5 Tips to Get You Through Depression

 

Have you ever been depressed and tried to figure out what to do to get yourself out of it? Everyone has gone through depression and, in fact, there’s an estimated 18 million Americans who struggle with it daily. High numbers and yet, nobody seems to want to talk about it.

Depression is something tricky in our society because, although many people deal with it on a regular basis, there aren’t many people talking about it. Judgement is one reason, and shame is another. People are worried about getting judged, even if it’s by their family and friends, and many people are ashamed that they go through it. As someone who struggles with my own depression, I’ve been in the shoes of someone looking to tell someone, simply to have some to relate to. Or to have someone who knows how I feel. It would have meant the world to me if I had just had someone tell me, “I see what you’re going through, and I care.” Instead, some people get, “Why are you so depressed? What have you got to be depressed about?” Or you’ll also have, “Just make it go away. You can make yourself happy.” Ha. Wouldn’t that be something? If we could just will it away?

I’m not doubting the powers of the mind because there is definitely power in positive thinking. It literally rewires your brain. It takes a long time to perfect, but it does work. However, to think that someone can will themselves happy is outrageous. If that were the case, everyone would be happy all of the time.

One of my favorite comedians of all time goes through depression, and he isn’t quiet about it. Jim Carrey, whom you may know from Ace Ventura, or maybe from one of his more serious roles like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, shares how he deals with depression.

You should think of the word ‘depressed’ as ‘deep rest.’ Your body needs to be depressed. It needs deep rest from the character that you’ve been trying to play.”

Jim Carrey

He also points out that, if you don’t get exercise, sunshine, and nutritious food, and if you don’t surround yourself with a support system, then you aren’t even giving yourself a chance. And, of course, he’s right. So, building off of that, here are my five best tips for depression.

1. GO OUTSIDE. Listen, I know it gets said a lot, and it’s really hard to do especially when you don’t even want to haul yourself out of bed. But that big beautiful ball of yellow in the sky shines with vitamin D, something that can cause depression symptoms if you don’t get enough of it. Even if you can’t make yourself walk, that’s okay. Just go outside and sit in the sunshine. Twenty minutes at a time, though. Anything beyond that, put sunscreen on. I tell you this as a person who is extremely light-skinned and will burn if I’m in it for thirty seconds too long.
2. BATHE. A shower or a bath can work wonders for my mood. There’s something about the water that calms me and when I get out, I feel like I’ve been absolved of however I felt before I got in. If you are too exhausted for a shower, take a bath. Throw in some bubbles. Grab a cup of tea. Tune out the world for a while. Or, if bubble baths aren’t your thing, take an ice bath. It may sound crazy, but it helps if you can start it. There’s a lot of research coming forward now about cold therapy and the benefits of how cold exposure can help the body as well as the mind. From ice baths to just spending some time in the cold without being bundled up, the benefits are there. Like anything else, though, make sure you talk to your doctor before trying anything new. Ice baths can put a strain on your body, especially if they aren’t done properly, so ease into it and be careful.
3. EXERCISE. Exercise increases endorphins in your brain. You may not be able to hop right up, put your running shoes on and jog a mile, and that’s completely understandable. There are days where I get so down that I just want to lay on the couch. Some days I allow myself to do that, because you do need rest. But most of the time, I make myself get up and do something, but that’s because I have kids who depend on me. Do whatever you can do. Yoga is good because it isn’t very fast-paced, and you can adjust it to your own level. There are several places to get free yoga moves, and Youtube is one of the best places I go to because there’s a variety of videos.
4. EAT. Check in with your body when you get depressed. Close your eyes and take a deep breath, and make sure there’s nothing that you need. Most commonly, when I start getting grouchy for no good reason, or if I’m exhausted or sad out of nowhere, it’s because I haven’t ate in a little bit. And I’m not talking about a bag of chips or a handful of cookies. Yummy, but no. I’m talking nutritious food, and something that you actually spend time making. My husband swears by red meat. If he starts getting in a funky mood, he cooks up a steak seasoned only with butter and salt, and he turns into a totally different person. So, if you’re hungry, take some time to cook yourself something that you love, preferably something with protein in it since protein helps with depression, as well. Also, on the flip side, if you’re lacking in a vitamin, it can also cause depression. So make sure you’re getting food that is good AND good for you.
5. PHONE A FRIEND. Reach out to a friend who can listen to you. If it’s someone you can vent to, just ask if you can borrow their ear for a few minutes. If you don’t want to talk about it or, in most cases of depression, if there’s no particular reason you’re feeling the way you do, just chat for a little while. It can take your mind off of things, and being social is helpful anyway. It lifts our moods, whether we realize it at the time we’re socializing or not. If you don’t have friends, message me! I’m a good listener and I’m pretty motivational.

Bottom line: you can do anything within your comfort level to get you out of your funk, but it may take something out of your comfort level, like going outside when it’s the last place you want to be. The most important thing to realize is: you are NOT alone, no matter how alone you may feel. There are others going through things similar to what you’re going through right now. Another important thing to realize is: what’s right for me may not be right for you and so on. I can force myself to get up and move around. You may not be able to do that. You may be able to jog around the block whereas I cannot. Don’t beat yourself up about what you don’t feel like doing. I’ll say it again because it’s super important. Don’t beat yourself up about what you don’t feel like doing.

Don’t think you have to deal with it alone. REACH OUT.