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Anonymous.
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September 28, 2015 at 11:56 am #84307
AnonymousInactiveHi everyone,
As someone who has struggled with depression more than often, I have realized the importance of structure and routine in my life. These last few months, i have been trying to slowly incorporate small routines in my day to ensure that I stay clean, my place doesnt disintegrate into a dump that often, I stay in touch with the outside world etc.
Like for example,
1) 1.5 hours before i go to sleep, I make it a point to do all the dishes, arrange the room a bit, keep the clothes for the next day ready etc. I try to do the laundry at a particular time of the day or week.
2) I roughly plan out what i would be doing in the first half and second half of the day.
3) Making sure i call up my family and friends a certain number of times. Its very easy to isolate and stay online too much.
4) A quick stroll in the evening over the smallest pretext.
I know these dont seem like a big deal to some people but they have really helped me during times when i have had to stay indoors for a longer interval due to exams, research writing reasons, work-from-home etc. I think tackling one day at a time is so important when one is having depression problems. Otherwise, there is this immense pressure to keep it up when one starts feeling better…
What do you think?
September 28, 2015 at 12:00 pm #84309AnonymousGuestDear Moongal:
I totally agree. I love routine. Very much so. Need it. Need more of it.
anitaSeptember 28, 2015 at 2:06 pm #84321
SannParticipantDear Moongal,
I love this post, thank you so much for it!
I have a big problem with structure, sometimes overdoing it, and most of the time not doing it at all. Very frustrating cause i miss out on a lot of things and get in stressy situations so often, due to my lack of it.
I was actually just starting to wonder these past days, what i can do in order to bring more structure in my daily life, and here you write such a clear, easy post about it, how brilliant!When i get into this ‘get more structure in my life’ – moments, i always want to change the whole thing immediately, result that it lasts for a few days. So i love how you write ‘slowly incorporate small routines in my day’ – take it easy, one little change and get used to that and then add an other one.
It might sound very evident, but it’s a good example for me to get my own ways of tacking it. Thanks and keep it up!
September 29, 2015 at 1:07 am #84390AnonymousInactiveHi Sann and Anita,
Thanks a lot for replying 🙂
@Sann: I have struggled a lot with yo-yoing in from perfect to 0 – i cant seem to keep up with the craziness of both – its so much pressure to get everything right in one day and then this feeling like omg, i have to do this 365 days a year! (atleast thats how i used to feel haha) What are the changes you want to incorporate next month?Moon
September 29, 2015 at 1:08 am #84392AnonymousInactiveHere are some online resources have been really useful –
Douglas Bloch – he is a mental health expert who has actually suffered from depression. I really like the way he talks about various aspects of coping. Malan Darass’s blog about depression : http://www.malandarras.com/depression-1
I do realize that everyone’s depression is indeed different and we all need different kinds of help. However, it really helps to know we are not alone in this and its simply a mental illness. A few weeks back, i finally saw a psychiatrist and it was a relief to hear that indeed a part of it wasnt in my control but it is manageable. I often felt so invalidated by the words of well-meaning friends and family – i felt like they were trying to tell me that it wasnt real – they couldnt see it but i felt it everyday and it was real for me.
September 29, 2015 at 9:52 am #84401AnonymousGuestDear Moongal: are you saying that your depression is caused by a chemical abnormality that you were born with? A genetic disease expressed in a chemical imbalance, a result on Nature, not Nurture? Do you view your depression and millions of others’ depression as an abnormality of brain chemicals people are genetically diseased with, and born with?
anita
September 29, 2015 at 11:03 am #84402AnonymousInactiveNo clue about the people out there – i dont have any information or notions. As for me, bit of both really – oh well, its much better and thats most important right now.
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