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By Damien Woods
When I was depressed, I would read articles like this one just for a laugh. They told me to join running clubs to make new friends and to talk to therapists. No chance. I didn’t want to do any of that. I didn’t want to throw myself into anxiety-inducing situations where I was expected to behave like some sort of extraverted caricature of myself. I didn’t have the energy for that facade.
But now, I’m delighted to share that I’m out of my depression hole. It was a long climb, but I made it. Not by exploring all of the traditional avenues, or by taking antidepressants, but by building up my confidence, brick by brick, and learning self-respect.
Fitness Builds Fortitude
Depression is often associated with feelings of hopelessness and an intensely negative self-perception. For me, one of the best ways to prove those voices wrong was to explore ways to improve my self-confidence and pride, chief among them was feeling better in my own skin.
After a certain point, I remember thinking ‘screw it’. I bit the bullet and gave the gym a go. When I first went, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing or where I could get started. When I first stepped through the door, I was terrified. Terrified that I would be surrounded by judgmental gym bros, who would confirm my own fears that I was worth less than them.
But instead, I was shocked to find a welcoming crowd of people who bent over backwards to help a newcomer like me. Experienced bodybuilders gave me tips, words of motivation, and I was even offered a complimentary session with a personal trainer. He was kind, patient, and showed me the ropes with all the different machines and equipment now at my disposal.
As I continued to go, on weeknights, mornings, and at the weekend, I felt far less socially anxious and much more self-assured; after lifting the heaviest weight of your life in the morning, you’ll feel like you can do anything afterwards! Things that might have felt like the end of the world beforehand, like interacting with certain friends and family members, suddenly seemed less daunting.
On top of that, my clothes fit me better, which is always a plus.
Negative Thoughts Can Be a Gut Feeling
There is truth to the statement that a healthy diet means a healthy mind. The relationship between your mind and your gut is often overlooked. During my own battle, I never really considered this until later on, but it is definitely worth considering. Whenever I ate a lot of junk food, the positive buzz of eating a delicious meal soon became overshadowed by ominous feelings of shame and self-loathing when the harm I was doing to myself really started to sink in. But believe it or not, there is scientific evidence that adds further weight to this.
We all have something called a brain-gut axis, which, put simply, is a deep connection between our brains and our bellies. Essentially, our microbiomes produce lots of chemicals that affect our moods – chief among which is serotonin. The ‘feel-good’ hormone can actually be boosted by feeding ourselves fibre-rich diets and probiotics, like kimchi and kefir yoghurts. Our guts actually help to influence how we respond to stress, how clearly we think and can have a major effect on feelings of anxiety and depression as a whole. So if you haven’t tried changing what you eat, it’s well worth a try. But honestly, treat yourself to a pizza now and then as well.
Stay Connected
This section may well fall into the ‘easier said than done’ category, but it is also one of the most important sources of support when it comes to depression. It’s a heavy burden for one person, so don’t feel guilt or shame about sharing it with others – especially those you trust. Whether it’s through family, friends, or even co-workers, there are people out there who would help shoulder the burden in a heartbeat if they were made aware.
But for many, taking that first step is the hardest part. When I was deep into my depression hole, I couldn’t tell my family. I didn’t want the attention and all the fussing that comes with it. It took a few months, but eventually, I confided in a friend. We weren’t even that close at the time, and maybe that made it easier – that the stakes were lower if he rejected me. But he didn’t. To my surprise, he jumped into the hole with me. He told me he’d been there before and knew the way out.
In Conclusion
I relate my own experience of depression to that feeling of being stuck in stasis. The same old routine; an endless loop of my own making that became a cage before I even realised it. In the end, only I held the key to that cage. Only I could make the necessary changes to help myself.
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Author Bio
Damien Woods is a Freelance Writer
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