I’ve been feeling a bit depressed lately. No real reason, just a change in my mental weather.
It happens from time to time.
A few years ago I would have felt anxious and worried that I was feeling depressed, wondering what was wrong and if I was about to be sucked into a downward spiral of poor mental health and illness – further feeding my state of mind.
Now I know that my mood and state of mind is changeable, like the weather. It’s not a constant.
I can’t always be ‘sunny’, and I think I now have enough wisdom to realise that I wouldn’t want to be either.
I need both the sun and the rain; the light and the dark; the still and the wind, in order to grow, thrive and be strong. And whether my mental ‘weather’ is sunny or stormy I know it’s just passing and impermanent.
There’s no need to be unhappy or worried that I’m not happy.
But just like I’ll wear a hat and suncream to protect myself in the sun, waterproofs, wellies and an umbrella in the rain, thermals, mitts and ski coat in the snow, I know there are simple things I can do to protect myself (and others) from the full impact of my mental weather.
Here’s my simple checklist:
Remember to :
- Move
- Breathe
- Drink water
- Eat something nourishing
- Sleep
- Get outside
- Connect with others; and
- Have quiet space to myself (these last 2 in equal measure)
What’s on your checklist to help you deal with your internal ‘weather’?
