by Jo Banks

Created on: February 01, 2010

 Recovering from depression is more than taking a pill and going to therapy.  Depression is a state of existence that knocks us clean out of our daily world.  In its mild state we may only experience minor loses, but in its full blown state, we experience a major loss of existence.  We no longer keep up our relationships, our daily life chores and our daily routines.  In brief, depression cripples us to the point that we no longer have a life.  So as we begin to recover from depression, we have to re-enter the world that we left behind when we were in so much pain.  It is possible to recover from a depression and return to life as it was before depression and to even come back in a better and stronger way than you ever though possible.

 The hardest thing for me when I began to feel better was to contact my friends and family again.  In my darkest days I threw my cell phone into my sock drawer and let it ring until the battery died. 

 When you begin to recover, take a deep breath and begin to call your friends and family.  You are going to get mixed reactions but be strong.  Thank them for their support and apologize for being out of touch.  Accept and acknowledge their feelings.  It's a process and you might want to start with the strongest relationships first to give you courage.

 After I started to straighten out my relationships, I realized how things had really piled up around the house.  Specifically, I hadn't done a chore in ages since I had been so devoted to my depression.  My life was a mess!  My advice is to be patient with yourself as you catch up with life's chores.

 Don't hesitate to ask for help with your housework.  This is a good time to reach out to the friends and family that you are re-establishing relationships with.  If you don't feel comfortable with that kind of contact yet, maybe you could hire someone.  If that isn't an option, then make a plan to slowly clean your house room by room.  Be kind to yourself as you put your house back together again.

 Restock and replenish your pantry and household items and don't delay on working on your finances.  The most important thing is to get your household up and running again so that you have somewhere that you can feel safe and secure.

 Medication and professional support are key in fighting depression but a big part in recovery is for you to maintain your strength during recovery.  Invest in a healthy diet; maintain good sleep hygiene and take the time to enjoy life again.

 Remember to be patient with yourself during this recovery period.  Depression isn't something you can see, touch or feel but it is a very serious illness with life-threatening symptoms that have taken a toll on your life.  Be patient and kind to yourself as you recover from this devastating illness.

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