More Things That Help My Depression

 

1. Lexapro

I went through a bunch of drugs, and this one makes me feel like the person I was a long, long time ago. It makes me feel…not normal, because we all know I’m not normal, but like life is fun again. I pair this with a high dose of SAM-e. I tried to cut out the SAM-e and the second day of a reduced dose I woke up having a panic attack. So. SAM-e still helps quite a bit.

2. Eating less junk food

I’ve been cutting up celery and carrots to snack on during the day with honey roasted almond or peanut butter, or hummus. It makes me less sleepy than eating chips or cookies, even though I am still an advocate for chips and cookies. Just maybe not all the time.

3. Walks

I am trying to take a long walk every single day. It helps that I have a dog that I make very happy when I do this.

4. Writing About Good Things

I don’t know if you noticed, but I am trying to be less angsty here. I read somewhere, a long time ago, that frequent journalers are unhappier than those who don’t navel-gaze. I don’t know if it’s true for everyone, but it sure seems to be true for me. I am not saying that I don’t talk about the hard stuff, but I am trying to focus less on that and more on my ridiculous kids and my great husband and making as many jokes about life as possible when I can.

I am also writing about good things that I want to happen to me, pretending they’ve already happened, to get the good feelings. Like, if I wanted to get a job, I would write about getting a job offer and what I felt like. It’s a little woo-woo, but it helps me focus less on the “I don’t have anything I want! *foot stomp*” and more on how great my life already is. It makes me want less and act more.

I did not write about that well at all. Sorry. I done no good. If you have questions about this, email me. I’d be happy to talk about it in more detail if you’re interested.

5.Taking time for myself

What I mean by this is that instead of taking time every evening when I collapse in a heap after I’m completely spent, I purposely plan for fun things. Tubing, shopping, baking, date nights, making time for friends, restaurant nights, vacations, etc. I make plans. Plans are happy-making.

6. Reading less

You guys, I said this last year and a bunch of you asked why I would do this, but sometimes I read too much. TOO. MUCH. I am purposely trying to read less. It helps that I’m kind of burned out on romance novels for the time being and I’m reading some literary fiction, which is…sloooow. And boring. And slow.

I hope this helps, and I hope you know that I still have bad days even though I share them less. I do. I don’t imagine a time in my life when I won’t struggle with this, but I figure this is all a process. Want to share something that helps you?