So I’ve been spending some time on the Mastodon server, .Social. The question of depression and what to do about it to curb the downswing, has come my way and my only real answer is cannabis and spirituality.
These two things, and the underlying behaviors that come with them have changed my life. Let me explain.
Depression is cloying. It chokes away at your life until there’s nothing left. It’s a dark cloud that weighs down on you and makes it impossible to believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Years ago someone on Twitter said, “Depression doesn’t go away you just find ways to deal with it.” I’m here to tell you this is not true.
I still deal with anxiety, I still deal with PTSD, but I no longer have depressive episodes.
That isn’t to say I won’t in the future, or that I’ve found a way to cure depression, but I have found some things that work to help curb the symptoms.
I reached out to some of my friends, both local and abroad, and asked them what they do to deal with their depression. Please keep in mind the expectation is that you try a variety of methods to kick you out of your depressive state.
Dancing and movement
Body movement releases endorphins, which make people happy. This is a really great way to break out of your depression, because not only does it allow your body to make endorphins, but the endorphins make you laugh, and laughing at yourself is one of the best ways I know to break out of depression. In the past, I’ve been known to repeat the word “Buddha” over and over again. Try it without laughing. I’ll wait.
Watch a familiar television show
Did you know repeating a show you love so often, that you know the backstories of the characters, is actually a trauma response? It’s healing to dig into the familiar and thus watching old television shows or movies on repeat that we love, can help us cope with our depression.
Meditation
Meditation helps me diagnose my body, mind, and even my spirit. When I am mediating, I am closing my eyes, and using my actual eyeballs to look at my body.
Start with your toes, and wiggle them gently, how do they feel? Good? Bad? No comment? Move on, and do this with all the muscles in your body, one at a time. It’s mental and emotional yoga, you’re stretching your eyesight internally.
Cannabis
Cannabis has helped me change the chemistry of my brain. When I have cannabis in my system, I don’t feel as anxious, which leads me to feel more uplifted and less depressed. If you are going to start using cannabis, I highly recommend you a) start with edibles, and b) start slowly. I also suggest talking to a doctor and getting a cannabis consultant. I can suggest some really good ones working as far away as Toronto and Quebec.
These are just some suggestions to help you with the wave of depression and anxiety. Each of us deals with it differently, so if these suggestions work for you, I highly recommend my 2nd book “Fundamental Foundations for Mental Health Content Creators.”
This book, in particular, will take you through what I call CCBT, or “Creative Cognitive Behavioral Theraphy.” It’s filled with activities that are designed to get you up and moving, creating, and inspiring yourself. The workbook is designed as a journal so you can get as creative as you want with it.
Other things you can do at the moment include:
- a hot shower
- masturbation
- taking a walk – and by this I mean going somewhere specific, to take a walk in the forest or by the water.
- Picking up the phone and calling a friend
- Taking up. along term creative hobbies like painting or sculpting
- Talk therapy/counseling
- getting a massage
- going out to get your hair and nails done
Not all of these techniques are going to work alone, you have to mix and match them together to find a system that works.
Toxic positivity isn’t going to shock you out of depression, but a cold shower filled with a hot meal made for yourself or ordered online will help a lot more than getting drunk or doing a bunch of drugs.
I hope these tips help. If you have others please leave them in the comments below for others.
Sending all my love
Devon J Hall
Loud Mouth Brown Girl 