Experiencing depression does not make you “weak.”
Weak? Are you kidding me?
Depression is a killer disease.
Depression kills more people every year, every day, than anyone will ever acknowledge.
Living with depression, surviving depression, is a testament to your strength— not your supposed “weakness.”
There are lots of reasons why people struggle with depression. But “weakness” is not one of them.
Depression is real. It feels more real to many people than recovery, especially early on in their recovery journey.
Depression does not just result from “distorted thoughts”— though depression absolutely does distort our thinking.
Depression is not our fault.
Depression is not something anyone asks for or wants.
You’re going to hear lots of bullsh*t about depression.
You’re going to hear depression framed as a “choice,” and you’re going to hear lots of victim blaming, both implicit and overt.
Let’s be clear: we do have choices in how we talk to ourselves, where we direct our mental focus or “spotlight,” and how we breathe and use our body— and those choices can impact how we experience and recover from depression.
But that doesn’t mean you are depressed because of your “choices.”
Risk factors for depression run the gamut, from genetics to trauma to economic vulnerability to discrimination. Factors that maintain depression can be internal and external, conscious and unconscious.
There tends to be nothing simple about most peoples’ depression.
And managing and healing it is almost never a matter of “just do (X).”
Managing and reducing depression tends to mirror the basics of trauma recovery: we begin with self compassion, patience, and realism.
Depression tends to meaningfully shift when we start seriously working on our self-esteem— which is also the driver of realistic trauma recovery.
The six “pillars” of self esteem— living consciously, self-acceptance, personal responsibility, living purposefully, self-respect, and assertiveness— are a roadmap to realistically working on our depression.
They’re also not f*cking easy. Don’t put up with anyone suggesting they are.
Both trauma recovery and reducing depression take commitment and time.
But if you’re a trauma survivor working your recovery— which you probably are, if you’re reading this— you know about commitment and time.
Easy does it. You can do this. I believe in you.
Even if I don’t know you, I’m prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt— because I don’t believe anybody is reading these words by accident.
Breathe; blink; focus.
Use Your Damn Skills 