I fell into depression for almost a week and just recovered today, the day I’m writing this article. At first, I didn’t want to update this blog but now I feel maybe some of you need to read this and survive.
I never thought that it would happen to me.
Throughout the pandemic, I’ve been blessed. I have a job, steady income, a company that takes care of me well, comfortable shelter and plenty of food to eat. I’m also healthy. So why did I fall into depression?
You, depression? You’re not even suffering, you should be grateful!
Yes, I know. As much as I repeated the ‘I’m blessed, I’m grateful’ mantra, I couldn’t ignore the dark feeling that crept in. I could no longer embrace the toxic positivity.
It started with a nightmare that felt so real. Followed by a tinge of jealousy caused by a friend’s Instagram post.
And my mother’s sudden operation and resentment towards my father (if only he renewed her insurance back then!). Then a Malaysian minister had a family holiday in Turkey while I couldn’t even meet my mother.
Of course, I miss travelling too. So, so much…
Please don’t judge me. Even blessed people can still fall into depression… But now I’m no longer depressed because these helped me to heal:
Acknowledge the Feeling and Asked Yourself ‘Why’
I quickly realized that it was more than just a bad mood, it was headed towards depression. I acknowledged the feeling and played a rewind of memory, listing things that led me to the situation.
Next, I asked myself why those things evoked negative feelings and what I could do about it. I had a conversation with myself.
It felt so much better after I figured out the answers — to be happy for someone else’s happiness instead of being jealous, move on when there’s nothing I could do to change the past and give up things that were out of my control.
It’s very important not to force toxic positivity when you feel sad, hurt, or depressed. In order to overcome it, you must acknowledge the feeling and figure it out, one by one.
On top of that, it’s good to repeat this mantra, “I must not fall into depression!” so you don’t give up during the healing process.
Watch Apocalypse Movies
Toxic positivity didn’t help and the sad news that I saw in the newspapers didn’t give that much impact on me anymore. So, what did I do to feel grateful and overcome the depression?
I watched the trailer of “A Quiet Place: Part II”.
I’m not lying. At that moment, I was thinking, What if the world was ravaged by these aliens instead of Covid-19?
It’s just a trailer, but suddenly the current situation didn’t look so bad!
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Read Online Mangas with Beautiful Drawings
There are many mangas with beautiful drawings available online, and they can go to hundreds of chapters! Reading mangas helped me to forget about the negative feelings I had.
Sleep for 10-11 Hours per Day
For a few days, I slept for around 10-11 hours/day and it worked.
Maybe because sleeping releases dopamine, one of the happy hormones… Now I feel like Simon Sinek, hehe! But yes, trust me, it works.
Remember that it’s not about quantity, but quality too. When you’re depressed, It’s best to sleep latest by 11pm because…
Have a Morning ‘Groceries Walk’ Everyday
…not only sleeping late is causing a bad mood, but you also need the sunlight to cheer you up. Based on research, sunlight can make you happy, thanks to serotonin.
While currently it’s prohibited to exercise outside in Malaysia, luckily we’re still allowed to do our groceries shopping. So, make use of the opportunity!?
Researchers at BYU found more mental health distress in people during seasons with little sun exposure. On the contrary, days with plenty of sunshine were associated with better mental health
tricitymed.org
First, create a list of items that you need. Then, rather than buying all of them in one go, buy one item per day (if you can). If the distance isn’t a problem, choose the furthest supermarket and go there on foot.
Eat Comfort Foods
People say eating nice foods releases dopamine. I say, eating comfort foods releases dopamine and keeps you healthy.
Comfort foods ≠ junk foods.
Comfort foods could be hearty soups, a bento with hot steamed Japanese rice, oatmeal, and premium (alcoholic) cakes. Well, ehm, they’re mine.
“Food is like a pharmaceutical compound that affects the brain. The more balanced you make your meals, the more balanced will be your brain functioning.”
Dr. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla
Ok friends, those are the things that helped me overcome my depression. Last but not least, I also prayed every night – it really helped to calm down and give me peaceful nights of sleep. If you’re a freethinker, perhaps you can meditate and let the Universe know your wishes.
Now that I’m healed, I’ll try my best not to let small things put me under depression and be sincerely grateful for what I have. Finally, I can say this again without a heavy heart: I am blessed.
I hope this article helps xxx
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