Depression Hates It When You Do These Things
Hello, my name is depression. You know me by many different names, including dysthymic disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression and so forth. I am an insidious in nature, sneaking up on you when you least expect it.
If left unchecked, I grow in power and have the ability to you to your knees. I can lie to you, twist your thoughts and make you disconnect from everyone you care about. When I am super strong, I can even make you take your life.
What you may not know however, is that I am vulnerable to 10 specific things that weaken my intensity. If you engage in just one of these things individually, you chip away at my power. When you combine several of these however, I begin to quickly lose my grip and become smaller. I shouldn’t be telling you this information – but I am going to do it anyway.
Are you ready? Let’s jump right in!
Depression List of Ten
1. Circle of support
When you call upon your circle of support, like friends and family members, I start to cower. Reaching out to others means you are not isolating. This in turn makes my presence weaker. Wow do I despise when you pick up your phone and share what’s going on with loved ones.
2. Talk Therapy
When you visit your therapist to engage in talk-therapy and particularly cognitive behavioral therapy to address your sadness, I start to lose my reign of terror. That you are bravely working through your feelings is one of the things I fear most.
3. Physical Activity
When you embark on an exercise program like strength training or involve yourself with other forms of physical activity, you prevent me from taking ahold of your body and mind. One of the things that repels me from you is your commitment to self-care, particularly during stressful times.
4. Mindfulness
Because you engage in mindfulness based living, I don’t have the ability to sneak into your mind and make you ruminate about the past. Mindfulness robs me of my most powerful weapons; guilt, shame and fear!
5. Acceptance
When you embrace the various parts of your life, including my presence, you paradoxically make me smaller. That which you fear controls you but that which you confront, you begin to control. I can’t tell you how much it upsets me when you do this!
6. Happiness
When you make the conscious choice to have a happy day, you seriously mess with my plans to wreak havoc upon you. Simply put, when you decide to choose how your day will be, I start to melt away like snow in the sun.
7. Laughter
Oh how I despise it when you laugh! Any time you seek out forms of humor therapy or engage in things that are fun, I start to shake in my boots! Watching a funny movie or making light of something serious really gets under my skin.
8. Healthy Diet
I love it when you stress eat and gobble down food that causes my powers to grow! On the flipside, I absolutely hate it when you choose to eat healthy meals that cause me to lose my grip. Making the conscious choice to care about what you put into your body sends me running for the hills!
9. Medication
When you consult with your doctor and decide to use anti-depressant medications, I get really freaked out. I don’t like it when you become educated on the different types of anti-depressant medications and I cannot stand it when you ask your physician questions about potential side effects. This means you are actively doing things to drive me out of your life.
10. Patterns of time
When you recognize that I often visit you on a seasonal basis, particularly during wintertime, you start becoming empowered with knowledge. I particularly despise it when you recognize that I am a temporary presence in your life. Oh, how I hate it when you say to yourself: this too will pass. Your ability to rationally look at who I am, and my patterns really causes me to shrink.
Final Thoughts
There are lots of other things that you can do to repel me away, but I have said far too much already. What you choose to do with this information is up to you. I’m always here – lurking in the darkness and just waiting to grow.
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If you are depressed and think you might hurt yourself or someone you know, please call 911 immediately or go to your local emergency room. You can also talk to someone by calling the Suicide Prevention Hotline 24/7 at: 1-800-273-8255
