4 Ways To Cope With Depression

     Depression is very hard to define because it's different for everybody but I do know that it's not just sadness, it's much deeper than that. It's a void, a feeling of emptiness. Coming from someone who has been through 4 non-functional depressions that lasted 4 months each, it's very hard to go through. Over the years, I have come to a lot of conclusions and found some tips that helped me get through those rough times and that is what I would like to share with you. 

Here are tips that I've found helpful during a depression:

📍Journaling Realistic Positive Affirmations

Depression causes a lot of us to lose our self confidence. Regular positive affirmations sometimes actually do the opposite of helping. If we don't believe what we are saying, then we might find ourselves feeling worse. This is why I underlined the word realistic! The affirmation must feel believable to you and have a positive spin to it. It's also important to explain why you believe it. I usually write down my positive affirmations and explain why in my journal.

For example:

1. Instead of saying: I love myself (but you might not believe it right now)

Say: I believe I am loved because my friend/family member believes in me. I am loved because my puppy loves me and gives me cuddles! I am loved because...

2. Instead of saying: I'm happy with where I am in life. (but you might not believe it right now)

Say: I am working on improving my life by getting out of bed every day. I am working on improving my life because I am looking for a job. I am working on improving my life by prioritizing my mental health. I am working on improving myself because....

3. Instead of saying: I love the way I look. (but you might not believe it right now)

Say: I love my freckles because they look cute on me. I love my hair because it's flowy. I love ___ about my body because...

Activity: Choose some positive affirmations below and explain why you believe it. You can find more online by looking up positive affirmations. You can modify them to your liking as well. You are free to share in the comments below. I would love to hear! 

1. I am loved because...

2. I am just as capable as anyone else. I believe this because...

3. No matter what happens, life will go on and I will be okay.

4. I deserve happiness and I'm working towards it. This is how I'm doing that:

5. My feelings are valid. This is what I'm feeling... (approach non-judgmentally)

6. If I put in 20% effort when I only have 20% to give, that's 100%. I am proud of myself for giving it that much effort. 

7. I am working towards learning more about myself and my struggles. Here's what I learned so far...

📍Medication

    I know that it's a bit scary to try new medications and wonder about side effects but medication makes a huge difference in many people's lives. For me, getting rid of depression outweighs the side effects. The good news is that if you don't like the side effects a certain medication gives you, you can always talk to your doctor about changing to a different medication that might suit you better. 

    What I find with medication like anti depressants is that there isn't usually one miracle medication. They usually work in combinations, meaning 2 different medications work together to stop depression. You just have to find your own combination that works best for you.

Activity: Talk to your doctor about different options you have in regards to medications. I know it's hard to reach out, but it's worth it!

📍Therapy/ Have someone to talk to

This is very important because the feeling of being heard alleviates a lot of tension. There are a lot of listeners here on 7 Cups who are willing to talk if you cannot afford a therapist. Even confiding in a friend can help. 

📍Patience

This is a hard one. When I'm in a depression, it seems like there's no coming out of it. I promise you, there is a way out. It just requires patience and time for your work and the medication to kick in. 

These are the tips that have helped me through my hard times. I hope they can work for you as well. PM me if you need or comment below what has helped. 

Love you all,

Sel