Positivity: Fighting Depression

Despite working to maintain and promote positivity, sometimes depression is unavoidable.

I know how this works. You put the energy and focus into maintaining a positive mindset, you use the many tools available to build positivity – and yet you still get sat upon by the black dog of depression.

What do you do with that behemoth breathing in your face?

Depression is not something to be denied or ignored. If you have depression, It is a part of your psyche that you treat in one of a myriad of ways, but never completely get rid of. You can keep it under control, you can keep it at bay, but you cannot just eliminate it and have it be gone for good. But you can control it instead of letting it control you.

I have been coping with depression for pretty much all of my life. I know there is a chemical imbalance in my system, and I have it under control more often than not. But we all have moments, we all have triggers that will set us off, that will tip the balance and take away control. Even the best antidepressants can only do so much when that happens.

How are positivity and depression linked together? Because focusing on positivity gives me a light at the end of the tunnel. It makes a place where the darkness that is bouts of depression seems escapable, and where you can find hope and reasons to work through it and return to balance.

I’ve written about many tools we can employ to build positivity. Well working to build positivity is an excellent means to work your way out of depression as well. Expressing gratitude can build positivity as well as pull us out of the discontent depression brings on. Using attitude shifters employed to build positivity can draw us out of that unsettled state and help return us to balance. Knowing there is hope and that there are positive things to be focused on can show us ways to get out of that unhappy state.

You are not alone. We are so very many who are fighting the same battle, wrestling the same demons and working with those same struggles, and we are in this together. That is a positive. I know how alone depression feels, I know how hopeless it can seem – but I also know that it is a temporary state, and that I can move beyond it and find positivity in a myriad of things.

I accept that I will sometimes succumb to depression, and I’ll berate myself and I will curl up in a ball on the couch for a while and shut out the world. But I also know that there are numerous good and positive things out there, and that I can get through this and find them again. I also know that I am not alone, and that we all have the strength and the mindpower to overcome this state and to see that there is always new possibilities, and positive things that will make me feel ok again.

I know this can seem impossible. I know how much this feeling can suck. I also know that we are capable of amazing things, and that we can and we will be ok. The actions of seeking positivity can work as a natural antidepressant.

Finding positivity is not hard, it just requires action. Knowing that bouts of depression happen even when you work to be positive, you can see how to overcome them. When we know that employing tools to find positivity also can fight depression, we can use the same tools to empower ourselves. When we feel empowered, we often spread that feeling to others around us, and as such can build more positive feelings. We can use the positive feelings this generates to dissolve negative feelings. When we take away negative feelings, we open up space to let in positive feelings, and that is something we can be grateful for. Gratitude leads to happiness. Happiness is the ultimate positive attitude. Positive attitude begets positive energy, and that is always a good thing.

This is the one hundred sixth entry of my Positivity series.  It is my hope these weekly messages might help spread positive energies for everyone.  Feel free to share, re-blog and spread the positivity.