Self-Care Ideas for When You Are Struggling with Depression

                  We all struggle at times. For some of us that struggle is more frequent. It seeps into all aspects of our life. When you have depression, the struggles become harder to pull yourself out of. Regular self-care can help ease some of the darkness. It is not going to cure it, but it can help.

                  What is self-care? Simply put, self-care is doing things to take care of yourself. It can be things that address your mental health. Self-care can also address your physical health. It involves doing things that make you feel better. These activities can range from simple activities to enacting more elaborate plans.

                  For me self-care includes taking walks and writing. When I walk, I usually listen to music, which is another self-care activity. Writing allows me to release the thoughts that build up in my mind. I also like to be creative. Painting is a form of self-care for me. I enjoy watching the colors transform into something.

                  What are some other self-care ideas? 

                  

·      Meditating

·      Spending time in nature – think walking on the beach or in a forest

·      Deep breathing

·      Cooking

·      Reading for pleasure

·      Yoga or Pilates

·      Talking to a loved one on the phone

·      Having lunch with a friend

·      Dancing

·      Making a gratitude list

·      Getting a massage

·      Practicing affirmations

·      Taking a class to learn something new

·      Watching a movie

·      Sitting under the stars

·      Lighting some candles 

·      Playing an instrument

·      Doing something special for a friend or family member

·      Doing something you loved as a child

 

Self-care can be anything that makes you feel good about yourself. It takes practice.

You may do something and not get the lift you were expecting. That is okay. Don’t give up. Sometimes it takes time for self-care to affect you. The idea is to make it a part of your routine. You want to build up a repertoire of activities that you can lean on when you need a lift. 

                  When depression gets heavy, I sometimes have difficulty turning to my self-care activities. Sometimes I need a reminder. It is hard. Depression can be paralyzing. That is why it is important to prepare a list of self-care activities when you are feeling a little better. Maybe write them down. Put the list in your phone. Set a reminder to look at the list.  That might make you more likely to try something. You can also share your list with a friend. I have a friend that reminds me to listen to music. Sometimes we listen to live music together. It helps both of us. 

Whatever you choose to do as self-care, remember to give it a chance to help you. Also, give yourself grace. It is okay to feel down and to struggle with depression. You are not alone. Remind yourself about that. As lonely as depression feels, you are not alone. There are so many of us who go through what you are going through. Joining a support group is another self-care strategy. If you think this might help you, I recommend checking with your local NAMI chapter for a group. 

Self-care is not easy. Nothing about living with depression is easy. Take it one step at a time. Try one of the above self-care activities or search for other activities online. Don’t be afraid to take a mental health day from work or school to engage in self-care. I used to be afraid to take mental health days, I thought my mental health wasn’t a legitimate reason to take time off. I learned the hard way that I should have taken days off. I should have put myself and my mental health ahead of my job. Please take the time to engage in self-care. Allow yourself to heal. Remember mental health days are a part of self-care. 

Whatever self-care activities you choose, remember that they are for you. Engage in the activity in whatever way feels best to you. Give yourself the grace to search for the activities that help you most.