Depression

Most of you don't know this but I have been battling depression and anxiety for about 7 months now. Looking back I think I have been battling it most if my life I was just never diagnosed. Once I was diagnosed, I was given medication to combat it. But on this journey I have really been trying hard not to depend on medication. I don't want to be taking pills the rest of my life to be happy. So I just have it for the really bad days. Although they say depression is an illness, I think there are ways to avoid depression which is what this whole blog is about...POSITIVITY! I know my negative thinking is what got me there, I was always negative and always worrying about things I couldn't change, which is why I have anxiety as well. My doctor even told me, I'm way too young to be worrying so much. All this could easily lead to an early death if I don't stop it now.

For a while I just depended on the pills. I thought if I took one everyday I'd be fine, but that wasn't always the case. Pills won't change your whole aspect on life,  they help a little but in reality you have to do some work to get out of depression. I think the best way to do it, is to find something to hope for. Depression is a loss of hope, feeling like there is nothing to live for anymore. When you have something to hope for, something to strive for, it gives you motivation to do things and in return that makes you happy. Now what you choose to hope for is up to you. Personally I'm working on being a better me and in that I have returned to church. That gives me hope. It might not be the same for you, maybe training for a marathon or saving up to travel or going back to school. Those are all things that could help, you have to choose what you think is best for you.

The worst thing you could do is wallow in your depression. That's what I did at first, I felt bad and I used it as an excuse to stay home all the time and cry. I saw how that ruins relationship,  people don't want to be around someone who's always so negative and sad. In reality I didn't even want to be around me. And every out look I had on life was negative, of course my depression was going to get worse. I wasn't doing anything to try to change it. So the first step is really wanting to change. You have to really want to get out of your depression and live a happy life. I've seen such a difference in just the past few days. I know there will be hard times and it won't be easy being positive all the time but I'm sick and tired of being sad all the time. Who would choose to live a depressed life instead of a happy one?

Of course I can only speak from my own experiences,  I have mild depression,  but I really think it is something people can get over if they really want to. My choice was to not take the medication but that's just me, if it really helps you by all means take it. But the medication won't help anything if you are not willing to change your mind set. And some people are stuck in their ways so it's not going to be an easy feat but I promise you it is a satisfying one.

I was watching a show about optimism. Optimistic people live significantly longer than realists and pessimists. Now think about it, your negative attitude is literally killing you...it's not just about living a happy life, it's about living a healthy one as well. And one last thing before I go...when you have a negative attitude,  your children pay attention to that and they learn that. Imagine your child being just as miserable as you are, is that what you want? Because I know I want my children to be happy and I'll do everything in my power to make it happen.

Keep positive thoughts everyone!

Casita