Do We Understand The Consequences Of The Dark Side With Your Life?
I have experienced bouts of depression and anxiety over the years, which can fluctuate in intensity. At times, it feels as though there is no escape. Depression profoundly affects me, impacting my quality of life, relationships with loved ones, and work productivity. It can bring overwhelming sadness and loneliness, causing a loss of interest in activities I once enjoyed. Feelings of hopelessness can make it challenging to navigate daily life.
The cost of healthcare, including medication, hits my pocket. Therapy in trying to explain where I am at the moment, coupled with missed workdays, doesn’t help and leads to the loss of income. Seeking help can turn into extra expenses, and there is always that doubt whether I am doing the right thing for myself — am I beating it or getting worse?
If I were to say that I understand this, I’d be lying to myself. I don’t understand where I am and why. I put a lot of it down to loneliness, and maybe I’m not happy where I am in life. Do I ask too much of myself and expect more from myself to succeed in life? For whatever reason, I don’t understand why I feel like I do sometimes more than other days, but I do work hard in trying to fulfill the best of me in my life.
What I’m Doing To Combat My Depression!
I try to stay away from therapists and psychiatrists as you seek answers to your dark side with four or five visits at $90.00 each, only to feel that they don’t provide the right answers. Yes, they may mention things that could be helpful, but do they truly understand who I am as a person to give the right answers? Medication can be expensive, and are you taking the correct dosage to address your issue?
So, I have built a support system with family and friends, not to spill my guts on everything or every feeling I have, but to just have them around me is comforting. Over the years, I have been engaging more in self-care, such as regular manicures, or my Brazilian wax, and watching my eating habits. But more than anything, I look after myself a lot better than I have done in previous years.
Setting relastic goals.
I set goals: I break tasks into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. By setting goals that are achievable and knowing I can reach them, I am happy. I do not put a time limit on them as long as I can see progress with my achievements. Through this, I can gradually regain a sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Challenging negative thoughts.
I’m learning to identify and challenge negative thoughts that contribute to my depression. This includes learning to reframe negative thinking patterns and cultivating more positive and realistic beliefs. Practise self-compassion: I’m learning to be kinder and more forgiving towards myself, recognizing that depression is an illness. If I’m prepared to work hard and focus on myself, I wouldn’t say I can beat it, but I can learn to control it better with greater care in the way I think and what I can do to be a better person with it.
The New Challenge.
I went for my driver’s health test the other day. The doctor mentioned that she could see I was suffering from depression. I explained that I haven’t been on medication or needed to seek counseling for a few years, and I feel better for that, as I work with it and find I’m better off. Unfortunately, this was the wrong answer. I have to go to my GP to get all the details and a breakdown of my depression and where he feels I am at the moment. To add more salt to the wound, I have to go and see a psychiatrist to get a letter confirming, in their medical opinion, that I’m clear to operate machinery. Now the government makes you declare that you have the illness and the medication you’re on with your job and says they know that thousands of Australians are suffering from the illness, but what they have added now is a new rule that we have to seek the professional opinion that we’re clear. It’s just another way to make life that little bit harder because you’re trying to make it better and being honest.
What we have to get to realize and remember is that depression is a life journey, one where progress may take time. It’s important to be patient, celebrate small victories, and continue to support when needed. But the key is to remember that you are not alone, and with perseverance and support, it is possible to overcome or control your depression.
I don’t consider myself a professional on this illness, but I do know that I can control it better so that it doesn’t bring me down to the point where it costs me money, friends, family, and my quality of life. By setting goals and taking care of my health, as well as practicing good hygiene to look better both externally and internally, I am definitely a better person than I was a few years ago. It’s all about taking small steps towards improvement.
#Journey Through Life…
mags64@journeythroughlife.bolg
Journey Through Life... 