_PNG.png)
They happen. Whether it’s circumstantial or psychological, depressive slumps can be the gateway to a downward spiral. I’m no expert in the psych or medical field, but I have an idea of what mental illness feels like, mostly because I’ve dealt with it for several years. If you’re looking for a way to move toward snapping out of it today (not including seeking professional help, which I always ultimately recommend) read on!
Look it up.
Hey, the fact that you’re researching this topic says a lot about where you’re at. Pat yourself on the back for knowing you matter enough to break outta this. I’m serious! Give yourself a pat on the back, a self five — cross your arms and squeeze in a self love hug! You rock!
2. Listen to your “Happy Playlist” (or make one).
If you need some suggestions, my Happy Playlist can be found in a separate article here. Find music that empowers you; whether it’s a song that makes you wanna dance with somebody like Whitney Houston, a simple piano arrangement that lifts your spirits, or something with lyrics that pierce your soul, create a playlist that’s right for you. (I personally love Bowling for Soup on my down days… they make me laugh and feel light-hearted).
3. Do a single chore.
Weird how chores are what we wanted to get out of as children, but I swear by them now. This is the task that helps me most when I am in a slump: I will myself to do one load of laundry… usually I end up doing all of it, and something about how clean laundry smells and getting off my butt to do something helps me get the ball rolling on the rest of my day. Sweep your kitchen, vacuum your living room, wipe down your bathroom counters. Just get your body moving to do one small task. Plus, a clean space is a happy place!
4. Take a shower.
I bet you stink. I’m not being mean! Showering is the literal worst when you’re sad or numb. Simply getting out of bed makes me want to cry when my mental health is in a bad place. Scratch that — the thought of getting out of bed makes me cry. But you deserve a shower! You deserve to be pampered! So, grab a freshly cleaned towel, make the water nice and hot, wash your face and use that sugar scrub. I find that sitting on the floor of my shower is especially comforting.
5. Tell someone.
Text a close family member or friend, “Hey, I’m sad today. Can you send over a few memes?” If you communicate that you don’t want to talk about it, they probably won’t make you. If you do want to talk about it, let them know you’re open for some advice! They might surprise you; you don’t have to be alone in your sadness. I’ll list a few hotlines if you’d prefer to speak to a stranger here.
6. Snuggle your cat.
Or dog. Or stuffed animal. Or heating blanket. I force snuggle my pets and they usually catch on to my grief pretty quickly and stop the struggle once they realize I’m really in need of it. Tell your pet all the pain in your heart. They tend to be great listeners. A blanket would probably be an even better listener.
7. Cry.
Pop P.S. I Love You on. Or Fox and the Hound. Or an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Or Avengers: End Game. Whatever it takes to get those waterworks going and just let it out. Caution: A good cry will sometimes get you sick. Prepare accordingly.
8. Journal.
I know you made a New Year’s Resolution to be better about this. Follow through today! Tell that journal how angry and sad and useless you feel. My journals tend to start out pretty upsetting, but somewhere along the way I find clarity and my entries end rather hopeful. Make a list of 10 things you have to be grateful for, while you’re at it!
9. Eat a vanilla sheet cake from Trader Joe’s.
I thought their orange scones are what Satan uses as bait to lure us into Hell… turns out it’s this freaking sheet cake. Xander and I had about twelve of these in a week when we lost our cat. Pick some kind of treat — it doesn’t have to be the sheet cake, but I highly recommend it — and indulge yourself.
10. Smell your fragrance collection.
I think I say this one a lot? But it works for me! I love going through my fragrance collection when I need to comfort myself. I reminisce on scents that I wore in the past, or I daydream about places I can smell good at later. Whatever your weird thing is, do it. Re-organize your bookshelf, fill up a cart of clothes you likely won’t purchase, watch carpet cleaning videos on YouTube (secret shout out to the pal who told me that one). You have your weird thing… do it!
At the end of the day, a slump is called that for a reason. All you want to do is sit in your bed like a sad potato and wallow in your existence, complain like a hungry fat cat (I’m serious, have you ever heard a fat cat complain about an empty food bowl? This isn’t symbolism for anything) and stare off into the abyss.
Just know that while these days happen, you’re worth more than that and you deserve to get to the brightness at the end of the tunnel.
Comments