5 Ways of Coping with Anxiety and Depression

Depression affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries. In humanitarian emergencies, 1 in 5 people are affected by depression and anxiety. According to WHO, depression is the largest cause of disability worldwide.

Yet, why is that, in the vast world of modern social media and constantly raised awareness that issue of metal health somehow stays under the cover? Why is that when you open your Facebook or Twitter page, you scroll through endless stream of healthy recipes, people constantly boasting and bragging about their workout routine. But, no body takes social media to tell the world that they are in good and stable mental health. Why is it that we don’t see check-ins from therapists’ office or a tweet about latest therapy treatment?

This is mainly because of the taboo attached to mental illness. Most people use discriminatory terms like Crazy/Mad/Stupid or Retard to describe people with mental illness. There is a need to humanize people with mental health issues, and normalize the presence of the illness in question. Less stigma in the community will encourage individuals to seek support and address their mental health concerns.

I consider myself ‘An Optimist’. I have always been a kind of person who believes that whatever happens, happens for a reason and in the end everything will turn out to be perfect.  People would often come to me and say that, I’m the most optimistic person they know. But, this year in September, things changed. The job for which I worked my ass off for years, I didn’t get it. It was not just a job. It was the job I have been dreaming about from past 3 years of my life, it was “My Dream Job”. I took the risk for not going for college placements and decided to take a gap year to better prepare myself for the entrance exam of that job. It was a do or die situation for me and I didn’t make it. As a result I felt low, empty and directionless. Some days I used to force myself to go out for a walk but it felt, as if, my whole body has slowed down. I found comfort in sleep and used to sleep for most part of the day. It felt as if, there is a void inside my head and there is nothing to look forward to. I couldn’t understand what was happening to me. I had never experienced this before. All I knew was that I hated this feeling  and I had to overcome it, before it turns more severe.

Here are 5 tips which I used at that time to help myself. These really helped me gain back control over my life.

1. TRY TO REMEMBER GOOD THINGS ABOUT LIFE

I practice Gratitude everyday. It helps me look at the brighter side of the life. No matter what you’re going through or how unfair life is turning out to be, there are always things to be thankful about. I can completely understand that sometimes it’s way too hard to appreciate good things in your life, mainly, because you’re not feeling good inside. But those are also the times when we have to remind ourselves more that life is good and worth living.

Always remember… If you’ve clothes to wear, food in your kitchen, bed to sleep on and roof over your head, YOU’RE LUCKY THAN 75% of the people.

Whenever you’re in self-doubt, try to remind yourself that you have very important part to play in universe’s plan, that’s why you’re still alive! You’ve a purpose to serve in this world. YOU ARE IMPORTANT!

2. SELF-HELP BOOKS

Self-Help books are life savers. I swear. I try to read as many as I can. They provide me with much-needed motivation, clarity and inspiration. Reading them on regular basis really helps me to stay calm. There are huge variety of self-help books available in market, covering topics ranging from feelings, relationship, success, to health, spirituality and personal development. 

If you a person who doesn’t like to read books. No problem. There are many YouTube channels that can serve the same purpose. Though they may not be as extensive as books, but they can be good for starters. Here are some of the channels I follow –

• Jay Shetty 
• Gaur Gopal Das
• Evan Carmichael
• Sandeep Maheshwari

If you like reading motivational quotes then, click here

3. CLEAR YOUR MIND WITH EXERCISE/MEDITATION

Exercise not only keeps you fit but also alleviates mood. Meditation, on the other hand, helps you achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. I can understand that meditation is not that easy. When I started doing it I could hardly concentrate for a minute or two. But over time, it starts to grow on you. Trust me on that!

You’ll thank yourself for it later.

4. TAKE SOME TIME OUT FOR YOU

Self -care is very important. Whether its reading your favorite novels, taking a hot bubble bath, watching hours of Netflix or engaging in your hobby- make sure you do whatever makes you happy. And do it regularly.

5. TALK TO SOMEONE

Don’t keep everything bottled up as it will only prove detrimental to your mental health in long run. Sooner or later, you have to talk to someone. Be it someone you trust (like in my case, I talked to my best friend because no one understands me better than her), or a support group with similar conditions, or online communities that specialize in mental health.

And if nothing seems to work, talk to some professional/counselor. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone needs help sometimes.

 

Also, I’m not a professional expert in this area. These are some of the tips which worked for me. So please don’t consider it to be a professional advice. 

If you know someone who can benefit from this, please share it with them.

Thank you!