A depression can be a golden opportunity given to us by life to face head-on issues that matter greatly.....
“A depression can be a golden opportunity given to us by life to face head-on issues that matter greatly to our hearts, but which, out of haste or ignorance, have been swept under the carpet”. It is a beautiful and encouraging statement by Elif Shafak in her book Black Milk. Depression is a mostly avoided but serious mental illness; it poorly affects thoughts, speech, and actions with grief and hibernation. We take unprescribed bed rest for days and months then and start living in a tunnel with no light at its end.
Usual causes of depression include hormonal changes, usage of certain drugs, failure and suffering. We either ignore it, or go to a psychiatrist. In doing so, we forget that we can take an active role in our mental health treatment.
Challenge yourself
This is how we polish ourselves. The road is not always smooth. There will always be obstacles, but you keep marching on. Acquire new skills; take classes or attend lectures; it can even be ordering pizza when you hate using the phone. Go one step past you comfort zone in at least one arena. It could give you a sense of accomplishment and increase your self esteem and self confidence.
Get creative
Depression is all about lack of motivation. Reading changes that. We only need to select a good book, open it and here we are! Out of grief, in a new world. In such situation, reading inspirational biographies helps a lot; we get to know how famous people overcame their state of depression. So let’s take our prescription not to a drug store but to a good book shop.
Similarly, writing, cooking and drawing also help.
Say “no” to isolation
It is natural that depression leads to isolation. It always feels light when we share things and believe me there is always someone around us to listen to our emotional rants and understand us. Make a conscious effort to connect to others, be it your family or a trusted friend or a support group. Try to be present with them without expecting any result.
Look for positive vibes
Start thinking positively. If you have identified your thought process that contributes to your depression, ask yourself these questions: “is it true?”, “is there an alternate explanation?”, “what would I tell a friend who had this thought?” As you examine your negative thoughts, you may be surprised at how meaningless they are.
Practise gratitude
Count three good things that have gone well every day. The more you appreciate good things in life, the more your brain becomes alert to good things. We are so busy in our routines that we don’t appreciate our own efforts. It also makes you think how other people contribute to your life.
