As many people know, I battle depression. Sometimes it gets really bad, to the point where I catastrophize everything. When it gets that bad, I freeze. I can't focus on anything except the problem. I can't hear reason, even when it's inside my own head. I never know when it will happen, there is never any warning.
I have decided to try a new technique, hoping that it helps keep me calm when disaster (or a bad shopping trip) strikes. I also know that I am not the only one in the world this happens to, so I will share my plan, as well as progress or lack thereof.
-Every day, as soon as I wake up, I will be thankful. I will thank my creator for allowing me to wake up. I will be thankful to have a family, and a safe place to sleep, and a job.
-I will look at my "thankful list" and remember that I have a lot to be happy about. (If you do not have a "thankful list" I highly recommend making one. I will share mine in a separate post.)
-I will exercise daily. It's a simple step, but sometimes I feel like I'm not worth the time. By forcing myself to work out, I not only make time for me, but also boost my mood. (Exercise is proven to elevate your mood due to endorphins being released.)
-I will write in a journal CONSTANTLY. I am horrible sporadic with my journal writing. I will write for a few days, then stop for a year. Oops. To remedy that, I will carry it with me at all times. I will write first thing in the morning, as well as throughout the day, especially when I am facing a stressful situation. Not only does this relieve some pressure by forcing thoughts out into the universe, but looking back, there might be a pattern that isn't clear at this time.
-I will remind myself that life is no big deal. It's not the end of the world. I have made it through so much, and I can make it through anything else that is thrown at me. Humans are amazing creatures. They adapt. They grow. And when they aren't crazy like me, they can think logically lol.
This is not all I am doing. I have a whole list of things that I am going through every day, trying to get better. I read a book the other day called Crawling Out Of Darkness. It is written by my mentor. She inspired me to become a fitness coach, and she inspired me yet again with this book. I highly recommend reading it if you struggle with depression or anxiety. Also, NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. It doesn't make you weak, it makes you strong. Do not think you aren't important, because someone thinks you are the most important person alive.
