If my depression is super deep, I try to get back to basics — shower, brush my hair, brush my teeth, put on regular clothes (not pjs), make my bed and forcing myself to eat a meal. Then I’ll try music and funny animal videos. Those goofy critters are good medicine. I hope you’re feeling better soon. 🤗
This will probably sound unlikely, but I found quite some time ago that if I can get myself to smile (all by myself and not necessarily a mirror) it makes a great difference in feeling better - even (dare I say?) good.
There are many analyses about why such self management approaches can turn things around in terms of our mood but it works for me.
Perhaps it's partly evidence to ourselves that we have some control over the dark forces that can overwhelm us. Perhaps it's a way of perceiving the underlying lift we start by feeling so much is lacking. Maybe there's even partly a "method acting" influence.
Assuming by an act of will, the outward signs of a given state seem to have a major effect in making it real. By actually penetrating to the part of ourselves which would ideally have been spontaneously expressing the smile. May sound complicated (and I return to the notion that exercising control over our emotional expressions is powerful all by itself), but I find it can make a real difference even when we're deep in the pits.
And FWIW this is NOT the same as smiling at someone else (even when we feel low) which however well-meaning, doesn't wave that same magic wand. Perhaps it's a gift to ourselves, creating the first step toward regaining hope.
Hoping very much this self-manipulation helps some of you, as it helps me. It may feel like your face will crack if you force it into that (at first, artificial) semi-circle. It seems to bring me genuine inner relief, though, through regaining a sense of control, however incomplete. It chips away at the despair which had been dictating our outlook (often without our even being aware it was there).
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
If my depression is super deep, I try to get back to basics — shower, brush my hair, brush my teeth, put on regular clothes (not pjs), make my bed and forcing myself to eat a meal. Then I’ll try music and funny animal videos. Those goofy critters are good medicine. I hope you’re feeling better soon. 🤗
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsThis will probably sound unlikely, but I found quite some time ago that if I can get myself to smile (all by myself and not necessarily a mirror) it makes a great difference in feeling better - even (dare I say?) good.
There are many analyses about why such self management approaches can turn things around in terms of our mood but it works for me.
Perhaps it's partly evidence to ourselves that we have some control over the dark forces that can overwhelm us. Perhaps it's a way of perceiving the underlying lift we start by feeling so much is lacking. Maybe there's even partly a "method acting" influence.
Assuming by an act of will, the outward signs of a given state seem to have a major effect in making it real. By actually penetrating to the part of ourselves which would ideally have been spontaneously expressing the smile. May sound complicated (and I return to the notion that exercising control over our emotional expressions is powerful all by itself), but I find it can make a real difference even when we're deep in the pits.
And FWIW this is NOT the same as smiling at someone else (even when we feel low) which however well-meaning, doesn't wave that same magic wand. Perhaps it's a gift to ourselves, creating the first step toward regaining hope.
Hoping very much this self-manipulation helps some of you, as it helps me. It may feel like your face will crack if you force it into that (at first, artificial) semi-circle. It seems to bring me genuine inner relief, though, through regaining a sense of control, however incomplete. It chips away at the despair which had been dictating our outlook (often without our even being aware it was there).
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 Reactions