Effective ways to battle depression and anxiety

Depression is a word that gets thrown around so easily these days. Very few people understand the gravity of this illness and its impact on their life. I found myself struggling with it 4 years ago, and almost nothing helped.

Below are some effective ways I was able to combat it.

It often feels like this cloud of darkness that just won't leave you. You are not sad about one particular thing, it just seems to be something that's there and is probably eternally going to persist (At least that's how it feels, right?) There is a lot of crying and its lonely.

Pray. It doesn't matter what or who you believe in. Connect to that higher self and pray. Pray for peace and practice gratitude. Initially, this was my way of escaping that sadness so I can get my mind to concentrate on something else, but when done habitually it trains your mind to be less anxious. To trust in something and let you be.

There is a sudden burst of anxiety. This is very random and not in your control. It can seem you are anxious about anything. From space and time to your finances and relations.

It's ok. I call this the spiraling. Get an activity that needs absolute concentration. A very complex activity. I use to get Chinese number rhinestone art. Its usually a DIY art kit where you have to fill each number with a tiny rhinestone. It was so precise I needed full concentration. In a more tolerable anxiety attack, I use to color kaleidoscope art for adults.

There are times when you are transitioning on your meds. either lowering or highering the doses. During this time drink a LOT of water. Water negates the side effects any meds have giving you a chance to transition easily.

Meditate. There is no other long term solution to controlling your mind fully again. Meditate regularly. Goo into thoughtlessness as frequently as you can. A state in which your mind should not entertain any thoughts. Once you are able to achieve this state, try to stay there longer every time.

Acknowledge your feelings during this sadness. Keep a ledger of what you felt, for whom, how you felt. Don't look for logic. Appreciate the varied emotions your brain can show you. Write about your dreams and aspirations.

Have someone to talk to. A professional, who is not going to judge, laugh or ask you to get over it. Tell them everything this illness is doing. Help them heal you and trust them. Find someone who is experienced and older. Psychological illness is difficult to pin down and a new doctor may have not done enough trial and error to know what's going on with you. Someone experienced can tell in one appointment what's the diagnosis and if you have any side effects. It took a young doc 1 month to identify what was the issue with my doses that an experienced doctor told me in half an appointment. If they are good at what they do, they will help you find a purpose in all of it.

#Mentalhealth #Depression #Anxiety #journaling #Praying #meditating #Selflove #selfcare #holisticliving #Divinity #healing #HDS #Harvardschoolofdivinity #harvardschoolofartandsciences