Leah Androski
reporter@greenepublishing.com
Here are some tips to help cope with depression.
Take a shower, not a bath. Use a temperature you prefer. You do not need to wash, just get under the water and let the water run over you. Sit on the floor if you have to.
Moisturize everything. Use whatever lotion you prefer and use it all over your entire dermis. Put on clean, comfortable clothes. Put on your favorite underwear. Drink cold water and use ice. If you want, add some mint or lemon for an extra kick of flavor.
Find something to clean. Your area does not have to be anything big. You could organize one drawer of a desk, wash five dirty dishes, do a load of laundry, scrub the bathroom sink, etc. Blast music, preferably something upbeat and loud with loads of energy. Sing and dance, even if you aren’t great at either.
Make some food. Do not grab a Kit Kat bar to munch on. Take the time to fix yourself a whole meal, even if it happens to be beans on toast. Add something special to your meal, like a soft-boiled egg or some veggies. Prepare your own food. It tastes better, and you will feel like you accomplished something.
Get creative and make something. Write a short story or poem, draw a picture, color, fold origami, crochet or knit, sculpt something out of clay or do anything artistic. Create! Spend time outside. Go for a walk, sit in the grass, look at the clouds, smell flowers, put your hands in the dirt and feel the soil against your skin, etc.
Call a loved one, friend, family member or a chat service if you have no one else to call. Talk to a stranger on the street. Engage in a conversation and listen to someone's voice. If you cannot bring yourself to call, text or email, just have some social interaction with another person. Listen to them, even if you do not say much. It helps. Find your pet and cuddle them, if you can. Take pictures of your pet, talk to them, tell them how you feel, talk about your favorite movie, a new game coming out or anything else that comes to mind.
These tips may seem small or silly, but this list keeps people alive. At your absolute best you will not be good enough for the wrong people. But at your worst, you will still be worth it to the right ones. Remember that. Keep holding on. You are worth your weight in gold, so be kind to yourself and keep pushing on.
Find something to be grateful for.