I battled depression at a young age. I tried the drugs. I did the therapy. I did what I was told. I was still depressed.
If you have known me for the past 10 years since then, the last thing you would call me is “depressed.” If anything, I’m elevated- and looking to help others around me.
But, I have my moments. They are brief. I have my tricks.
I can’t assume this will work for you, but it might be worth a shot (in conjunction with whatever else you are doing).
Yesterday, I walked in the rain with two kettlebells at my side. After many steps with the extra poundage, I felt my hands start to lose their grip.
My absolute first thought: “I wish my hands were bigger.”
This is an unreasonable thought. I knew I could not reason with this irrationality. If I stayed on that mind highway, I’d go down a never-ending road, with signs that read like this:
“You’ll never be strong enough.”
“You’ll always be the big girl, never able to get ahead, but outworking everyone.”
“You’re a girl with tiny hands – you can’t carry those bells.”
“Just give up and turn around.”
Sound ridiculous? It’s not. That’s a choice of paths we can take. We are the drivers.
So, I heard myself think, “I wish my hands were bigger.” I saw where that road led, because I used to take those roads. I sat down the bells and took a few breaths. Then I smiled. I remembered that I’m the damn driver. I get to say where I go. This is MY SHOW.
So, my thoughts went down a road with these signs:
“It doesn’t matter that your hands are small. Stop worrying about things you can’t change.”
“You’re not in competition with anyone but yourself.”
“Be better than yesterday, stronger than yesterday.”
“Improve your grip. Pack your shoulders. Keep the weights closer. Breathe.”
It worked. And this change in attitude saved my life in my 20s. It continues to enhance every moment of my life to this day.
If you think you have no power over your neurotransmitters, then research shows evidence against that. Your thinking might be making you sicker.
Get empowered. Stop marrying your diagnoses. Read “Biology of Belief.” Tune in here. I live what I do. I’ve been there. You don’t have to stay there. You may or may not need the therapy, but your way of thinking plays a part in however you’ve been diagnosed.
You can get a grip on things, be it weights or your life.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley