Ten Things I Think About: Depression

A walk on the West Bay, Traverse City, Michigan.

1. Depression almost always goes away. It arrives uninvited and will overstay its visit, but in time it will make its way out the door.

2. Depression can always come back. It is a chronic condition. Once you've been diagnosed with depression, it is likely to come and go throughout your lifespan.

3. It is beneficial to make friends with your depression. It's going to be there, so get to know what in your life triggers it; know its early symptoms and get ready for its bothersome visit.

4. Avoid doing anything that feeds it. Alcohol, giving in to staying in bed or on the couch, obsessing, isolating...all of these behaviors make depression stronger and weaken your spirit.

5. Get up and get out! Get out of bed, get off the couch,  get out of the recliner and take a walk; go for a run--do anything, but do something.

6. Talk, write, draw, paint--do something creative. Clean a closet, wash your car...start a project. Depression hates activity.

7. Do healthy things that activate endorphins. A good cardio workout changes your brain chemistry...spin class, a good run, even sex...do something that makes you sustain some good heavy breathing for at least 15 minutes.

8. Give your depression a name. Remind yourself that it's a condition, an unwelcome visitor. Don't become at one with your depression. That can easily turn into self-blame, which feeds depression. Depression is not something that you choose, nor something that you deserve. It's just a big bothersome fly that landed on you. It will go away. Talk to it.

9. Talk about it. Don't isolate and get seduced into being ashamed about it.  Nearly 1 in 10 people in the United States experience depression each year.

10. See a therapist, a rabbi, priest, or a good supportive friend. Set up a regular time to check in with someone--at least once--but preferably two or three times per week. Depression hates it when you talk about it.