Depression

You get into a habit of being depressed by being able to easily go into that state of mind we all call depression.

When really it’s a pattern you’ve followed for so long that it just feels normal and comfortable to be in that place.

Comfortable? Yes comfortable. Because when you try to do something other than feeling lonely or sorry for yourself, you become uncomfortable so you immediately stop what you’re doing and go back to the feelings that are comforting for you.

It’s because you’ve followed this pattern for so long that it’s just become a part of who you are. You may not even like it but it is a normal feeling for you.

However, if you notice depression is more of a physical motion then it is anything else, right?

If I asked you what depression looks like you could tell me in a matter of seconds. Anyone could. People who aren’t’ even depressed knows what it looks like.

But just in case you can’t picture it, let me help you.

- You hold your head down.

- Your shoulders are slumped forward.

- Your face is tense and not smiling.

- Your breathing is shallow.

These are all physical signs of unhappiness. So instead of trying to think yourself into feeling better, you can feel yourself into feeling better.

Follow me for a moment and see if it doesn’t make you feel even slightly better.

- Sit up in your chair.

- Roll your shoulders back.

- Open up your chest.

- Put your head in an upright position.

- Put a smile on your face.

- Breathe deeply from your diaghram.

Just putting your body in this position will help you feel better. Your body posture or body language says a lot about what you’re feeling on the inside.

So instead of thinking yourself into a better mood, move yourself into a better mood without all that trying to think happy thoughts stuff.

If you notice telling yourself “I’m happy. I’m happy. I’m happy” when you’re not does nothing to change the way you feel. So move your body in ways that you haven’t in a long time to get your energy flowing.

- Hold your center by pulling your bellybutton into your spine and stand in a sturdy position.

- Sway your body from side to side to get blood flowing smoothly throughout your body.

- Roll your shoulders in a circle – up, back and down.

- Tilt your head from side to side to loosen up your neck muscles.

- Smile.

- Put your hands in the air and jump up and down. Seriously. Do it now!

This is how you break the habit of depression by breaking the habit of being in a state of mind with low energy and unhappy thoughts.

I know that thoughts play a role in depression but if you can get yourself to use your body as a way of feeling more alive and energetic then you can also break those same repetitive thought patterns.

Just like holding your body in a depressing way makes you feel crappy. Well so does repeating the same negative thoughts over and over again in your head.

- I’m not worthy of love.

- I’ll never be enough.

- I hate happy people.

- I wish I was someone else.

- Everyone is out to get me.

- Why even try?

Notice how these are feelings more than they are thoughts. Sure you think these thoughts but the place you notice them most is in the body as a feeling.

If you can just get yourself to start moving more and holding your body in new and different ways you’ll be able to lessen or eliminate your depression.

It’s not just a thought it’s a feeling and I believe that with my entire body.




What causes depression and how can you overcome it? You just find the answer you've been looking for here.

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Go to Self Esteem Building home page

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