Another day, another depressive episode. Whether it’s about something you did a long time ago that haunts you, a breakup, a downward spiral of anxiety, stress, or really anything you can think of, we’ve all been there. (Unless you were blessed with good mental health.) It sucks.
The real problem with these spells is that you can’t just snap out of them. They stick with you until you feel helpless. All you want to do is lay in bed, watch stupid reality TV or sad hallmark movies, and eat your feelings—my personal favorite is watching old Spongebob episodes while demolishing a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. It’s always the same, right?
No! It doesn’t have to be. Finding ways to help you out of a depressive spell is somewhat challenging, but I’m going to make it a little easier. Here are some tips and tricks to getting back into the swing of things after you get “slobber-knocked” by your emotions.
- Whatever you do, DON’T chase the thing that’s making you sad.
The more you think about whatever you’re going through, the worse it gets. Trust me, I’m a pro at digging myself into a deeper hole of sadness every time I feel any type of way. Whatever you do, please, for the love of whatever holy spirit you believe in, do not dwell on your sadness.
- Read a calming book.
This one might be a personal preference depending on whether you like to read or not. Either way, if you want to venture into the literary world, stay away from the classics. Nine times out of ten those will make you sadder. (Spoiler alert, they never end up with who you want them to be with.) If you want to try reading, start with something you’re comfortable with to take your mind off of your emotions. If you find yourself getting bored, move on. Reading doesn’t help everyone.
- Go out.
Again, this might be a personal preference, but I strongly suggest having some much-needed fun. Go out for drinks, see an old friend, visit new little cafes or restaurants. Just do something. You don’t want to sit in your bed all day in the same clothes you were wearing two days ago because you have not had the energy to shower. It’s not very becoming.
- Change your routine.
A lot of what you feel can be avoided by doing something different. I’ve found that waking up earlier helps a lot when I feel shitty because I’m more focused on how much more time I have to do things. (See above.) But if waking up early isn’t your idea of a good time, try taking a different route to work/class. You’ll notice all of these things you haven’t seen before. The world is crazy, to be completely honest. You just have to explore it.
- Take a nice, relaxing bath.
What’s better than taking a day for yourself? Nothing. (Well dogs, but that’s a different topic altogether.) Throw an overpriced bath bomb in some steamy water, put some music on—nothing sad—and pour yourself a glass of rosé. In the wise words of Tom Haverford, “treat yo self.”
- Eat well.
Don’t drown yourself in ice cream like I do—that will only lead to worsened depression about other things. Make some good food, cooking will keep your mind occupied. I’ve recently been saving kale recipes for the next time I’m slobber-knocked. Eating healthier foods will give you more energy to do all of the above because you’ll be nourished.
- Meditate.
Half of the times I’m TKO’d by my feels are because of stress. The more I have to do, the less I actively do things. Beyond that, I’m also the worst at dealing with stress. It affects my whole life, and it seems like I can’t get away from it. Lately, however, I’ve been using these really helpful apps that teach mindfulness. They are step by step guides to calming down and staying calm. Breathing exercises are surprisingly magical. Take like 5-10 minutes of your day to try them.
- Surround yourself with people you love.
Lastly, make sure you have a good support system. There is nothing harder than fighting depression alone. No matter how much of a burden you think your feelings are, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Chances are, you can bond with people over certain issues you’re dealing with. No one should do this alone. Keep your people close.
Of course, these might not be tailored to your personal needs, and that’s okay. However, if you have not tried these tricks, please do. They have really helped me get through some tough shit. Also feel free to change them to accommodate you. It’s all about making sure your mental health does not impede your life. These strategies aren’t going to cure you, though. If you need professional help, reach out to your doctor.
If you’re having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255 for help. Depression sucks, but you can make it suck a little less.
