Isolation. Quarantine. Working from home. The sudden flexibility and the perfect excuse to avoid dreaded events probably appealed to most people at first. But shortly after the quarantine’s limitations we started to see spikes in depression, suicide, and other horrible things. A dark gloom spread over so many areas.

The beginning of quarantine was a stripping season for many. Loss of jobs, community, security, social, even health. And, although it wasn’t forced on me, I definitely did not make it out unscathed. Within the first few months I felt that it was time to end my long-term relationship and quit my job.  I was saying goodbye to so many things I had learned to rely on. Things that distracted me from my own heart.

I’m no stranger to depression. While it hasn’t been present in my life for years, it’s something I still take very seriously. I would never say there is one-size-fits-all approach or cure, but I can share from my own experiences some simple things I have learned that keep me in a healthier place.

 

MY LESSONS FROM DEPRESSION

 

  1. Sit Still — Whether it’s chosen or forced, silence can be an amazing teacher. Sit in your favorite chair for 15 minutes and think. Go through the day, the month, your choices, your feelings, your hurts, and your fears.Wounds don’t heal when they’re ignored. Flowers don’t grow when they’re buried.

 

  1. Be Honestly Guarded — The second you start thinking anything that’s not “true, noble, right, pure” (Phil. 4:8), it’s time to move on. You have to shut that down immediately. Don’t stay there. Remind yourself of something that IS true, noble, right, and pure.

 

  1. Journal — Simple as it seems, writing down your fears somehow makes them smaller. Maybe it’s the fact that you can scratch them out immediately, but taking a minute to jot down what you’re subconsciously believing allows for daylight comparison. Lies breed relentlessly in our minds—there is very little accountability there—so bring them into the light of reality. Bonus points for telling a good friend.

 

  1. Be On Mission — Who are you? What do you want to be about? Try writing out your own mission statement. Everyone is different. My trigger and greatest fear is worthlessness (#enneagram3) so that’s the one that often takes me down. But if I know my mission statement, I know I am more than just my daily accomplishments.

 

  1. Find Community — Doesn’t matter how many people, where you meet, or even what you bond over. Just find people you relate to, people you can be honest with, and people that are going places you want to go. Make time to build and experience other people. Their lives will give you perspective.

 

  1. Make the Hard Choice — I’ve been bed-ridden before, for what seemed like about a week. I just had no will to move, eat, communicate, survive… nothing. It’s not uncommon to have a lack of desire to do what’s healthy. Think about those vegetables you *want* to eat, but really just have no desire to taste. Sometimes you have to choose it, even when you’re not feeling it. So what can you do to personally pursue health?

 

  1. Get Out — Find a spot you can walk—exercise is a critical component of mental health. Find somewhere you can sit and soak in the sun or some particular joy of life. If you’re in a dark place, move.

 

  1. Celebrate Small Wins — It’s about baby steps, counting the small victories, and remembering you are more powerful than any thought or emotion. Give yourself some grace and take a minute to celebrate your wins.

These are just some of the things I’ve learned from my personal experience of depression. If you’ve been there, I hope it brings hope, refreshment, and ideas. If you haven’t, I hope it gives clarification and perspective.

*Always seek the advice of your Medical Provider or Mental Health Provider if you believe you are experiencing symptoms of depression.