12/09/2023
From someone who's been there, and no, I'm not going to ask for any copy/paste (although I stole this from a friend’s feed) - For whoever needs this, you are not alone! ❤️
DEPRESSION TIPS:
Shower. Not a bath, a shower. Use water as hot or cold as you like. You don’t even need to wash. Just get in under the water and let it run over you for a while. Sit on the floor if you gotta.
Moisturize everything. Use whatever lotion you like. Unscented? Dollar store lotion? Fancy 48 hour lotion that makes you smell yummy? Use whatever you want, and use it all over your entire dermis.
Put on clean, comfortable clothes.
Put on your favorite underwear. Those ridiculous boxers you bought last Christmas with candy cane hearts on the butt? The negligee that makes you think of film noir and the Golden Age of Hollywood stars? Wear it and smile.
Hydrate. Tea, water, something. Use ice. If you want, add some mint, cucumber, berries, or lemon for an extra boost.
Clean something. Doesn’t have to be anything big. Organize one drawer of a desk. Wash five dirty dishes. Do a load of laundry. Scrub the bathroom sink. Pick up 30 things and put them away.
Blast music. Listen to something upbeat. Blast something that’s got lots of energy. Sing to it, dance to it, even if you suck at both but no one is watching so just have fun.
Make food. Don’t just grab a granola bar to munch. Take the time and make food. Even if it’s ramen or an open faced toasted cheese sandwiches. Add something special to it, like a soft boiled egg or some veggies. Prepare food, it tastes way better, and you’ll feel like you accomplished something.
Make something. Write a short story or a poem, draw a picture, color a picture, fold origami, crochet or knit, sculpt something out of clay, anything artistic. Even if you don’t think you’re good at it. Create. Put a patch on a beloved piece of clothing. Anything.
Go outside. Take a walk. Sit in the grass. Look at the clouds. Smell flowers. Play in the snow. Put your hands in the dirt and feel the soil against your skin. Make a snow angel or go sledding. Throw snowballs. Dance in the puddles or sing in the rain.
Reach out to someone. Call a loved one, a friend, a family member, call a chat service if you have no one else to call. Talk to a stranger on the street. Have a conversation and listen to someone’s voice. If you can’t bring yourself to call, text or email or whatever, just have some social interaction with another person. Even if you don’t say much, listen to them. It helps.
Cuddle your pets if you have them/can cuddle them. Or borrow an occasional doggie to play with. Take pictures of them. Talk to them. Tell them how you feel, about your favorite movie, a new game coming out, anything. (if you're local to me, I will happily share my fur-babies)
Hug someone if you can - a child or other family member, a trusted friend. 30 seconds of a good strong hug can help fight depression
Smile at others and treat them kindly. Just that small point can help someone you don't even know is having a hard time.
May seem small or silly to some, but this list keeps people going.
*** At your absolute best you won’t be good enough for the wrong people. But at your worst, you’ll still be worth it to the right ones. Remember that. Keep holding on.
*** In case nobody has told you today I love you and you are worth your weight and then some in gold, so be kind to yourself and most of all keep pushing on!!!
Find something to be grateful for!
***deAwareness
1-800-273-8255 (988 also works) ~ National Su***de Prevention Lifeline
If you’re a military veteran, you can press 1 after dialing either number to get connected to resources specific veterans - and oftentimes another veteran on the other end even.
