Esperanza Hope To Cope: Weathering Storms of Depression and Anxiety

by Carol L. Rickard

What you can do when emotions of sadness and grief are brewing depression.

jacobeukman

Photo: jacobeukman/iStock/Getty Images

by Carol Rickard

 

As some of you may already know, in July, I experienced a big loss in my life — my dog Kalley passed away.

What’s made this situation even more challenging is the fact that for the past 4 years, my life centered around her.

Kalley had seizures and required medication 5 times a day.

I didn’t realize how much of my time was spent focused on taking care of her until…I didn’t have to do it.

So, I feel like in a way it was really a double loss: Kalley & the routine that existed in my daily structure.

And quite honestly, it has required me to pull out a great many of my LifeTOOLS.

What I noticed was that along with the emotions of sadness and grief, I could feel an oncoming storm of DEPRESSION.

I’ve had other losses where I felt depressed, which is different than being depressed…

Just like it is important to do with an oncoming storm, I went to work making sure my WELLNESS FOUNDATION was reinforced.

The stronger our foundation is—the better we can weather the storms.

I honestly believe if I didn’t have such a strong WELLNESS FOUNDATION, I would not have been able to weather this storm.

I have one last important LifeTOOL I’d like to share.

As my DEPRESSION storm approached, I could have just hidden & taken cover.

Yes, I found myself wanting to isolate, not get out of bed, not DO things, not feel like eating or getting dressed, and having NO energy…

BUT I DID JUST THE OPPOSITE — I did what I didn’t FEEL like doing!

This is the work we must DO in order to have wellness & recovery in our lives. It isn’t easy work, but the effort can payoff in a BIG way!

In case you haven’t read about this before, here is the blueprint for building a solid WELLNESS FOUNDATION!

~ To Living Well TODAY! ~

 

via Esperanza – Hope To Cope
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