Let's talk Depression

I’ve been seeing a lot of posts on social media of people voicing out their battles with depression with hashtags “mental health awareness”. That’s great and all. And there needs to be an awareness and sensitivity when it comes to matters relating to mental health.

However, I do feel that today people throw around the words; OCD, ADHD, and depression around without proper knowledge on these illnesses. Being a student of psychology and fitness one thing I know for sure is that your body reacts to what you mentally tell it to do. In weightlifting, it is the same thing. When you challenge yourself with a weight that you haven’t lifted before, if you tell yourself that you can’t lift it, you will definitely not be able to lift that weight. Any strength coach will agree with me on this.

Likewise, if you continuously fall into negative thought patterns, it is expected that your brain is going to create chemical imbalances that is going to further drag you into a depressive state. And in due time, the condition just elevates to the point where medication is required.

So I urge you. Instead of declaring your depressive state to the world and making it look like a courageous act, ask yourself; Have you put in the work to make yourself truly happy? A lot of times we fall into depression due to our lack of gratitude for the things we already have and have accomplished. We also fall into this cycle of thought where we think happiness is something that just happens. It’s an emotion that pops out of nowhere. A lot of times we don’t invest the time and energy into doing the things that truly make us happy because a lot of times we don’t stop to ask ourselves what makes us truly happy. It takes spending time with yourself. It takes putting yourself through different experiences in order to figure out what those things are. And once you find out what they are, you will be able to filter your time and energy towards doing them.

The keyword here guys is INTROSPECTION.
 
Ask yourselves questions like:

1. What personality traits do I enjoy surrounding myself with?
   Then actively seek out people who have those personality traits and hang out with them.
2. What values systems do I treasure the most?
   Example: Respect. Personally I don’t surround myself with anyone who doesn’t respect me or my time. Because it is an important value to me. So I do not talk to anyone who disrespects me in anyway. I don't waste my energy on them cos it is just draining to me.
3. What personality traits do I despise?
   Example: Arrogance. I can’t stand it. So when I meet people with an arrogant vibe, my conversations with them doesn’t go beyond a hello. I gravitate towards people who depict humility instead. Makes me a much happier person.
4. What are some activities that I can do that will make me at peace?
   Contrary to popular believe, meditation is not always sitting still and clearing your mind. You can reach a meditative state by doing things like knitting, drawing, reading, gardening, spending time in nature. Indulging in activities like this helps you get out of negative mental constructs that less favorable situations bring.
5. Am I afraid to spend time by myself? 
   Usually as we age, we tend to feel more comfortable being alone and spending time alone. However, I do realize that there are a lot of people out there who are afraid of spending time alone. They need to constantly be around people, even if it is with people they don’t particularly enjoy spending time with. If you are not in tune with yourself, no one can make you truly happy. When you are in a positive mental space, you will enjoy your company a lot more. Try it.
6. Have you made an effort to reach out to the friends and family you love?
   Everyone is busy, if they are not busy, they are tired of being busy. Be a little understand and forgiving for all of those cancelled plans and missed messages. Put in the effort even when your ego tells you otherwise.
7. Have you been eating nutritious food or consuming mostly junk and processed foods?
   Give yourself whatever excuse you desire for consuming foods that you know are bad for you and your health. But if you truly cared about your mental and emotional health, you will choose healthier and vitamin rich options. The foods you consume directly impact how you feel. Food is either medicine or poison to your body, depending on the decisions you make. Indulge in your favorite foods in moderation, but make sure 80% of your diet consists of vitamin rich and fresh foods that fuel your mind and body.

 
To sum it all up, what I am saying is happiness takes work. Getting out of depressive mental frames takes work. It requires that you become aware of your mental constructs and perspectives that drive you towards depressive states. Everyone has problems, everyone faces difficulties in life. Whether you fall prey to the things life throws at you or you chose to stand up and face them by building resilience is totally up to you. Problems don’t go away. We just get stronger. Day by day with each and every wound, we heal and we grow stronger and wiser. Cheers!