Good morning everyone. I have spent the last few days talking about depression, feeling a bit depressed myself and wondering how to fight it. This morning a light bulb came on in my head. We all, I say we because I too have felt this way, we don't treat depression like a habit. We treat it like a state of mind, or chemical imbalance. We never say, "Dammit, I want to kick this depression habit!" Why not, isn't it? Tell me something, when you are feeling blue is it easy to snap out of? Can you walk away from it? or, does it hold you in the same flight pattern? We pull our shades down, blocking out sunlight, happiness, optimism. It pulls us in deeper and deeper until the only thing we know is how we feel and we hang on to that for dear life. Afraid of losing ourselves completely. Or we get angry, but instead of being angry with the depression we turn it on the people around us and sometimes even ourselves...never at the depression.
So today I present a knew challenge...DETOX THE DEMON! Like with all things that are not good for us, there is a process and a time frame to get it out of our lives. 28 days in rehab to even begin to heal. Fever, chills, begging, pleading, anger, fear, desperation...all these phases to clear the clouds and deal with the problems. So, let's start the detox, fight every urge you have if you are depressed. If you want to lay in bed go for a walk, If you want to be angry look in the mirror and smile at yourself for 15 minutes. If you want to eat a carton of ice cream while sitting in the dark crying, get some veggies, turn on all the lights and blast your favorite music while dancing around your living room in your fuzzy slippers and PJ's. What I am saying is whenever you feel depression is guiding you, do the exact opposite of what it's telling you to do. I know this sounds easy, trust me it is hard. It will feel like you are swimming against the current. It will feel as hard as it feels for someone who has just signed themselves into rehab.
The depression will try to trick you, so when you are feeling the equivalent of the shivers, shakes and desperation try to stay focused. Get a sponsor, sign up a friend, family member, drug counselor whoever you can think of that you know will be able to talk you through the hardest parts any time of the day. Sign a contract with them for yourself, committing yourself to the process, and start the detox. Stop letting that demon, dictate your life to you. Sabotaging relationships, and steering you towards situations that will keep you in it's grips. Holding you back from success, allowing you to see it from a distance but keeping you just far enough so that you cannot grab hold of your dreams. Helping you build that wall that separates you from the people you love and more importantly that love you. Take control, every small attempt to do this will take away the demon's authority.
Just remember, the depression demon disguises itself as you. It can trick you into thinking that what you are thinking and feeling is perfectly natural, and that's it is actually your idea. That's why talking to someone else about it helps you weigh in on what's real and not. It will make you feel like your thoughts are so disgusting that no one will understand. That's how it keeps you where you are. Like an abusive relationship, the first thing they do is separate you from your family and friends. They take you far away from your support and then wreak havoc in your life, break you down emotionally, convince you that it's your fault and that no one loves you but them. You become numb and robotic, moving through life through the instructions given to you. Can you see the comparison? Can you see depression in all of that? I can. I was raised never to let a man put his hands on me, or let anyone let me feel less of a person. So, depression, you are no different than an abusive husband, or a drug addiction...I am setting you free. If you chose to stick around I warn you, I am prepared to fight. I will make you uncomfortable, take away your power and force you to sit and watch me grow and blossom. I am turning the tables on you. Today is day one of the detoxification.
So today I present a knew challenge...DETOX THE DEMON! Like with all things that are not good for us, there is a process and a time frame to get it out of our lives. 28 days in rehab to even begin to heal. Fever, chills, begging, pleading, anger, fear, desperation...all these phases to clear the clouds and deal with the problems. So, let's start the detox, fight every urge you have if you are depressed. If you want to lay in bed go for a walk, If you want to be angry look in the mirror and smile at yourself for 15 minutes. If you want to eat a carton of ice cream while sitting in the dark crying, get some veggies, turn on all the lights and blast your favorite music while dancing around your living room in your fuzzy slippers and PJ's. What I am saying is whenever you feel depression is guiding you, do the exact opposite of what it's telling you to do. I know this sounds easy, trust me it is hard. It will feel like you are swimming against the current. It will feel as hard as it feels for someone who has just signed themselves into rehab.
The depression will try to trick you, so when you are feeling the equivalent of the shivers, shakes and desperation try to stay focused. Get a sponsor, sign up a friend, family member, drug counselor whoever you can think of that you know will be able to talk you through the hardest parts any time of the day. Sign a contract with them for yourself, committing yourself to the process, and start the detox. Stop letting that demon, dictate your life to you. Sabotaging relationships, and steering you towards situations that will keep you in it's grips. Holding you back from success, allowing you to see it from a distance but keeping you just far enough so that you cannot grab hold of your dreams. Helping you build that wall that separates you from the people you love and more importantly that love you. Take control, every small attempt to do this will take away the demon's authority.
Just remember, the depression demon disguises itself as you. It can trick you into thinking that what you are thinking and feeling is perfectly natural, and that's it is actually your idea. That's why talking to someone else about it helps you weigh in on what's real and not. It will make you feel like your thoughts are so disgusting that no one will understand. That's how it keeps you where you are. Like an abusive relationship, the first thing they do is separate you from your family and friends. They take you far away from your support and then wreak havoc in your life, break you down emotionally, convince you that it's your fault and that no one loves you but them. You become numb and robotic, moving through life through the instructions given to you. Can you see the comparison? Can you see depression in all of that? I can. I was raised never to let a man put his hands on me, or let anyone let me feel less of a person. So, depression, you are no different than an abusive husband, or a drug addiction...I am setting you free. If you chose to stick around I warn you, I am prepared to fight. I will make you uncomfortable, take away your power and force you to sit and watch me grow and blossom. I am turning the tables on you. Today is day one of the detoxification.
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