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Depression is an invisible illness.

You can’t see it. But you can definitely feel it…

Some days may be worse than others in that you may want to crawl back into bed and forget everything. Other days you may get up and be raring to go with whatever the day throws at you. This is because you feel great. Free of brain fog. Focused and alert.

However, if you have suffered many years with the condition. Brain fog is never far away and is not a nice feeling.

So how do we deal with it especially when it presents itself with anxiety too?

Many take Anti-depressant medication for the condition and this works for the majority. There is a minority who are unable to take it due to health reasons or simply due to personal preference. However if it is due to personal preference it is strongly recommended to seek advice from a GP or health professional first.

Having suffered for many years with the condition, I now wish to help others out of the darkness of depression, and into the light. It can be difficult, and yes we do need to help ourselves, it’s never easy. However, with the help of an understanding doctor- which is definitely a must- you can manage it more properly.

You may not necessarily use all 15 of the tips I am suggesting. You may decide to choose 2 or 3. Even adding some of your own. The choice is entirely yours.

15 tips to dealing with Anxiety and Depression with a little help from above thrown in for good measure…

1. Spend as much time as you can outdoors. Even if it is sat in your garden or on a balcony. ( Not always easy when you are deep in darkness so the next one should help as they should encourage)
2. Talk to your family members and friends. Make sure they are aware of the condition and where you’re at right now. Allow family and friends in to help you out.
3. Try Bach flower remedies. 3/4 drops on the tongue truly do help.
4. Eat cashew nuts. A great anti-depressant.
5. Take long walks and or find an exercise which suits you. For example Yoga or Pilates or running and the gym whichever one makes you feel good.
6. Talk about your worries. Don’t bottle them up. Let it out.
7. Don’t be afraid to cry.
8. Take a moment to do some deep breathing exercises. Standing or sitting. For eg: As you make a cup of coffee or tea and waiting for the kettle to boil. It’s surprising how much calmer you will feel.
9. Do not listen to other’s opinions of you especially if negative.
10. Stay away from negative situations, people, places and energies.
11. Eat as healthy as possible. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
12. Listen to music that you enjoy and which makes you feel good.
13. Find something which occupies your mind and will allow you to refocus for a time such as painting, knitting, crocheting or a puzzle book.
14. This works very well even if you only manage 2 or 3 off the list. Make a list for the day. Write down the tasks for the day and tick off as you do them.
15. Ask the Angels for help especially if you need help with a problem that may be causing you your depression. Remember though you have free will so you must ask them. Keep your faith.

Once you calm your mind and let others in. Family and friends and others who can and will help you. You realise there are others like yourself and that you are not alone. You must talk about your anxieties and how your depression makes you feel. Try also to surround yourself with positive thinkers and people who will help lift and guide you out of the darkness and into the light.

Find an understanding doctor or medical practitioner.

Depression can also take its toll on self-esteem and confidence which is another reason to surround yourself with loving understanding people who will listen to you and be non-judgemental.

If you do seek the Angels help remember that they are Gods messengers and the root cause will be uncovered to see why you are feeling this way in order for you to heal they have your best interests at heart and have a plan. Expect the unexpected. Expect to be guided to people, places and situations that you may never have thought of to help you.

And remember you are loved and are beautiful inside and out.

Original Article Source Here, With Many Thanks To Sharon Smith.

Do you get overwhelmed by your emotions? You might be going about your day, and suddenly, an interaction sparks a strong feeling. Your fight, flight or freeze response kicks in. Your heart starts pounding, your muscles tense and your breath becomes shallow.

But your environment isn’t the only thing that triggers your emotions. Because you have a very rich inner life, your thoughts or memories serve as triggers, too.

Psychotherapist Joy Malek, M.S., shared the above examples. She calls individuals who feel emotions deeply and intensely “Deep Feelers.”

Deep Feelers also tend to be imaginative and sensitive, which colors the storylines they create, she said. Everyone creates storylines: interpretations (often unconscious) for what triggered you. Deep Feelers’ storylines are frequently filled with “rapture, despair, and everything in between.”

What causes some people to feel emotions so deeply?

Temperament may play a role. “[M]ost Deep Feelers are wired to experience the world first and foremost through their emotions. And this can create strong inner responses to life events.” On theMyers-Briggs personality test, they’re called “Feelers” (versus “Thinkers”), she said.

Deep Feelers also might be highly sensitive people. Highly sensitive people are especially susceptible to physical and emotional stimuli. (See here, here and here.) “For those with high sensitivity, strong emotional responses are natural and need to be processed in order to metabolize them,” Malek said.

Being a Deep Feeler is both a strength and a challenge. Deep Feelers are empathic, intuitive and attuned, she said. This makes them exceptional friends, partners and parents, she said.

