How I Handle Depression And Anxiety

How I deal with depressive episodes and anxiety attacks.

I feel that, in light of Chester's tragic death, this is a good time to remind you that there are other options if you're having a really bad day/evening/night. These are a few things that I do when I feel really depressed or anxious to the point of endangering myself. I am happy to report that, since I’ve told my family about my mental health issues, they’ve ed me and are putting me through talk therapy. Since I’ve begun therapy, I’ve been getting much better, and these episodes are becoming few and far between. I've come a long way, but I still have a long way to go.

Go outside and run

Whenever I can feel that one of these episodes is coming or it has just started, I force myself to go outside and run a little bit, if it’s possible. Most of them come in the evening, so it’s not always possible, but sometimes it is, and it’s a good way to get nervous energy out in a healthy way. When it’s depression that I’m dealing with at the time, it helps to clear my head, and exhaust my body so I can sleep instead of having thoughts run around my head and keep me up.

Drink lots of water

This sort of ties in with the running. Staying hydrated is not only a way to keep your body healthy, but it’s something you can focus your mind on. I usually end up crying anyway and I always get this awful taste in my mouth when I cry, so water helps that, too.

Draw something

Sometimes, it feels good to get your emotions out in a visible form, but it’s difficult to put into words. It helps to draw it out. Sometimes, it takes the form of a creepy figure, sometimes it’s just a scribble, sometimes it’s a messily drawn out word. It occupies my hand and my mind until it es. I’ve seen people draw on parts of their bodies, too.

Focus your mind

This can take many forms depending on the person. Sometimes crossword puzzles, sudoku, wordsearches, and riddles can be good at focusing your mind. Sometimes, I’ll shuffle a new playlist and learn how to sing the first song that comes on. I study languages, trivia, or any random thing that interests me. Recently, I’ve gotten a wooden 3D puzzle that’s really nice to take apart and put back together.

Meditate

Okay, hear me out. Meditation is a great way to relax and clear your mind. Lots of people do it lots of different ways. Personally, I’ll lay on the wooden floor in front of a window in my house with soft, instrumental music playing. Then, I try to imagine a warm tide slowly coming in over my body. I focus on it until it covers my head. This one takes practice, especially the part where you clear your mind and focus on whatever it is you’re focusing on, but it's a really good way to relax and fall asleep. Usually, by morning, everything is much better.

Occupy your hands

This on also ties into focusing your mind and drawing. when you were in fourth grade and someone taught you how to finger weave? Do that and make a giant rope. I ended up using an entire ball of yarn, once. I still have it somewhere. It keeps your hands occupied to prevent you from doing anything else that may harm you. Do you knit? Crochet? Whittle? Do that.

Find your ion

This one works more in the long term, but it helps nonetheless. Find what you’re ionate about and pour your everything into it. For me, it’s graphic design and song lyrics. I can find a song lyric that describes how I’m feeling and channel all those feelings into making that lyric that represents something so ugly into something that looks beautiful and evokes an emotion in whoever views it.

Talk to someone

If I feel really depressed or anxious, I reach out to my closest friend. We’ve known eachother for coming up on 8 years. He’s stayed up to the ungodly hours of the morning on the phone with me, comforting me and making sure I don’t feel alone. Even if you don’t talk to someone about what’s troubling you, talking to someone about anything helps. Having a conversation always lifts my spirits. If you don’t know of anyone who’d do that for you, I will. Any of the leaders and curators here will. Our inboxes are a safe place, you’re more than welcome to message us anytime if you need to talk to someone.

These are some things that work for me, they may not work for you. However, I sincerely hope that you can find something that helps you.

Don't forget that we've also partnered with ive Amino, it's a wonderful place full of wonderful people who want to help you and will talk to you whenever you need it.

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If you genuinely feel that your life is in danger, here are the worldwide suicide hotlines:

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