Depression is more complicated than people initially believe. It’s more than feeling sad; it changes how you perceive everything. Overall, there’s a loss of interest in things that used to give you great pleasure, making self-care and coming out of this depression a difficult challenge. Read on to learn more about the struggle of depression and what you can do to give yourself still the self-care you deserve.
Start Journaling
This sort of self-care requires a lot of effort initially, but it’s a great way to get your thoughts and frustrations out of your brain. Journaling is a great way to turn your anxiousness and depression into something tangible, and it’s a lot easier to confront and break things down when they’re on paper. You can solve something that feels so complex and impossible to untangle after you write it down, or you can even see that it’s not a problem at all. Journaling is also a great way to see your accomplishments and recognize improvements within yourself.
Get a Tattoo
This point doesn’t sound like self-care at first, but in the days following the tattoo, you will realize that you have a lot of work to do. Caring for a tattoo is a long process since you must keep it protected from outside elements and clean it multiple times a day. This sort of self-care is excellent for taking care of yourself and fighting against feelings of depression and anxiety. On top of the care you’ll give yourself, choosing a tattoo is also a great way to reflect on your life. To get the right tattoo, you must find what brings you enjoyment and find a permanent place for it on your body.
Sounds crazy, right? Well, take it from someone who is moderately tattooed and who deals with chronic depression: getting tattoos that inspire and speak to you can have a profound effect on helping you feel more connected to your body.
Find a New Hobby
Depression can, unfortunately, turn a lot of what used to make you happy into pointless wastes of time. Because of this, many people feel like they can’t get out of this depression with their tried-and-true methods to recenter themselves. At times like this, one of the best forms of self-care you can do is start a new hobby. It doesn’t even have to sound appealing to you at first, but getting out and doing something new and different is a great way to get your brain moving more positively again. Hobbies like gardening, hiking, video games, or puzzles can be challenging at first, but they create many opportunities for mental growth.
Struggling with depression is tough, but these self-care tips can help you get out of that rut. They won’t flip your world upside down at first, but they will help you escape the nasty cycle of depression that your brain puts you in and allow you to start seeing everything from a fresh perspective.