“However, feeling deeply can also be a source of overwhelm. Being constantly and intensely tuned in to your own and others’ emotions can be overloading.” Malek shared this example: Your loved one is angry with you. You end up feeling an overwhelming sense of shame and failure because of the specific storyline you created about why they’re upset. Because of your anguish, you lose perspective and become consumed by fear and despair. You also believe that the relationship is irrevocably broken (which often is not the case).

Most Deep Feelers use emotions as a compass. They alert “them when something is wrong or [reassure them] that all is well.” For instance, if Deep Feelers are experiencing painful feelings, they interpret things as very, very wrong, Malek said.

“Because Deep Feelers need time to process big emotions, their emotional ‘pipes’ can get backed up. Then the feelings are just zinging around inside instead of being metabolized.” Here, it’s tough for Deep Feelers to imagine a time when they won’t be feeling this badly.

Below Malek shared five healthy strategies to help you process your emotions — so you don’t get derailed by them.

1. Take a break.

“When a big emotion hits, it’s OK to ask for time to process before discussing it with someone else,” said Malek, founder of SoulFull, where she offers psychotherapy, coaching and creative workshops. You might need time to identify what you’re feeling. Knowing your exact emotion helps you “bring clarity to the conversation.”

2. Explore the storyline behind your emotion.

When you’re experiencing a painful emotion, Malek suggested asking yourself: “What’s the storyline here?” At first you might identify all sorts of stories. But typically one or two will emerge as the most persistent, she said.

For instance, your storyline might be: “I’m not important to others,” “Everything is out of my control,” “No matter how hard I try, I always fail,” “People leave; no one will stay,” or “I’m not good enough.”

Just naming your storyline can help you gain some distance from it, Malek said. Identifying it also reminds you that your “interpretation is not the objective truth.” Understanding the root of your storyline minimizes its power, as well, Malek said. A therapist can help you explore what happened in your development to create this interpretation, she said.

3. Have a list of go-to distractions.

“Distraction techniques help [you] regulate intense emotions,” Malek said. When we’re in the throes of a fight, flight or freeze response, it’s hard to think logically and problem solve. Using a distraction technique helps you refocus while your nervous system settles down.

These techniques can be anything that capture your attention so you’re not ruminating about your painful feeling, she said. This might be playing a game on your phone or watching an interesting TV segment.

4. Explore alternate storylines.

“Once your nervous system has settled, you can begin to explore alternative storylines that will enable you to transform your perspective,” Malek said. She suggested asking yourself these questions:

• What can I take away from this experience that will make me wiser or increase my compassion?
• If I look at this experience in the context of my whole life’s story, what does this add? What will I say about it looking back 10, 20, 30 years from now?
• How will I use this experience to understand and help others?
• What qualities can I bring to this situation to give myself dignity and pride? For instance, these qualities might be courage, compassion and creativity. “Acknowledging the personal qualities, or resources, that one can bring to painful situations is very empowering.” For instance, you might consider: “How can I use courage here?” or “Could there be a creative approach to this problem?”

5. Practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness meditation trains our brains to stay in the moment, rather than ruminating about the past or fretting about the future. Both are big triggers for painful feelings, Malek said.

“Mindfulness also helps us learn to pause when we are triggered, and to hold our storylines lightly.” These make a big difference in helping Deep Feelers have more balance and not feel as blindsided by emotions, she said.

Malek’s favorite practice is something she calls “Cat Mind.” It’s inspired by how our pets use their senses to be fully present in each moment. To practice this, she suggested noticing your surroundings. “When storylines and painful thoughts slip in and begin to rev up your feelings, pull yourself back to this moment, here.” Refocus on what you see and hear.

There’s nothing wrong with feeling emotions deeply. This can be a good thing. But sometimes, as a Deep Feeler, you might get overwhelmed. Trying tips like the above can help.

24 SIMPLE WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESS
1. Change your emotional response.
2. Ask for help.
3. Schedule a down time into every day.
4. Set priorities in your life .
5. Breathe deeply.
6. Take stock of your achievements.
7. Quit trying to fix other people.
8. Get enough sleep.
9. Praise other people.
10. Exercise regularly.
11. Embrace spirituality.
12. Avoid negative people.
13. Break large tasks into bite size portion.
14. Develop a sense of humor.
15. Go outside more.
16. Keep a gratitude journal.
17. Take a bubble bath.
18. Think positively.
19. Look at problem as challenge.
20. Plant flower.
21. Stand up and stretch.
22. Walk at least 15 minutes everyday.
23. Spend time with happy people.
24. Maintain a strong social network.