My Top 10 Depression Destroyers

I was clinically depressed, I actually took anti-depressants for about 6 months when I was in my twenties and having suicidal thoughts.

Now I'm no doctor and I am only speaking from my experience but I didn't feel any benefits from them, they gave me the sense that I couldn't actually feel anything, so although the big lows were gone so was everything else.  

After doing some research I decided to come off them and replaced them with exercise.  Running was the first thing I did, although I often found it really hard to motivate myself to go on a run.  Then I got totally addicted to yoga and everything that goes with it and clinical depression became a thing of my past (for now).

However I do still have my own bouts of feeling depressed and so I am sharing with you my list to help me keep depression in control.

‘My Top my top 10 Depression Destroyers

1. Get out of bed, even if it's just for a little while to make a cup of tea or get some food

2. Move your body in whatever way you can.  This might just mean walking around your home and this is totally ok. Just move. You don't need to overwhelm yourself with a huge exercise plan

3. Do not drink alcohol. It is a depressant and although it might make you feel better in the short term you will progressively feel worse, believe the recovering addict in me

4. Find one thing that you like doing and do it. It might be listening to a song, writing, singing, drawing, cooking. Anything that helps you to create and connect back to yourself

5. Call a friend and ask them for support. You don't need to do this alone, do not think that your friends will find you a burden, it is not true and most people would love to receive that call from you

6. Go outside.  This might mean just standing on your doorstep for a few moments and breathing. This is ok. Remember don't overwhelm yourself

7. Get into water, the shower, bath, swimming pool, ocean. Water is magical for our moods

8. Eat healthily. Junk food adds to the depression. If you don't have anything in you can ask a friend to get something for you, or order online, or maybe even venture out if you can face it. 

9. Do some basic pranayama, alternate nostril breathing.  Close off the right nostril and breathe in through the left then exhale out of the right. Inhale right and exhale left. Repeat to calm and balance your body and mind 

10. Accept your feelings. Give yourself permission to be depressed. Don't hide from it.  Talk about it.  Love yourself more than ever before by being kind to yourself.

Don't get overwhelmed by this, choose one thing to start with for the first day. Take each day at a time.

The next day all you need to think to yourself is "I need to a little more than I did yesterday".  And that's it.  My secrets for saving myself from depression. 

I invite you to connect with me if you can relate and wish to reach out.