The Battle with Depression in the Mornings

My own struggle with Depression started long before I was aware I even had it, although something did always feel kind of empty, a little numb in circumstances where "normal people" felt a lot more joy, or pain, etc. Something was off. In the years preceding my High School days, my sleep health was probably the biggest sign. Days would turn into weeks and my summers would quickly pass. The signs were there, but we didn't know much about these things in my family.

I slept in a lot and took naps often. These tendencies would never directly tell my family of the possibilities, these were only ever seen as "lazy" for the most part- which isn't by any means true. I'd sleep in until the sun was down, maybe get up a little or get a snack, but I'd sleep past days without showering, avoiding the bathroom as long as I could, without eating a proper meal or getting any actual, real rest. This isn't healthy.

In the morning, I'll often wake up to my first alarm and instantly snooze. There are a lot of things on my mind, I'm still tired, or it honestly just doesn't feel worth it to get out of bed just yet. There are countless reasons to not get up, a lot of them stem from depression. Depression alone is a big causer for too much or too little sleep, most likely even a mixture of both with fluctuating sleep patterns. Better sleep helps so much, but to get there we first need to get out of bed.

Set your alarm to your favorite song, make a playlist to select from in Apple Music if you're an iPhone user. I'm sure it's similar with every phone. Don't let the generic tones make you want to snooze over and over again. Sometimes music is just a better start, whether it's something upbeat or smooth- anything's better than your current alarm tone. Put good music on and start the day on a positive note, avoid social media if possible.

Avoid Social Media (Whenever Possible)

There are more reasons to avoid social media than to not, so unless you're being productive or really connecting- it's not worth it. This will keep you in bed, scrolling, comparing, and hours later the day is going on without you. I notice that I don't feel my best, emotionally, after getting on social media in the mornings unless I've connected with someone, shared something meaningful or laughed a bit and learned something new. The internet alone is a vast space with endless possibilities, let your mornings belong to you.

Get up, Get Some Bloodflow!

Yoga helps immensely, and it's simple enough to start in bed and continue on the floor once you get more into it. A couple of stretches, or push-ups, planks, sit-ups will get your blood pumping, your breath deepened and it'll just really make you feel that much better for getting out of bed and being active. This wakes you up in a calming way, let the day ease in. It doesn't have to be a whole session, any step towards this is progress.

Get Outside, Get Some Fresh Air

Getting outside will wake up your senses, get fresher air than that in your bedroom. This is the hardest step thus far, but the biggest one. Take at least 5 deep breaths to shake the tiredness. Box Breathing helps me a lot, ground yourself.

What do you see? What can you smell and hear, reach for what you can touch. Awaken your senses and get ready for your day. If you have any pets, this can be done while you take them out, enjoy this time and really ground yourself in the moment. My dogs will stay in as long as I can, but eventually they NEED to go out and it's regardless of what my days are looking like. Relying on dog pads is not the best way to give them what they deserve.

Have Something Waiting for You

A cup of coffee will wake you up with the smell alone, a good book will keep you from wanting to go back to sleep. If the nudge is still there, try one chapter more before giving in. Cooking is another thing that can be very relaxing and a positive start or ending to your day. Look up recipes a night or two beforehand. Overnight recipes are great for a quick snack in the morning.

Write

Writing is another technique, the physical act of writing out on a surface can be very therapeutic, especially when you can rid your mind of some clutter. Whether it makes sense on paper or not, get it out and rewrite or tear it up.

It's okay to not feel okay, and it's okay to get deep rest when your depression can be at its highest. Steps to get you to a better you start within yourself, the hardest part can be getting out of bed and letting the day begin. Take your mornings back. Whether it's in the morning or throughout the day, sometimes it's better to stay awake and face the challenges or blessings of the day. Sleep is tempting, but too much isn't healthy, and too little will wear you out. Be mindful of your rest and don't be afraid to talk to those close to you about these habits, sometimes people are a lot more understanding than we expect.