Learning to Slow Down and Depression
Most days if not every day, we are expected to work, we have plans to attend, places we need to be, tasks waiting to be accomplished, routines begging to be completed, and people and animals starving for our attention. I thrive off busy days. I learned this early on in my life. As a child, I had long days at school, more school outside of school (homework), extracurricular activities, sports, chores, church, a job when I got to that age, and friends who wanted to hang out. I watched my parents work long shifts at all hours and on the weekends. I learned time was not to be wasted. As a child into my adult life, I found myself always doing something. When I had down time my mood would match it. My first experience with depression was in college. I was not prepared for the amount of free time I would experience. The depression scarred me. It lingered and worsened. I reached out for help at the counseling center at my school. I joined every club that would accept me, started working, participated in intramural sports, and went on every adventure that was offered to me. All those things seemed to work for me. After college, the depression would show itself at random times. It would once again scar me which put me in a panic to add more to my life and seek a counselor.
When the pandemic hit, I was on a new adventure in life with a career change, and a new place to live. Then the world stopped. I could instantly feel the depression creeping back in. I was not ready for it. The pandemic was forcing me to slow down. The pandemic was encouraging me to face my fears of free time. The pandemic wanted to teach me more about me. I found myself in nature anytime I was not working, began meditating daily before bed, and connected with a counselor. While doing so I could feel myself becoming connected more to my surroundings and to myself. The depression stayed at bay. I learned that there was so much more that could be done with time. I found the beauty in slowing down. I experienced peace in ways I never could have imagined. Each time the pandemic shifted, I found myself not ready and once again depression was there ready to pounce. I would gently remind myself to take it slowly, think rationally, respect my time, and connect with my counselor.
Are there times you experience depression? What is causing it? How are you overcoming it? Depression is hard and isolating. If you experience times of depression, I encourage you to connect with a counselor, your primary care doctor, and your loved ones.
Learn more about Depression Therapy.