Let Someone In... And Show Someone the Door.
To successfully fight depression, we must make mindful choices about who we let in- and who finally needs to be shown the door.
Often reaching out for help can be the hardest step. Sharing our emotions with others, especially when our emotions are very negative, requires vulnerability on our part.
And sure, we don’t want to overshare with people that haven’t established a positive track record. There are some people who won’t have your best interests at heart.
In fact, right now, there may be people in your life who suck your energy and who create turmoil in your heart. Sometimes these people aren’t bad or evil, but when we allow them our time and energy, they have a negative effect on our mood and actions. Show these people the door by spending less and less time with them. Don’t answer their phone calls and stop making plans to visit with them or do things for them. You can calmly let them know you are focusing on yourself if they are angry or upset at the changes you are making. If anyone had treated you in a way that is abusive, you do not owe him or her an explanation- just get out!
However, seek out those who have been there for you in the past, who have healthy and positive lifestyles, and who have earned your trust- and really let them in!
One of depression and anxiety’s biggest lies is that it is not safe to be vulnerable- or that by being vulnerable, we become a burden on our loved ones. But nothing can be further from the truth! We need to identify who is safe to be vulnerable around and act accordingly. Once we do that we can know: our loved ones want to be there for us during our hard times. Has a friend ever confided in you? That confidence showed that they felt you are a trustworthy and caring friend, which in turn probably made you feel like a trustworthy and caring person. Your friend reaching out to you not only had the benefit of helping them, but it helped you feel needed and valued as well.
We take away from our loved ones when we don’t allow them to be there for us. And when we open up to our trusted loved ones, we benefit from the support and accountability that they provide.
Top 5 Ways to Fight Depression: Series Intro
Top Five Ways to Fight Depression Week Long Series. New entries each day this week.
Depression and anxiety can appear in many forms. Sometimes it is a severe episode that traps you in a dark bedroom for weeks at a time, preventing you from functioning at work or from spending time with family and friends.
Other times depression and anxiety can be more subtle. It can be that low grade fever feeling- that you are just going through the motions, just getting by… Just not experiencing true joy or connection.
Depression and anxiety are difficult to overcome because they feed you a lot of lies, and over time those lies become your truths. Depression tells you that you are alone. That the world is not a worthwhile place. That nothing can change- and that you deserve to feel the way you do.
But none of this is true, and there are concrete steps you can take to debate these lies with both your thoughts AND your actions.
If you are concerned that you are experiencing depression, it is time to take action. Over the next week, I will be exploring five simple steps you can take to fight off negative feelings. You have so much to contribute and you deserve a life filled with wellness! So please check in each day this week to learn a new step to wellness, and let me know your thoughts. My readers benefit from other's readers feedback, so please comment below if you have tried any of these steps? What has worked for you? What would you add to my list? Looking forward to interacting with you!