When Depression Starts To Fade

When you’ve been depressed for so long, you forget to remember what a normal, healthy life feels like. For so long my life has just been about survival and getting through the day.

I had started to give up hope that there was anything better in store for me. Much to my surprise, I feel as if the tides are turning.

My depression and alcoholism have always been closely related. My alcoholism made my depression ten times worse but even when I was able to abstain from alcohol for periods, I suffered from a crippling depression I could not escape from.

It was like I had to choose between this alcoholic miserable life or this sober painful depressed life. I was truly like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Approximately two months ago, I started taking a new medication for my depression and anxiety. Although medication is just one tool in my arsenal for battling depression and staying sober, it's been working.

I've noticed very significant results with this medication in combination with a lot of exercise, staying busy, being social, and putting in an effort to do things I enjoy.

I don’t think there is any type of quick fix for mental illness or addiction. I think over time you learn a bunch of techniques to manage it all and each technique contributes a small amount to you feeling better.

The combination of these techniques can bring you out of the worst of times and into the light.

I’ve also learned that it isn’t always easy to do the things you need to do to make yourself feel better. I often want to skip the gym, have a beer, avoid friends, take time off work, and skip therapy but I don’t.

I know that I need to remain vigilant because the slide back into depression is a slippery slope and it can happen fast.

But right now. I feel pretty good. I can let go of my obsessive thoughts. I no longer get triggered by something in a TV show and go into a depressive episode for days ruminating about things I cannot control.

I am slowly gaining confidence back as do more and more. This makes me less scared of the future because I have a bit of faith that I'll be able to handle whatever is thrown at me.

I predict this confidence and belief in myself will only increase as I continue down this path of living a better life.

I plan on getting involved with several activities that will help build my confidence as well.

As soon as I can afford it I am getting a gym membership. I've always loved weight training and it's extremely good for gaining confidence.

I'm also going to go back to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, a form of martial arts that you've seen if you watch the UFC. All martial arts is excellent for building confidence, learning a new skill, becoming resilient, and getting in shape.

The last thing I want to focus on is socializing. I have social anxiety so this has always been a struggle for me without alcohol to loosen me up. I'll start small and slow do more and more

So i'm going to try and get at least one of my four friends in real life to hang out once a week. I've already set up a hangout with my friend who is also in recovery from addiction.

We're going to grab some lunch and hit up a support group meeting.

So if you are feeling depressed and struggling, hopefully you get some inspiration from this article.

If I managed to find some light in this tunnel then anybody can.