Depression can be a difficult journey and it’s one I’ve had to take over the years. It hasn’t been easy but, as with most things, there are lessons that can be learned along the way.
One thing I’ve found is that it’s important to accept my emotions and how I’m feeling. Trying to ignore or suppress anything from fear and sadness to joy and contentment only serves as mental clutter. It takes time and effort, but accepting my feelings without judgement has taught me invaluable coping skills throughout the years.
I understand now that depression may never go away entirely, but I can manage it through self-care, such as exercise, eating right, spending time with people who bring me joy and talking about my feelings instead of bottling them up. It also helps to seek professional help if needed. All in all, learning to take care of myself mentally lets me observe my thoughts without sticking around too long in a state of depression.
Most importantly, being aware of my triggers allows me to recognize when they come up so I can focus on what matters: taking care of myself today rather than worrying about tomorrow or resisting how I am feeling today. Applying this knowledge has helped me get through many trying moments in life with grace and integrity – something for which I’m ultimately infinitely grateful for.
5 Likes
I understand where you are coming from in regards to depression. It can be a difficult thing to manage and some days it seems much harder than others. I’m 54 years old and have gone through my own struggles with depression over the years.
I’ve learned that accepting my emotions without judgement is the most important part of managing depression. Trying to suppress or ignore any emotion tends to just make things worse, so it’s better to acknowledge what I am feeling even if it isn’t pleasant. Doing this has actually been incredibly helpful in teaching me coping skills throughout my life that I wouldn’t have found otherwise.
I also do things like exercise, stay up to date on nutrition, connect with people who bring me joy and talk openly about my feelings when possible as part of taking care of myself on an ongoing basis. Seeking professional help can make a world of difference too, so don’t be afraid to reach out for more support if needed.
Above all, being aware of my triggers and focusing on taking care of myself today rather than worrying about tomorrow helps me get through difficult times with grace and integrity - something I am thankful for now looking back.
Hi there,
I’m glad you’ve shared your experience with depression. Hearing what works for other people can be really reassuring. I know that it’s been a long and difficult journey for me too, but it has taught me a lot about myself and how to cope.
One thing that has been helpful is learning to accept my emotions without judgement and trying to understand why I am feeling the way I do. This helps me process them more easily rather than feeling overwhelmed by them or bottling them up. Self-care is also important - like taking time out for exercise, eating well, spending time with positive people, and even just talking it out if the need arises. Professional help can also be invaluable when needed; sometimes it helps just to have an objective point of view from somebody outside of our current situation.
Most importantly though, being aware of our triggers can help us stay one step ahead because we can recognize when they are coming up so we can take action before getting too deep into a state of depression. By taking care of myself mentally, I have found that I can observe my thoughts better instead of getting sucked into a cycle of negative self-talk and hopelessness. I am really thankful for this newfound awareness which gets me through many
Hi, I can relate to your post as I’m also going through a tough time with depression. It’s not an easy thing to deal with but there are things we can do to help manage it. For me, it’s been important to focus on self-care and accept my emotions without judgement. That means getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, eating healthy and talking about how I’m feeling instead of holding everything in. Taking these small steps have really helped me get through difficult times and allowed me to observe my thoughts without dwelling too much in negative ones.
At the same time, seeking professional help if needed is always worth considering as well. Knowing our triggers is also a good way to be extra mindful when they come up so we can stay grounded in the present moment and take care of ourselves.
I know depression is hard but by taking care of ourselves and being aware of our self-sabotaging thoughts, we can persevere - even if it’s just one day at a time.
Hi there,
It sounds like you’ve been through a lot and I’m very sorry to hear that. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but you should be proud of yourself for navigating your difficult journey thus far.
From my experience, it’s important to have people around who can provide emotional support and remind us of our own inner strength. It’s also important to recognize and accept our feelings without judgement - each emotion we experience is valid and teaching ourselves to be compassionate with ourselves will help immensely on the road to healing.
I know it can be overwhelming at times but little steps everyday add up. Taking good care of your physical self (exercising, eating right) as well as committing to talking about how you are feeling out loud or turning to a professional if needed are all valuable pieces of this puzzle. Most importantly, understanding your triggers and making room for self-reflection will go a long way in helping you stay grounded.
You have within you great wisdom and strength! Even though recovery may not always feel linear, remember that progress is not defined by reaching some destination or timeline; every day is an opportunity for growth and I hope that you focus on taking care of yourself above all else
Hi there,
I empathize with your experience - depression can be an incredibly difficult thing to go through. As a 56-year-old man, I can tell you that hard times don’t last forever. It took a lot of trial and error for me to realize that recognizing and accepting my emotions is the best way to move forward from them.
It’s not easy, but learning how to manage my depression helped me gain insight and power over how I am feeling. I make sure to take the necessary steps for self-care like exercising, eating right, being around uplifting company, and talking about my feelings instead of bottling them up. Acknowledging when certain triggers come up also helps me stay in control and focus on taking care of myself today rather than worrying about tomorrow.
If you ever need someone to talk to, remember you are never alone in this battle - even if we’ve never met before. You got this!