My Strategies To Overcome Depression

In my darkest days, I often found myself in depressive episodes, lasting up to weeks at a time. While going through it, I documented what I did to get myself out of these episodes. I share with you these 8 tips, which helped me reconnect with my inner self and find peace amidst the chaos. I invite you to embrace these practices with an open heart, use them to navigate your own journey through depression. Take what you need, leave what you don’t.

1) Identify the trigger and how it’s making you feel. Oftentimes, we find ourselves feeling sad and don’t know why. Ask yourself: What triggered this? How is this making me feel?

2) Acknowledge it. Radically accept the depression for what it is: a temporary feeling and let it be.

3) Communicate with anyone who may be affected by your current state and let them know how you’re feeling. When you identify the depression and communicate it, it becomes less scary. Bring light to your shadows.

4) Root in rituals and disconnect from anything that doesn’t serve you. For me, my rituals are yoga, meditation, going for a walk, journaling, things like this that make me feel grounded. When I’m feeling down, I find it helpful to also disconnect from things like social media, drinking, excess food, spending money, and any other distractions. There is no need to set an arbitrary time limit. Do this for as long as you need.

5) Remember the blue sky. Depression is like a cloudy day. Just because we can’t see the blue sky doesn’t mean it’s not there. Remember the blue sky and that better days will come.

6) Have discretion. Identify what you can work through/show up for, and what you genuinely need (and are able to) cancel/reschedule. You are in control. Do what you can and keep it moving.

7) Turn your pain into purpose. What is this depression teaching you? How can you make your story an empowering one? How can you turn your pain into meaningful, purposeful action?

8) Ride the wave, weather the storm, and most importantly: love yourself through it.

Remember, you are not alone in this journey. Embrace these tips with love and patience, and trust that brighter days are ahead. You are strong, you are worthy, and you are capable as you are, in this very moment..