Tips to deal with depression goes viral

In late April, we found some advice on another Facebook page and we posted it to both The Pottle Centre page and the page for St. John’s Defeat Depression. People starting liking it and sharing it. The post was exactly the same on both pages but the one on the Defeat Depression page went viral! To date, it has reached far and wide to people all over Canada and the USA but then we discovered that it has been shared in far away places like Nepal and Bangladesh. To date, it has reached more than 160,000 people and more than 1600 people have shared it. We really don’t know why it has resonated with so many more people on one page than the other. 

We decided to share the post here. This week is Mental Health Week and now more than ever, many of us are more cognisant of our own mental health. This Covid-19 Pandemic has forced many people to change their daily routine and for a handful of people, they have embraced it but most of us may be struggling a little or a lot. We know that the tips will not take away Depression. It is not a cure. It will not suit everyone. The take away should be that the list serves as a reminder of things to do even when you may not feel like doing anything. Anyone who has experienced depressed knows that it can be very difficult to get out of bed, let alone, cook a meal or go for a walk. We like to see this list like a “To Do” list and many of us are able to gain motivation by being able to put a check mark on a task that we have completed. So here it is the viral post. We hope that it helps!

Depression tips

Shower. Not a bath, a shower. Use water as hot or cold as you like. You don’t even need to wash. Just get in under the water and let it run over you for a while. Sit on the floor if you gotta.

Moisturize everything. Use whatever lotion you like. Unscented? Dollar store lotion? Fancy 48 hour lotion that makes you smell like a field of wildflowers? Use whatever you want, and use it all over your entire dermis.

Put on clean, comfortable clothes.

Put on your favorite underwear. Cute black lacy panties? Those ridiculous boxers you bought last Christmas with candy cane hearts on the butt? Put them on.

Drink cold water. Use ice. If you want, add some mint or lemon for an extra boost. I always use lemon.

Clean something. Doesn’t have to be anything big. Organize one drawer of a desk. Wash five dirty dishes. Do a load of laundry. Scrub the bathroom sink.

Blast music. Listen to something upbeat and dancey and loud, something that’s got lots of energy. Sing to it, dance to it, even if you suck at both.

Make food. Don’t just grab a granola bar to munch. Take the time and make food. Even if it’s ramen. Add something special to it, like a soft boiled egg or some veggies. Prepare food, it tastes way better, and you’ll feel like you accomplished something.

Make something. Write a short story or a poem, draw a picture, color a picture, fold origami, crochet or knit, sculpt something out of clay, anything artistic. Even if you don’t think you’re good at it. Create.

Go outside. Take a walk. Sit in the grass. Look at the clouds. Smell flowers. Put your hands in the dirt and feel the soil against your skin.

Call someone. Call a loved one, a friend, a family member, call a chat service if you have no one else to call. Talk to a stranger on the street. Have a conversation and listen to someone’s voice. If you can’t bring yourself to call, text or email or whatever, just have some social interaction with another person. Even if you don’t say much, listen to them. It helps.

Cuddle your pets if you have them/can cuddle them. Take pictures of them. Talk to them. Tell them how you feel, about your favorite movie, a new game coming out, anything.

May seem small or silly to some, but this list keeps people alive.

**Your absolute best won’t ever be good enough for the wrong people. At your worst, you’ll still be worth it to the right ones. Remember that. Keep holding on.