Don’t Feed Your Depression

Depression is a black hole that will suck the life out of you. It is an oozing, formless entity that will smother you. Don’t let anyone kid you – depression is real!

No one goes out looking for depression. It finds you. And when you are in its clutches, it can seem like escape is impossible.

But here is something you must understand about your depression. It can’t exist if you don’t feed it.

“So,” you ask, “how does one feed depression?” Here are some of the ways:

• Staying in bed
• Never getting out of your pajamas
• Keeping the blinds and shades drawn
• Avoiding engaging with people
• Not eating a healthy diet
• Making sure you are sedentary
• Focusing on your problems

All of these are exactly what your depression wants you to do. But you MUST NOT give in because giving in will allow the depression to destroy your heart, mind, body and soul.

This is what you HAVE to do:

• Get up – set your alarm and get out of bed before 8 a.m.
• Get dressed – put your clothes on, fix your hair, shave/put on makeup
• Get out – even if you have nowhere you have to go, go somewhere. Go to a park, go to Wal-Mart, get out in your yard.
• Surround yourself with light – open the blinds and shades, sit in the sunshine, turn on the lights in your house
• Talk to people – go see a friend, visit a nursing home, speak to every person you meet – and smile!
• Eat healthy – eat three meals a day, avoid junk food and fried food, drink plenty of water, avoid caffeine
• Exercise – go for a walk (even if it’s only around the outside of your house), take an exercise class, ride a bike, swim
• Quit staring at your belly button – raise your head up and find others who need you, send a card to a sick person or someone who has lost a loved one, do volunteer work for a homeless shelter or some other non-profit organization

I know what you’re saying about all these suggestion of things to do: “I don’t feel like doing any of them.”

You know what? I don’t care if you feel like doing them or not. You have no choice but to do them. There have been many times in your life that you have done things you didn’t feel like doing. This is just another of those times.

Whatever you do, don’t give up and give in to your depression. Be a fighter!