I talk often about the power of positive thought and
feeling, in fact, I devote an entire chapter of my book,
Give Wings to Your Dreams, to this topic. I have found
it to be an enormously important skill to develop if you
want to create a more joyful and fulfilling quality of life.
Sometimes it's just a matter of breaking the old and
moldy habit of looking at the world through a negative
and perhaps resentful lens - choosing instead to
focus on gratitude and positive anticipation.
Sometimes it's much more than that. Sometimes the
feelings of lethargy, despair and hopelessness cloud
the picture so completely that we have no access to
feelings that are even remotely positive, let alone
joyful.
It is estimated that some 19 million people in the
United States suffer from major clinical depression.
Depression can happen to the most accomplished
among us, and a condition called Bipolar II, when
moods swing in and out of depression, is particularly
prevalent among creative types and super high
achievers.
Depression is not something to be ashamed of. It's
not something to gamble with. And it's definitely not
something to struggle with alone.
Unfortunately, many people have a strong resistance
to seeking help for what is very often a highly treatable
brain chemistry imbalance - one that can be brought
into balance with proper medication.
If you or someone you love suffer from a form of
the blues that is unrelenting, and perhaps more aptly
labeled a "black" depression, I urge you to seek an
evaluation from a medical doctor or a mental health
professional immediately. You have nothing to lose
and everything to gain.
If you feel like you need more information before you
trot off to the doctor's office, you can start with
researching the Internet or finding one of myriad
books on the market to help you recognize whether
your symptoms might be related to depression,
bipolar II or other mood disorders. A good place to
start would be the National Institute of Mental Health at
www.nimh.nih.gov.
Whether you are experiencing a mild case of the blues
or a deeply debilitating depression, there are some
things you can do in addition to seeking professional
help that can help you feel better:
Exercise. Though this may seem like the last thing you
feel like doing, this is the one thing that can bring the
most immediate relief. Don't set yourself up for an
overwhelming ordeal that requires planning, special
equipment, or a gym membership. Simply put on
some comfortable shoes, walk out your door, choose
a direction and walk for 5-minutes and then turn
around and come back. If, while you're out there, you
feel like doing more, by all means do so, but a
5-minute round trip alone will do wonders.
Nutrition. Make sure you are getting adequate
nutrition. Some people lose their appetite when
depressed; others go on a junk food binge. In either
case, healthy nutrition is lacking. Be sure to take a
good multi-vitamin supplement and try to eat more
fruits and vegetables!
Journal. Keeping a journal can help you process your
feelings. It's okay if you need to lament about what's
not right and what's not working. But please watch out
for the tendency to verbally beat yourself up! This will
not help matters. Instead, make a conscious choice to
treat yourself with the same kindness and
compassion you would offer a friend who was feeling
down. (Chapter three of Give Wings to Your Dreams
guides you to shift your self-talk to a more positive
place.)
Friends and Family. Though you may not want anyone
to see you in a less than upbeat frame of mind, do not
isolate yourself from the ones you love. Reach out for
support and companionship; allow the ones who love
you to be there for you.
If you do indeed suffer from a form of depression,
taking the right medication, supplemented by
psychotherapy, life coaching and important lifestyle
choices can transform your life in amazing ways. The
important thing is to reach out for information and
support so that you can live a healthy, peaceful and
productive life. With focus, intention and commitment,
your midlife blues can be transformed into midlife
triumph!
