Hi everyone!
Today’s post is a bit of serious one, but I’m hoping to give it a positive spin. As a person with bipolar disorder I suffer from depressive episodes, and while it’s a hard thing to get through I’ve started to come across small habits that can make the mood swings easier.
First and foremost I’d like to say that if you are feeling sad or down then speaking about it with doctors and then either family or friends is definitely the most important step. Never suffer in silence. I have already seen doctors, and am very supported by my family and friends, so these three tips are just little things that I do on top of talking about how I’m feeling. These are my coping mechanisms that constantly evolve, but I think are an important thing to share.
1. Set a time limit for work.
I love to feel accomplished, and feeling like I’ve been the tiniest bit productive when I am sad is something that I have found helps me wrap my head around feeling so down. I’ll tell myself to that I just need to work until 2pm or 3pm and then after that time I don’t have to feel pressure to do anything. This may mean that between 9am and 3pm I only write 50 words of a blog post, but it’s something small that I can feel accomplished about.
2. Focus on being guilt free.
Nothing makes feeling sad or worthless worse than feeling guilty about it. There is always going to be some guilt that comes with being depressed, but telling yourself that you’re working on it, getting help, and don’t need to feel guilty about how you’re feeling is a small thing that is a big help. You don’t have to feel guilty about something that is out of your control, you just need to feel proud and sure of the steps you are taking to improve your mental health.
3. Have a buddy.
Find that person you can sit beside and not have to fill the silence. I’m lucky enough that I live with my best friend, and can sit in the same room as her and not talk. Both of us are perfectly comfortable doing our own thing, and just enjoying the quiet companionship. It really helps when I’m feeling alone to be able to sit near another person but not be pressured to keep up a conversation. I like to think of them as friends you don’t have to try with. I’m also blessed to have a cousin who lives very close to me in Montreal, and when I have the need to be with family (or vice versa) we always get together and eat some nice food or go for a walk.
Before I go I just want to say that everyone’s mental health story and journey is their own. Never let someone tell you how you should feel, move forward or heal because while they may have gone through something similar they are not you. These three tactics work for me but I am in no way suggesting they will help everyone who also has a mental illness. I think it’s important to share our feelings and our journeys if we are going to remove the stigma around mental illnesses. If you have a mental illness don’t let anyone ever make you feel guilty about it, and don’t tear yourself down because of it.
Seek help, companionship, and put yourself first.
Until next time,
Jessica
Jessica Kinnari 