Having suffered from depression I’ve learned that the faster you can acknowledge your stressors and them let them go, the happier you’ll be. Depression never really goes away. It’s always something that tries to creep back in. You never think that you have to work so hard to stay happy–To keep light in your life. I always describe that awful time in my life as a period where I felt like I was in a deep, dark vortex. So many feelings were spinning around me, uncontrollably. There may have been positivity around me but I couldn’t see it, I couldn’t feel anything other than numbness, and I had no idea how to help myself. The darkness was stinging. To this day, I have the tendency to be very serious and over analyze most things. I’m one of those people that can jump to the worst conclusion in a single bound … that let’s things weigh very heavy on my heart and soul. When I get into a funk, I have a hard time pulling myself out of it. Typically, my medicine for this is a hot shower and to go to sleep. Tomorrow is always a new day and sleep seems to cure everything. But the biggest thing I’ve learned through all my trial and tribulations is to not forget to laugh.
Sleep may help cure all sorts of things that ail you, but laughter is really the best medicine. My pediatrician would always tell me, “It takes less muscles to smile than it does to frown.†Have you ever noticed how good a smile feels when you’re wearing one? A frown seems like hard work, but a smile is so natural and wonderful. The best smiles are ones that erupt from laughter. They’re like a volcano of positive vibes. Even I can admit that it’s hard to laugh sometimes. It’s always great when you have someone around you that can help you laugh it out. Once a laugh and a smile start, it’s almost like the bad mood or negativity fades away. It’s very hard to return to your funk once you’ve started laughing. Pay attention to these things the next time you’re in a bad mood and then something makes you laugh. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how fast the laughter medicine kicks in and for how long it continues to work.
I have a few favorite comedians that are my go-to for pulling me out of a mood. (Kat Williams, anyone?)I actually have a rather large film collection, but like my serious personality, I don’t own many comedies. But, when I’m in bad mood or sad, I know better than to pull out a thriller or horror film. I always find something light to put on. (Super Star or House Bunny normally does the trick… don’t judge!) Knowing what makes you laugh and induces your smile is really important. They are your secret weapons to fight negativity. If you can’t think of something to make you laugh, go outside, look up towards the sun and force a smile. You’ll probably laugh because you’ll feel a little dumb, but hey, whatever works.
