Depression Getaway with Wendy Love

Routine check-ups are a good thing. Whether I’m having the oil changed in my car, or I am visiting the dentist for my annual cleaning, regularly scheduled appointments help me identify potential problems. I’ve found the same thing to be true with my thinking. Regular evaluation of my thinking goes a long way toward heading off the blues. Here are some of my favorite, free depression zappers:

Meet guest blogger Tina Barbour. She is a victorious veteran of living with depression. Here's her story and some great tips. I have had depression since I was a teenager, perhaps even earlier, but I wasn’t officially diagnosed by a doctor until I was 26 years old. Since then, I have been in treatment for it. That treatment has included medications and therapy. Recently, I was diagnosed by my therapist as having not just episodes of depression, but chronic depression. Medications have helped me tremendously, but I have learned that they can’t help with every aspect of depression. So I have learned other tools for helping when the darkness descends and I need relief. Here are some of those tools:

Today's guest blogger is both a doctor and an author. You will want to see what she has to say. Depression is an experience of depletion. You’re worn down, hollowed out, devoid of enthusiasm or vitality. Your senses are dull, perhaps to the point of taking in very little around you. When I find my depression beginning to worsen, my go-to getaway is to feed my 5 senses. Take a look and see if any of these can help you when depression hits.

Today's guest blogger, Jeanette Levellie has some 'great escape' ideas that will inspire you.  When depression knocks on my heart’s door, do I run away? You bet. These are the places I run to, where I find my best weapons for overcoming despair: 1. I run to the Bible , especially the Psalms and the New Testament epistles. Although King David was referred to as “a man after God’s own heart,” he often asks the Lord to deliver him from his misery. I find it comforting that even the most spiritual of leaders fought with depression. But he knew where to go to find comfort and wisdom. I enjoy the letters such as Romans, Philippians, and Colossians written from Paul to early churches because they are full of hope. They also tell me what God thinks of me. And that helps me gain a more positive perspective.

Favorite Free Depression Getaways © Nikki Rosen Getting out in nature tops my list of favorite free depression getaways. I need alone time. I need distance from frenetic rush and pressure of everyday life. Heading to some wooded trail or going down by the lake or driving the hills to hike – it’s where I feel free. I can let go, breath and renew my courage and strength and hope.

Hi all--I'm Ann Becker-Schutte, a counseling psychologist in Kansas City, MO.  I specialize in helping patients and caregivers cope with serious illness, and depression comes up regularly in my office.  So, I was thrilled when Wendy asked me to share a post with you for the "Depression Getaway" series. I love the idea of a depression getaway--something that allows you to take a brief break from the weight and pressure depression can bring into your life.  As you might guess, I often suggest coping tools, and so choosing just one to earn the "favorite depression getaway" label was a tough challenge.  But when I reflected on this post, one idea kept coming up.  So here it is . . . drum roll please . . . my free favorite depression getaway is:

Everyone needs a getaway now and then. We all have something we need to get away from. If you choose the right kind of getaway, you will come home refreshed and ready to face your life once again. A really well-chosen getaway could even inspire and fortify you. You could come away from it with a whole new perspective. I hope 'Depression Getaway' will do that very thing - refresh, refuel, inspire and encourage. But, a good getaway is different for each of us. It's personal. You need to know yourself well to know how to chose a good getaway.

Have you ever experienced a hot air balloon ride? Looks exciting doesn't it. It would be easy to imagine that once up in that balloon and looking down on the world would be a super duper depression getaway. But it is not that easy. Welcome to February where we are going to celebrate 'Favorite Depression Getaways' with a little help from my friends. One time I was taking a road trip through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in the fall when the colours are magnificent. The views were amazing. But I was in a depressive episode at the time and even those mountain views were beautiful they did nothing to lift my mood.