A new
morning filled with possibilities should be a gift. Sun shining and birds
chirping outside the window; those are all sounds of a day ready to be taken. I
was told once, “seize the day and capture undiscovered blessings”. This is how
most enthusiastically tackle each new day. Even on those rainy days some people
welcome the peacefulness of hearing raindrops and that slight haze over the
sky. If you’re like me, I have checklist or daily routines that become habit.
Rise, bath, brush teeth, dress, get kids together all to dash out to the car to
actually start the long day. Entering work spaces being greeted by welcoming
Hello’s and Good Morning’s by co-workers. I have to admit, prior to working
from home, I hated the daily good morning rants in the work place mainly
because I just wanted to be invisible. I simply couldn’t understand why or how
people was that damn peppy.
Those of us
with depression or mental illness are faced with a different fate. Just as the
change of the wind, we never know how each day will be. It’s almost like being
trapped in your own head playing games to conquer each level. Sometimes that achievable
moment is finding the energy to leave the bed. (Win for Shay, one foot out of
the bed!) People with a mental illness or depression create strategies on these
black days by recognizing triggers. We are the best “head” game players in the
world. It’s a way to keep connected and somewhat sustaining throughout the day.
These bouts can linger for days, weeks and even months in severe cases.
Mental
Illness can control your life if the mind, body, spirit and environment are not
conducive to positivity. For myself, it was imperative to firstly recognize
that I was “in fact” depressed and face the underlining issues of it. This was
the hardest because as I met my hurts, pains, regrets and childhood traumas the
surface was cluttered. What I learned by comforting every aspect of my life:
~ You are
not to blame; forgive yourself and others
~ Pain is to
be healed NOT to keep one bound
~ Don’t hide
in others. You will become co-dependant by looking for others to make you feel
good
~
Over-giving of self. You give others for gratification. (The maybe they’ll love
me more syndrome)
~ Never be
afraid to Fail. We are NOT perfect
~ It’s ok to
say NO. Don’t overextend yourself so much that you become lost
~ Put you
FIRST. Happiness is a self-selection
There are
daily habits so that bleak days are farther in-between. This is the work after
the “Comforting”. There were times my mind wouldn’t allow me to get out of bed.
Days where I was completely happy floating on life then “Boom”, I wake up sun
bright but my head recognizes the darkest gray. Your family would even learn
your “good” and “bad” days. The question, “what’s wrong” was the most hated
inquiry and my responses was always, Nothing and EVERYTHING! I know, enough to
drive anyone bananas, right? The earth never had to shake for my mood to change
abruptly. I just know that I simply didn’t want to deal with life. I needed a “reset”.
I needed to find some way of balancing it all even on dark days. How did this
shift start to manifest change for me?
~ I became more
cautious of what entered my body
~ I ended
friendships/relationships that were toxic. THIS WAS HUGE FOR ME
~ Create a
hobby that relaxes you; I wrote till my soul glowed to LIVE
~ Change of
environment… move, relocate or create some space for real reflection
~ Recognize
what your triggers are. These are usually connections directly linked to you
~ I began to
love me; flaws and all. I now owned all of my mistakes to help rebuild me
Depression
and mental illness is a very real subject today. The numbers are increasing in
suicides and in younger age ranges. It’s no surprise I haven’t mentioned “medication”.
I’m an avid advocate for seeking professional help, some aren’t able to cope
without prescription. I’m 3 years with no medication but there were times I
just knew I needed that “stabilizer” but I then went back to these methods;
just like going back to basics. I had to heal me “whole” inorder to fight days
a little less and the work continues.
There is true freedom after an unchained mind.
