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| Photo Credit: Neadeau |
I spent most of my childhood and young adulthood depressed. Some of that time, seriously depressed. I didn't know it; depression runs in my family. I thought it was normal to have a few weeks or months every year that I just toiled through, barely functioning. I didn't realize that apathy, hopelessness, tears, aches, pains, and difficulty making decisions should not be constants in life. I was not suicidal; I just wished--often and without telling anyone--that I could go to sleep and never wake up. I was so tired of fighting.
I'm not depressed now. I get down, and there are tendencies I may always fight, but I want to live. I have goals, things to do--and people I want to help. I'm not on any medication, and have used a multi-faceted approach to deal with depression at the first sign of trouble.
If you are depressed, do whatever it takes to get out of it. If your road to mental health involves medication, do it. For some people it will be a temporary choice, for others a permanent one. Do whatever will let you share your gifts with the world.
Here are the things I have done and continue to do to fight depression:
