Learning To Live With Depression
was diagnosed with depression officially in 2011, 3 years after my MS diagnosis. I believe this is a side effect of my Multiple Sclerosis, not of not being able to cope but a chemical imbalance and shift in mood of the brain. I don't recall having very low moods, however I do remember at a younger age (possibly 10 or 11) where I knew that sometimes things just didn't feel quite right for me.
It was difficult to put this video out there, not many people know I can get episodes of depression, I don't really talk that much about it and I just get on and deal with it. That said, it's a huge part of my MS and what my MS is today. So I'm not going to shy away from it and I am going to share it. It's quite interesting posting it when you're coming out of a depressive episode as you watch it back after editing and think 'what is wrong with you!' but I'm comfortable enough with myself to understand when it happens. Not why it happens, but I just understand it more.
Depression is not a choice, you don't wake up to feel upset or sad. You don't want to feel as though you want to disappear and shut yourself of from the world for weeks on end or even months, but that is what the reality can be.
It can be a very isolating feeling especially when people around you don't understand. But when you do have support of friends and family it really is the best thing for your mental health.
Initially I was given antidepressants, I took these for a very short period until I realised how numb they were making me feel. I thought to myself what is worse here, the way I'm feeling on these pills or my actual depression?! I made the decision to battle it without medication and to this day that is still what I do.
Having the dogs around me have been my source of help, they are my solace and they help my mental health massively. I take walks in nature and I practice mindfulness where possible (not consciously into mindfulness, but when I am in nature I like to take in everything that is around me so that I can take my focus off how i'm feeling for a short period of time.
To anyone out there who has depression, please don't suffer alone. Get help and support from anyone that you can because there will always be people who want to help.
0:00 introduction to depression
0:30 Depression can be part of MS
1:34 Diagnosed with Depression
1:55 Drug Free Depression
2:08 start of video
#depression #multiplesclerosis #mentalhealth #mentalhealth
28 июл 2024
