The first thing you can do for yourself is break the word “depression” down. Ask yourself “am I lonely”; “am I grieving something or someone?”; “am I angry? who am I angry at and for what?”; “what do I sorely regret and feel I can’t fix?” Pulling out the threads of the word “depression” breaks it up and makes it easier to manage. Write this down in a notebook. Tease out each thread, so you really know what is going on.
The next key piece is journaling about how you are feeling. You can also use oil pastels, paints or crayons to draw your feelings on paper. These creative outlets connect you to your deeper self and register with your body as attention, time and love. Deep contact with yourself always eases sadness and loneliness. You are being your own best friend by listening to what is most important. The light of your own awareness focused on your distress will gradually soothe inner pain and restore your energy. It all comes down to being kind, being deeply kind.
You can ask for kindness from others too, some of whom may not u
nderstand what is going on. Show them this blog post. As long as they see you doing something for yourself – the tiniest effort – they will not lose hope.
Let yourself rest, don’t force yourself to do things that feel too much. A good diet, along with exercise are very helpful but that is a hard call when you don’t feel like getting out of bed. Buy soothing soups, if you haven’t the energy to make them, soups that agree well with your digestion. Finding them at a health food shop or a local slow food restaurant will ensure the best nutrients. Go to your front door and take in 10 deep breaths of fresh air. The next day, walk outside; the next, around the block and go just a little further each day.
Read my post on Forgiveness. Knowing we can forgive and be forgiven can be a big piece of the recovery process.
All is NOT lost, though it may feel like it. The journaling and drawing/scribbling with colour is like aerating your compost…it adds light and air. And that allows the trauma inside to shift and digest, eventually becoming a rich foundation of experience that strengthens you. It turns trauma into Soul food.
Seven of my treatments is a good average to bring someone out of a lifetime of depression – treatment without drugs and without side effects.
If you email me, as part of your 10 minute free consult, I will send you another easy, free exercise that will further lighten your load. You can reach me at to arrange a good time to call. Be good to yourself and remember to take just one soothing step at a time. It is not your fault that you are feeling this way. You haven’t “failed”. It is deep care that you need.
If you have found this post of value, please share it with your friends and “like” it on facebook. It’s so important that people know they can deal with depression without drugs.
For much more information on my work please go to my web site: janemoody.ca
