Depression can be related to several situations in life, and among them, divorce is one of those most painful and recognized. Divorce has a lot of feelings that come to the surface, which are directly related to depression. These include:
- A feeling of not being accepted
- A feeling of rejection
- A feeling that one can’t be loved or understood
- A need to isolate and be alone
Divorce creates feelings of betrayal, and it can be one of the most emotionally destructive things an individual faces in a lifetime. To some, divorce is the leap into depression that never fully goes away. When a commitment is made based on the foundation of love and wanting to keep a feeling of “forever”, the lack of achieving that goal can be mentally shocking and damaging beyond repair. It is important to consider ways to combat the feeling of depression that is invoked from divorce. Consider the following options:
Creative Diversions
Consider getting a book to read to keep your mind preoccupied, or discover an author and read through their series. Keeping busy is essential when combatting depression – especially when it comes from a loss of someone you love.
If you enjoy writing poetry or painting, then indulge in that. The idea is finding creative outlets that keep your mind busy and challenged. The small joy that you find in these activities will grow and become a safe place for you to go to when you are feeling emotionally off, and a place where you have full control of the outcome.
Routine
Change your routine to keep your mind strong and open. It could be something simple like adding working out into your weekly schedule, or taking up a small part-time job to meet some new people. It can be a small change in agenda that can open up a world of possibilities.
Plan
Learn to plan your day and remind yourself that you have control over what you do and where you spend your time. Setting goals and teaching yourself the feeling associated with accomplishing things that you set your mind to can be powerful and invigorating. The more you remind yourself that you have good qualities and potential, the more likely you are to put the feelings of depression to rest.
Develop your Self-Esteem
Recognizing the things you like about yourself is incredibly important when it comes to being comfortable in your own skin. The recognition of the things that you don’t like is equally important. Consider your strengths and your weaknesses, consider what you would like to improve upon, and make it happen. Time is your friend, and taking the time to think about where you would like to make adjustments is powerful. From that point forward, you have the option to make the adjustments happen.
Depression from a loss such as divorce is something you must accept as a painful event in life; there is no way around it. The recognition of the pain isn’t weakness – it is accepting a reality you wish didn’t happen, but it is there and you have to deal with it. The largest challenges in life are the ones we wish we could ignore, but overcoming them is a feeling that is empowering in a way that nothing else can come close to. Feeling pain is not a weakness, but letting it run you into the ground to the point of being unproductive is an act of being weak. Recognize depression and sadness for everything that it is, but remind yourself that you can get through it if you choose to believe in yourself.
Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharynmorrow/2903325290/
