Depression

What does depression look like? It’s interesting that you cannot always tell if someone is depressed—or even if you are. Things may seem good, and you might feel okay; you can smile and laugh. But think about it: are you truly okay, or are you masking your feelings without even realizing it because you've been doing it for so long? 

I used to be great at masking my emotions, but as I get older, it becomes harder, and I don’t care to do it as much anymore. Still, I sometimes find it easier to mask my feelings when dealing with certain people rather than trying to explain myself. 

Depression is something I live with every day in different variations. That’s part of my experience with bipolar disorder and living in pain daily. Until I understood it better, it was challenging to cope with. It doesn’t mean it’s easy now, but it’s easier to tell myself that everything will be okay, and that I can and will get through this depressive episode. I know I will face more challenges, and that’s okay too.

What’s harder for me are the highs associated with bipolar disorder—they can be exhausting. But that’s a topic for another day. I find that breathing, taking time to rest, and having someone to vent to or simply sitting down for coffee can really help. 

My kids are also my motivation to keep pushing forward. No matter what, I remind myself that life is worth living. Regardless of what you have been through or are going through, you can make it out the other side and come out a better person for it. You just need to believe, and sometimes that can be incredibly difficult. 

But we can all do it. Talk to someone, go for a walk, watch a funny movie—no matter how big or small the action, it all helps.