Depression is a shadow that has followed me for most of my life. It ebbs and flows and, as I grow older, it is not as powerful. When you have had heart bypass surgery, one of the things they warn you about is the potential for post-operative depression. It is speculated that the reasons for this depression are: (1.) the helplessness you experience as strangers treat you, (2.) the level of trauma caused to the body by the surgery and (3.) coming face to face with your mortality. They aren’t kidding about the depression. As I mentioned, I am familiar with depression, but the sadness I experienced after bypass surgery was overwhelming. Now that I am just about through the gloom, please allow me to share a couple of things I learned about resisting depression.
1. Fight. No matter how bad the depression gets, do not give up. Keep your head down and keep moving. If you surrender, you will lose.
2. Talk. Even if you believe your friends are tired of hearing about your struggles, keep sharing them. Your friends love you and they will listen. Depression wants to isolate you and make you believe you are alone – and that is exactly wrong.
3. Touch. To be human is to need physical contact. Do not ignore the need to touch - shake hands, squeeze shoulders and hug.
4. Write. Get your feelings out. If you don’t like to write, then talk to yourself. Do not bottle up the feelings inside. Do not edit or apologize for them. By getting them out of your head, they become easier to review and evaluate.
5. One Day At A Time is more than just a song or a catchphrase. Pay attention to each step and don't look too far ahead.
PS: A friend shared these thoughts:
Two lessons I have learned;
1) Force yourself to do something for someone else. This is difficult and hard, but it takes the focus off of thinking about me.
2) Think about the good things. This is also difficult but check out all of Philippians 4:6-8... "Think!"
.GIF)
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Now there's some sad things known to man, but ain't too much sadder than the tears of a clown
when there's no one around...Smokey Robinson
It's interesting that depression prompts us to isolate ourselves and separate from those we need the most. Relationship and community together is what helps depression. Hmmm...maybe it's because the more we hang out with other people and see how screwed up they are, we start feeling better about our own lives!
One of my big challenges is to remember that the depression is "other." It is not me, not who I am. Does that make sense?
"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
"Never, never, never give up." - Winston Churchill
Some of the things that have helped me fight depression are as follows: Create something, whether it be a poem, essay, garage project, hobby, etc. You will surprise yourself on how creative you are. Seek out sunshine and spend time in it. Spend time with a pet, borrow one if you have to. A dog's favorite activity is you when you are petting it. I am convinced that those of us who experience depression are capable of living life on a much fuller and richer level because of our ability to observe and to be creative.
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