Have you ever felt down and out while the world expects you to put on a happy face because your life appears to be so good? You have the career, the kids, the dog, and the awesome husband. On the surface, it looks like everything is going your way.
And maybe it is. Maybe you have a career you’ve always wanted and you actually married the right guy and had amazing kids with him. But there is just one problem. You feel sad… like every day. You try to shake it off because someone like you shouldn’t be sad. Someone like you should be immensely happy because your blessings are overflowing.
It’s actually not uncommon for people to experience sadness, and ultimately depression, even if it seems like things in their lives are going incredibly well. Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety don’t discriminate. They don’t care how amazing your life seems to be. You can easily find yourself in a very tough spot emotionally, unsure of what you should do next.
The problem with being in a bad space emotionally and mentally is that it doesn’t just fix itself. You can’t just wish the sadness away. The feelings your are experiencing are all too real and over time they will begin to have a negative impact on the happy life you created, and on the people you love most.
With time you start to feel like your marriage is suffering, and then the other things in your life begin to follow. You can’t experience a happy life as someone’s spouse when you wake up feeling sad all the time. Sad people can’t live happily ever after until they really begin to address the sadness.
Here are 3 ways to help you find your way back to happiness and improve the quality of your marriage and your life.
Get professional help
Nothing can really take the place of quality counseling or therapy. If you have been feeling down for a number of weeks and you can’t shake the feeling no matter what you do, please seek professional help.
Within the black community there is a stigma attached to seeking therapy, but mental health conditions cannot just be prayed away. I truly believe in the power of prayer, but I also believe that you have to do your part in addition to praying.
I have seen some of the strongest people I know lose their way due to depression. And even if you don’t think you are depressed, but you just feel overwhelmed and sad, a counselor or therapist can still help you get back on track. Make your needs a priority and get help before your mood begins to have a negative impact on every area of your life.
Reduce the stress in your life
Are you everything to everyone, but you rarely take the time to step back and focus on yourself? If you answered yes, living that way will leave you feeling stressed out and overwhelmed.
You have to be able to ask for help when you need it, say “no” when you have too much to manage, and eliminate stressors in your life that serve no true purpose. The more you can do to minimize the amount of stress in your life, the better off you will be mentally and emotionally.
Get a grip on your health
So many of us neglect our health without even realizing it. Living well is not about being thin. It’s about your daily habits, like how much you sleep, what you put in your body, how often you exercise, and so much more.
The more effort you put into making healthier decisions, the better you feel in general. It can be challenging, because depression often leads to fatigue, overeating, sleeplessness, or even oversleeping.
This is why visiting a professional can help. But once you are in a place where you can make and implement healthier choices, you should. I promise you will have more clarity and peace of mind. Plus healthier habits will leave you feeling stronger, more confident, and happier.
BMWK family, what are some things you do to help you get back to a happier place when you’re feeling down?