Have you ever felt the need to google if your "depressed"? I have. I've felt it more than ever in the last few days to months to just google ways to make me "better". Ways to feel normal again... But what I'm figuring out is I'm no longer normal, I have a new form of "normal" that I don't understand yet but I'm learning to, it's the stages of grief I'm going through and writing them down is my way of coping with them, there are many different ways to cope with it. This seems to be my best way to just express my feelings on a piece of paper and maybe turn into a digital copy, if I feel it might help some else out there.
This is the life we live in now days, grief is all around us because death is all around us, depression is all around because lose of a job, lose of strengthen, lose of loved ones, being closed off, hating your job... The list could literally go on forever of reasons to be depressed.
Here are a few quotes to help get you through the day, night, week, month or year whatever you are struggling to get through.
“I found that with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone.” — Dwayne Johnson
“People who have never dealt with depression think it’s just being sad or being in a bad mood. That’s not what depression is for me; it’s falling into a state of grayness and numbness.” — Dan Reynolds
“I go through a lot of depression, and I know other people do, too, but I have an outlet that so many people don’t. If you have that inside of you and can’t get it out, what do you do?” – Billie Eilish
“A big part of depression is feeling really lonely, even if you’re in a room full of a million people.” — Lilly Singh
“Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say, ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say, ‘My heart is broken.’ ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
“I am bent, but not broken. I am scarred, but not disfigured. I am sad, but not hopeless. I am tired, but not powerless. I am angry, but not bitter. I am depressed, but not giving up.” — Anonymous
“Depression is being colorblind and constantly told how colorful the world is.” — Atticus, Love Her Wild
To overcome depression, it helps to know the facts. Depression is a medical condition and not “laziness” or a temporary response to normal grief and/or discouragement.
Symptoms of Depression
A major depressive episode is defined as experiencing five or more of the following symptoms every day (or most days) for two weeks or more:
- Depressed or irritable mood
- Sleep problems (i.e., sleeping too much or too little; sleeping mainly during the day)
- Change in interests (i.e., not being interested in what you used to enjoy) or low motivation
- Excessive guilt or unrealistically low self-image
- Significantly low energy and/or change in self-care (i.e., not showering anymore)
- Significantly worse concentration (i.e., sharp decline in grades or performance)
- Changes in appetite (i.e., eating too much or too little)
- Agitation or severe anxiety/panic attacks
- Suicidal thoughts, plans or behaviors — including self-harm (i.e., intentionally cutting or burning yourself)
It’s important to remember that not everyone who is depressed is suicidal. You can still seek help even if you haven’t demonstrated any specific suicidal or self-harm behaviors, or even if your symptoms aren’t as severe or persistent as the symptoms noted above.
OK, I’m feeling depressed… so now what?
Now that you know the symptoms of depression, some positive coping skills can be useful. All of the following techniques are supported by scientific research and medication prescribers — like psychiatrists — and these skills are frequently recommended as important parts of treatment even for patients who continue to take antidepressant medications.
WARNING: Do not suddenly go off your prescribed antidepressant medications without first talking to your medical provider. Discuss any questions or concerns about the side effects of your medications with your provider.
I haven't made it to "the end" of depression I've just been making it through it, so I can't answer what the end looks like but I can tell you living is worth it, the tears are worth it, making it is worth it, just keep making it. We can get through this even though it's hard, even though it doesn't always seem like you're able, you've got this, we've got this. we will be able to keep making it and we will find ourselves again we will be different but we will be better, so just keep going! In the words of Dory "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming, what do we do we swim!"
In the words of my Mom Theresa Hey, my angel I love you precious, thank you for being here! *Hugs & Kisses*
- Kimberly Sanders