Experiment with Your Coping Strategies for Better Results

Earlier this year, I admitted to myself that my current coping strategies weren’tfighting off my depression as effectively as they were before. Had they simply stopped working, or had something fundamental changed inside of me? The answer was complicated.Obviously, my coping strategies weren’t working since I spent more than half of the days each week struggling to keep my spirits up, but for the longest time, I was too sick to do anything about it. I just limped along waiting to get better. The problem with that plan was that I wasn’t getting better. My depression was fueled by chronic illness. Waiting to get better to act was like waiting to see a doctor about a broken leg after it heals.My [coping strategies for depression][fightingdepression] were based on basic cognitive behavior therapy principles: Identify the trigger. Implement a solution. Experience relief. They were also based on the belief that Icould regulate my moods. They worked great for years until I came upon a new vector intodepression.The pandemic, and then experiencing COVID–19 personally, showed me that my coping strategies didn’t compensate for long term discouragement. It’s hard to feel positive and upbeat when you’re sick everyday. It’s hard to go out for a walk when you have a respiratory virus during a snowstorm. It’s hard to change the scenery when you are quarantined.A curious thing happened to me, however. Although there were more than a few da...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Goodreads Source Type: blogs