When you’re depressed it can be difficult to get motivated. However just because you don’t “feel” like doing anything, it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to stay in bed miserable! Force yourself to get out and try and include at least one fun activity a week. Invite a friend out on a
PROCRASTINATION
Many people with depression tend to procrastinate! If this describes you make an action plan and divide the task you are procrastinating into small chunks. There is a saying “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer is “one bite at a time!”. Divide you task into small chunks. See my post on procrastination and depression
FAULTY THINKING PATTERNS
How’re you doing with examining your thoughts and seeing where they’re going ‘wrong’? I know it’s not easy, but depressive thinking has taken years in the making so it’s not going to be a quick fix. Just keep on practicing and keep re-reading these articles as there is no way all this can be absorbed with one reading.
5 EXTRA COPING SKILLS |
You might still be battling with changing the way you think, insisting that your thoughts don’t need changing believing they are definitely based in reality. These Extra Coping Skills give you 5 more ways of checking on your thoughts.
- Evidence – Do you have evidence that your thought is true and based in reality? Anxiety is always future related, so many people who suffer with anxiety make predictions about what is going to happen. For example a thought like this one really needs to be examined. “No point going for that job interview, I’ll never get the job”. Ask yourself what concrete evidence do you have to prove your belief. My response would be that there is no evidence and all you can do is prepare well and present yourself at the job interview as best you are able.
- Opinion of others. Share your thought with people you know and ask them for their opinion. You’ll be surprised at the responses you get. An example that I have used before is the belief that some people hold that ‘happily married couples never argue’. Ask your friends, you might get some interesting opinions!
- Shades of Grey. Try thinking in ‘shades of grey’ rather than black and white.
- Double-standards. Isn’t it true that we’re often far harsher on ourselves than on other people. If a friend asked you for your opinion about their thoughts would you be kinder, more forgiving than you are to yourself? Try listening to your inner ‘good friend voice’ rather than your inner ‘worst enemy voice!’
- Cost-benefit analysis. This is term common in the business world but is also helpful in a person’s personal life. Ask yourself if it really is worth holding onto a particular thought and what the consequences will be if you hold onto that thought. If it is not going to serve you well, throw it out! Make an action plan for your life and only keep those thoughts that are helpful. That’s what a businessperson would do.
| Knowledge is power so carry on reading articles on depression on my site and elsewhere. The more knowledge you have, the better equipped you’ll become to ‘slay that monster’ of depression! |