8 Tips For Staying Afloat While Riding The Waves of Depression

By Avion Anderson

As I sit here and write this, a lot of things are running through my head. Like a wave of negative thoughts, slowing, trying to take hold of me and stop me from going ahead. But I must, for my own well-being and with my recovery.

February is the month of love and where creativity comes to life, so they say. I guess it’s because Valentine’s Day is around the corner and Cupid and his army comes out with a lot of bow and arrows all marked and decorated with love.

So, why not pick yourself up out of that dark spell and spot in which we all have found ourselves? Come what may, shouldn’t we let this month be one where we rise above our depression?

Throw Us A Rope!

Depression is the second scariest mental illness. First would be post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for it’s like, as I stated already in earlier post, a sinking ship. One feels like one is sinking beneath the sea, into one’s own private despair. One does not have to be in the dark forever.

I know that the depression will not go away with a bow and arrow, or even overnight. However, it would be great that despite the storm and waves of depression which we face, there’s still that ray of light shining through. Also, there’s still light at the end of the tunnel. There’s a rescue boat coming to save us and someone there to throw us a rope to pull us up from sinking beneath the sea.

Drive and Willpower

Recognition of the start of your depressive episode, which may be hard at first to recognize, is a must. It is the first step in one’s recovery. But don’t stop there and wallow in fear and despair, like you’ve been trampled on the ground.

Rise above the waves of depression, pick yourself up and get on with your day and life.

PROGRESS IS A SLOW PROCESS, BUT DETERMINATION, DRIVE AND THE WILLPOWER TO GO ON IS WHAT WILL GET YOU THROUGH IT ALL.

8 Tips for Staying Afloat

Here are a few pointers and tips which I think one might find useful when you’re stuck in a depressive episode, such as:

– Reach out to family and friends

Pick yourself up and meet your family and friends halfway. Isolation and withdrawal, avoiding social events and interactions with family and friends, make the depression worse.

When we isolate ourselves from others and even the outside world and stay away from social gatherings, we are only feeding the depression. Also, we make it stronger and allow it to control us.

If you suffer from social phobias, then reaching out would be the hardest thing you will ever do. So I would say seek help and guidance. Treat yourself, members of your family and friends to breakfast, lunch or dinner; even if it’s one day per week, do it.

– Keep track of your symptoms and try to maintain a system or schedule

I know that this is hard. When you have other mental disorders on top of your depression, that will make it very hard to pin down which episode that you’re having, if it’s depression or another.

This makes it easier to keep track of each and all of the symptoms, and discuss them with your doctor. Then he/she will be able to ascertain how your progress is going, as you seek to maintain balance and a healthy routine.

–Get Support

For those who have mental disorder and illness more severe than others and can’t do it on your own, when you don’t have any support system often you feel like the world is against you.

Stop! The world is not against you, just those who are arrogant and ignorant to the cause and issue of mental illness.

–Seek help and treatment from a certified medical professional

Attending therapy sessions, meditation and even yoga, can help greatly.

– De-clutter and redecorate a room

De-clutter is a word, which I have always heard being used when one talks about removing mess from your place or organizing and prioritizing one’s life, commitments, material possessions, etc.

When we are depressed, we love to stay indoors, so why not de-clutter? Redecorate room by room in the house by simply adding a few brightly-colored throw pillows to lift your mood. Also some vases of fresh flowers; even rearrange the furniture or paint the walls a new color.

– Try a new haircut or hair color.

Regular haircuts are important. If you don’t have money to pay to have your hair styled and perm every week, then do it once a month, when you get paid. If you are working, or get a monthly allowance from your spouse if you are a stay-at-home parent, do it.

When you are in the hair and beauty salon, talk to your hairdresser about trying out a new style and hair color. Just as an added bonus, while you are there, have your nails done and even a pedicure or detox.

– Wardrobe makeover

You have a new haircut or hair color, why not a new wardrobe? Throw out those clothes which puts you in a bad mood or makes you feel dark and isolated and look like you are really depressed. You can either give them to the Salvation Army or a homeless person on the street. Then go out and purchase some new clothes from the flea market and discount or thrift shop.

Add colours that would brighten your mood and your life.

– Go to the library or book store and purchase books that challenge you

Reading is a motivator and a healthy way for me to cope with my depression. I love reading, from newspapers, to magazines, fictional and non-fiction books, eBooks, romance novels and others.

Go to the library once a week, or go to the book store and purchase one book. My pocket doesn’t allow me to buy more, which I may want to. You can let this be a continuation, don’t stop.

– Take up a new hobby or interest

Learn to cook; if you have never done that before, pursue some cooking courses or teach yourself.

Have you always wanted to paint? Start now as you de-clutter and redecorate room by room of your house.

Do have an experienced person close by just to give you tips.

You have a small backyard? Why not start gardening or landscaping.

Learn computer and information technology while you are at it, for we are in the technological era, so begin today.

Whatever new hobbies or interests you want to pursue, which are positive, great, creative and will not make you depressed, go for it.

Lack of Motivation

I have come to realize that depression causes many of us to lack motivation. The world starts to slow down, we stop doing things which we will normally enjoy doing. I think that we should not stop, because the episodes don’t last long and it does have to come to an end.

Just as the pain too will end, but because we close ourselves off from everything and feed our depression, the pain and the episodes seems like they are never-ending.

In reality, the pain does end, and one has to continue to move on with hope and stability.

These are just some pointers, tips and creative ways which I have started, stopped, and started back. They are working in a way for me, apart from my self-care routine and holistic stress management approach. All combined, these tips might give one a headache, but step-by-step, day-by-day, even week-by-week and month-by-month, I try mys very best.

I try and add a new activity to my routine and it is helping. I am not saying that one will overcome their mental disorder and illness overnight or in one day, and that it will disappear with the wave of a wand or a bow and arrow.

To start and take it one step at a time, is a blessing and a step forward in recovery.

Reproduced with permission, originally posted on Avionneslegacy

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