Over the summer, I hit a rough patch. I felt really down, and the lower I felt, the less I did to try to help myself.
It wasn’t like I just woke up one day and realized I was down. It was slower, more like a slow descent into sadness and anxiety.
Slowly, I started skipping exercise, yoga practice, and vitamins. I started eating more junk food, and having a lot less fun.
Inside, I felt terrible, but on the outside I was going to work, being productive, and interacting with people everyday.
I was depressed.
Thankfully, I had the resources to reach out and talk about how I was feeling. I was also able to start taking small steps and started feeling better.
I was really lucky – my depression passed by itself.
But that’s not always the case.
The truth is that depression exists on a spectrum, ranging from feeling down to being clinically depressed to the point of needing help from a psychiatrist and potentially medication.
The other truth is that being down, feeling low, or having clinical depression isn’t outwardly visible like breaking a bone is.
You can’t necessarily look at someone and see that they have depression, and if you’re experiencing depression, others can’t see how you’re feeling.
What’s more, it isn’t often considered acceptable or safe to talk about what’s happening.
It’s a tough scene – feeling down and having society tell you to “shake it off,” or “keep a stiff upper lip.”
You can’t just snap out of it, and you shouldn’t be pressured to.
It isn’t as simple as just changing how you feel.
Whether it’s a chemical imbalance in your brain, or something else that you believe, changing your emotional experience in a split second isn’t realistic.
So what can you do?
- Acknowledge what you’re experiencing. You are a person. You have emotions and an internal life, and it’s important to recognize your experience.
- Take small steps – if you’re feeling up to it, go for a walk, take your vitamins (if you had before), take time for self care.
- Reach out to friends and family. Or just one friend. Say hi. If you feel comfortable, talk about how you’re feeling. Often, people want to be there for you.
- If you aren’t feeling better, or feel like you’re feeling more down, reach out to a mental health professional. There are people out there who can help. Remember that you don’t have to pick the first counselor or doctor you meet with. Find someone with whom you feel comfortable. Try www.psychologytoday.com for lists of mental health professionals in your area.
There is nothing shameful about depression. It is not because you are weak, or confused, or whatever the world tells us about mental health. There are so many negative perceptions of depression, and sometimes it seems as though people are angry or scared to even talk about depression. But we should talk about it. It’s important to recognize and acknowledge not only our own experience and the experiences of those we love, but of those in the world.
Things are never permanent. They come and go. If you’re feeling down, it can pass. If it doesn’t, though, remember that you have the power. Remember that you can make the choice to seek help. You know yourself better than anyone else.
Follow Allegra and Hints of Joy
"Always desire to learn something useful." - Sophocles
No comments:
Post a Comment