Let me start this post/article/sharing my heart – whatever you want to call it, by taking a deep, deep breath. I’ve been doing this a lot lately. Taking deep breaths and repeating to myself – I AM OK!
Truth is, I am not ok, I haven’t been in a few weeks. But I am writing about what I am feeling, so only by doing this, I know that I will be better. You know why?
Things do get better. If you don’t give up, things will get better, you will get better.
It’s never easy to talk or to write about depression. When I published my 1st novel, one of the people who wrote the foreword for the book, named depression the disease of this century. I couldn’t agree more. Just to make a comparison. I think that nowadays depression, it’s like both world wars – no one could escape it. And we can see it: from normal people like you and me to celebrities, to politicians to royals.
Sometimes the most menial tasks can be the highest mountains to cross. Yes, when your mind is all over the place your biggest challenge could be to brush your teeth or take a stupid shower.
But long story short – what do I do to find my energy in the middle of a depression?
- I acknowledge my feelings – all that put a brave face and constantly repeating myself that I am ok when actually I am not – it’s not helping me at all. Do you know about the straw that broke the camels back? Lying to yourself, won’t help, so please, take a step back and try to acknowledge what’s happening.
- Take a break – yes, you need that ice cream in bed and those 5 hours of Netflix. We are a generation always set on doing something, always planning, continually running to the next project. You don’t believe me? Check millions of daily routines on Youtube where everyone talks about their super productive days. We might not all do that, but for sure that is the goal. We strive to be like that. So sometimes – JUST STOP!!!
- Practice good sleep hygiene – try to go to sleep at normal hours. For me, that usually means: 23 PM and waking up around 7 AM.
- Exercise & Eating Healthy – I can’t say this enough – yes, we have that ice cream in bed, but we are not having that daily or for 3 meals in a row. A good, clean died combined with exercising, they always go hand in hand with a healthy mind.
- One thing at a time – give yourself grace – start today with a shower, tomorrow with a run, next week say HI to someone, in a month join a class online. Just one thing at a time.
Oki, I will stop with these five points. Honestly, this list could be neverending, but these are a few habits that I’ve practiced for the past weeks. And I’m not walking on sunshine, but I am definitely in a much better place than I was a month ago.
It’s a journey!