even doing a project that you’ve been putting off for other ‘more important’ things works, too. Read a book, try a new recipe, sing a song; it doesn’t matter, just do that thing!
8. Cry.
Sometimes you’ve just gotta cry. I think that’s pretty self explanatory.
9. Sleep.
If you’re like me, after you’ve cried, you’re going to be tired. The best thing to do after crying is to wash your face, put some jammies on, and go to sleep. More likely than not, you’ll wake up feeling, at least, a little bit better.
10. Pray.
If you aren’t religious, you might not agree with this last point and that’s fine. However, praying is the one thing that’s kept me able to do the rest of this stuff. Holding on to my faith and keeping my trust in God has allowed me to get my head back on straight and move forward to when everything could get better. Without Him, I’m more than sure my life would not be what it is now. Praying is the best active-suggestion I can give to you guys.
Hopefully this list helps and even if you don’t think you’re somebody who needs these tips, send it to someone who you think might. As a person who has dealt with depression and continues to work against it, I can tell you that even the smallest act of reaching out to a depressed friend can make a difference.
Keep your chin up!
