3 Steps out of depression back in to ACTION.

This is something you are probably unaware of due to the happy and positive posts I create from the incredible world I live in and am blessed to experience. I suffer from depression. More than I can explain.I've been fully aware of it since 2010 and so what's needed, when it's needed to keep my world in forward motion. Even if it slows right down, I refuse to let it come to a standstill or worse, go backwards. 

Here's a few things I feel might help others along their journey. 

If you do suffer from depression and often feel no one is there, please do message me. I know one of the main reasons I answer every single message I get fully is not just to be there for others. It's to feel I also am not alone. 

Feel free to share. 

Stephen 

1. Identify the Essentials When you’re depressed and lack motivation, you may need to adjust your ideas about what is essential and what isn’t. Doing the dishes is essential; scrolling aimlessly through social media isn’t. One of the things about depression is that it switches the link between motivation and action so you end up having to do things before you feel motivated to do them. I personally write a to do list, put some music on then work through it.  2. Break Up Large Tasks Into Smaller, Easier Ones Example, your house needs cleaning. There's dirty dishes in the kitchen, clothes in the bedroom, and the Hoover needs to see everywhere. But it’s such a huge job when you're  depressed that you let it go and it becomes much worse. And this just serves to make your depression worse because you feel lazy and no good. So instead of telling yourself, “I’ve got to get this whole house cleaned up,” you should break it down and say, the first thing, unload the dishwasher and refill.  But this is even too much, so tell yourself, “okay, the only thing I have to do right now is unload the plates.” This is a job we can usually get ourselves to do because it’s short and easy and requires only a bit of our valuable energy. Once you're done with the plates, you can leave the kitchen and collapse on the couch until the next time you go to the kitchen for something and break off another small chunk by unloading just the bottom half of the dishwasher. By doing things this way, it allows us to at least get started on our immediate tasks. Admittedly, it takes a lot longer using this method, but it’s better than not doing anything at all. 3. Be Positive about Even the Smallest Victories When you're feeling low, any small step should be celebrated. Use these victories to encourage and remind yourself that you can indeed overcome one step at a time. You’ll be able to say, “I know I can do it because I’ve done it before.” When depression causes a lack of motivation, know that you can still beat it.