How do you manage your symptoms now?
One of the biggest things that works for me is setting boundaries. I’m aware when people around me start talking about something that I can’t help with, because I am worried about taking on someone else’s problems. I try to set boundaries with those conversations.
I’ve also found that it’s important to tell yourself once or twice a week that you love yourself. You need to figure out what tells you that you love yourself — things you neglect when you’re feeling depressed. It could be going outside, going on the bike path, looking at flowers, or even enjoying a milkshake. I’ve found that working out regularly does wonders, too.
Do you still have low days, and what do you do on those days to care for yourself?
Depression can make me want to sleep through the entire day or even the week. So, if I recognize that it could be a low day, I do my best to get up, make my bed, and tell myself, “No, that’s not what we’re doing today.” I don’t have any magical solutions — I just remind myself that I’ve been doing well and that I’ve come too far to let a low day get everything off track.
What role do you think our mental health plays in our overall health?
Our minds and emotions control everything. Our brains are telling our bodies how to function. It’s all coming from our heads and our minds.
Do you have advice for women who may be too embarrassed to get help?
Try to put everything you were taught that’s making you hesitate aside. Getting help and opening up can help you to see so much great stuff about your life. I have friends who didn’t always have the most emotionally healthy lives, but you can tell they’ve been able to create a positive environment where their kids can grow up healthy.
It’s important for women to be aware that some people enjoy dysfunction or don’t even realize they’re living in dysfunction. People might have unresolved issues that are affecting their relationships with you, even if those issues have nothing to do with you. You have to take care of yourself, and you have to do it for you.