It’s been a while since I’ve written one of my health updates, several months actually. I’m embarrassed to confess that after taking on a new position; partly due to departure of those training me, partly to the lack of expertise in management; but in large part because of my own lack of confidence, I somehow managed to slip down into depression. But, as with so many people in this situation, it never once occurred to me to question my instinctive belief that it was my fault – Everything.
During the following few months, I began to doubt everything I did and when I made the mistakes management seemed to be expecting me to make, I believed their opinion of me and my inability to do my job, and finally lost every vestige of confidence and positivity in myself.
In fact it took a comment made by my daughter during a conversation over coffee one day, for me to even consider the idea that I could be suffering from, let alone begin the road toward breaking the cycle of, depression, and encourage me to begin my road to recovery.
Since the advent of Covid into the world, the number of people suffering from anxiety or depression has increased in some areas almost to epidemic proportions. These are insidious problems sneaking up on you when you least expect it. And like me, in some instances, not even considering such a thing.
Well, after my bout this year I have, surprise, surprise, turned to research into the condition; not of the illness itself particularly, but of possible ways that the ordinary person can, firstly recognise it, secondly fight it and knock it to its knees. Now it looks like Covid and its variations will be with us for the forseable future, so it is up to us to find ways to keep ourselves healthy, fit, AND depression free.
For me, one of the next things I did was get back into my walking again. Which I had always enjoyed, especially finding places to walk that helped bring a smile to my face. Walking to the local shops is good as there is always the chance of meeting someone I know, or at least seeing someone I can smile at, say good morning to etc. Another thing and which I’ll be doing when I take a break from this article, is taking the long way round to my local cafe, love their flat white :-). I tell myself that this is my reward for working toward my ultimate fitness goal.
Also, taking a glance out of the window now and again, I see those mums with their littlies on bicycles that don’t have pedals as they are to small to reach them, or people walking their dogs both small and large, those driving sports cars with the tops down and huge smiles on their faces: or even the Kingfisher that perches on the cable outside my office window looking for insects to find and eat. All of these bring smiles to my face even when I’m indoors on my own.
Yesterday I took a two hour drive down country to visit a friend who has been very sick, the route on the way there taking me over hill and dale with many views of the Kaipara Harbour as I went, which I really enjoyed. We had a lovely time together, went out for coffe and a snack, then I returned home via the motoway, which took a lot less time and meant I arrived home just on tea time.
OK. After some time checking with Mr Google, Government departments etc., I picked up on a couple of things.
1. is there anything or things, that, before depression, made you feel good, calm, peaceful??
Do one of them to see if it helps, then another, then another.
2. Do you live alone??
Find time to meet someone you like for coffee, lunch or even, wow, for dinner? This is something I started doing and goodness, what a difference it made even at the beginning.
3. Walking lifts my mood. Thankfully – for me – I don’t need music, or phone chat when I’m walking.
Try it, even if it’s only to the end of your road to start with. For me I’m able to walk down to my local estuary so not all on the road.
Do you have any activities that help lift your spirits?? Please let me know on [email protected], or [email protected], I will love to hear from you and any hints you can offer I will definitely pass on to others in our situation.
Thank you for taking the time to read my discoveries, I appreciate you.
