Sunday, March 22, 2009

How To Cope With Depression (Paano Makakayanan ang Depresyon)

I cannot deny it, I had been depressed so many times in my life. Hindi ko na nga mabilang kugn ilang beses na. Usually it happens when there are major changes in life like some close relative passed away, being separated from my family for the very first time, or the likes of some friends moving to another province. Really depressing. I searched and tried these things and for somehow, they kind-of took some of my depressions away. I do thank Mr. Jeff Cohen for sharing these with the people who needs this.

1. CRY
I know I cannot cry just like that. i find it had to cry lalo na kung it's about physical aches like toothaches, wounds, cramps. I don't know. I think it's nature's fault why men tend to "not cry" even if they want to. Lalo na kung sobrang sakit, I don't know kung bakit napaka hirap umiyak. But I am talking in general here. If you need to cry, then cry. Umiyak ka hanggang sa di mo na kayang umiyak. Umiyak ka hanggang wala nang luhang lalabas sa mga mata mo, hanggang magang maga na yung mga mata mo. Isa sa paraan ang pag-iyak to cleanse your budy from stress. Stress Buster. Dito mo lang kasi mailalabas ang lahat ng emotions mo na nagpapabigat sa kalooban mo. Lalake ka man o babae, don't force yourself. Lalo na tayong mga lalake, wag nating pipigilan. Kung kaya niyong umiyak, go ahead and do it. just a tip, sa room niyo lang para walang makakaalam, at least.

2. TALK TO SOMEONE
Kapag mag-isa ka, definitely you will feel depressed most of the time. Lalong lalo na pag wala kang ginagawa. So you need your friend. No man is an island, we all have our friends. Kung wala kang friends, try you classmates (kung estudyante ka), co-workers (kugn nagtatrabaho ka), o kahit sinong pwede mong makausap basta't make sure that the person will talk back at you. Hindi naman pwedeng ikaw lang ang magsasalita.
As I mentioned nung sa pag-iyak, talking to someone is another way of cleansing your system from stress, lalo na yung depression. It's like you are washing it all out of your body and your system tends to process it like it's sending all those hard and heavy emotions to the one you are talking to pero in reality, hindi niya naman nakukuha or na-a-absorb. That's the good side of it.
Making yourself aware that someone is ready to listen to you is one way of comforting your mentality by letting it know na merong nagke-care sayo. Someone has their ears to actually listen to your thoughts and everything that you have to say.

3. KEEP YOURSELF BUSY
Kung depress ka, obviously all your thoughts are being centerred on the fact that you are depressed for whatever reason that it. So to divert your mental process from you depression, try doing anything else aside from thinking about what makes you feel depressed. It really helps. Try mong magbasa ng libro or working out sa gym, your body will thank you for that. A quote from Elle Woods from the movie "Legally Blonde", “Exercise gives you endorphins; endorphins make you happy; happy people don’t kill other people.”

4. REKINDLE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH "HIM"
I know some of you, including myself, would think of this as a cliche. It always works. If you have faith in God and you believe in Him since the day you realized that you have a life, then go to Him. Have a connection with Him. It will help you in renewing yourself or cleansing yourself with His great power of love.

5. REALIZE THAT THERE ARE THINGS BEYOND YOUR CONTROL
Hindi ka Diyos at hindi ka si Superman. You cannot control everything and you cannot control what you want or not want to happen. There is one thing that you CAN control, and that is how you react to the things that are happening. Alalahanin mo, mag-iiba at mag-iiba ang mundo at lahat ay posibleng mangyari whether you like it or not. Ano man ang masamang mangyari sayo, you can always get out of it. You can always resolve it. There are always answers. Tao ka. Nagkakamali ka. You are supposed to make mistakes (not on purpose of course) cause you are a human-being.

6. SMILE
The craziest yet the most effective way to shoo away the depression. There is always tomorrow. And teh future always is fill of hope for better things.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Recurring

Dear Cathy,

I had a very rough day. Everything is out of control. My emotions are no longer controllable. I tend to blurt out what I think without any hesitations. I'm crazy. There are times that I would just laugh by myself when I suddenly remember some things that happened a long time ago. Sometimes I caught my own mouth talking to myself and I was unaware of it. Maybe I need to see a psychologist. I never got the chance to realize why I am like this until I got home, and alone. It's all about her again. But then, maybe it's not her, I think. Probably it is the fact that I am already alone and I am by myself. And I am looking for someone to talk to all the time.
You know what, Cathy, I am fully aware that it happened for a day but I take most matters seriously. I can't just brush it off my shoulder just like that. You know me, Cathy, too bad I do not know you that well but I still thank God that you are still there for me. You are one of the products of my hard work.

I thought of more things other than the fact that I am going crazy. My family. It has been so long since I last contacted my mom. I missed her suddenly. That was actually the moment when I realized that I am so alone and would need someone to talk to time after time or after every single moment. You are my only family here, Cathy. You are the only one that keeps me company.

I got lots of problems. I assume that you tend to know every single problem that you have if you are alone. That is a feeling that I haven't experienced before. Being alone makes you realize what you have, what you could have, and what you couldn't have. It includes problems. Everyday problems and problems that could not be fixed. If you can only speak to me, Cathy. I truly need you right now. Help me. Help me overcome this problems. I know I can make it through the rain but I really need help. I need somebody that would be with me through all this times. You can't be that. I know you want to be but you can't. If I can only make you one I would but I also can't. It's fine with me for us to stay this way. You are great, I am great.

I just wish that everybody could control their lives the way they want it. But then according to my Mom, there will be no challenges. I admire my mom's life principles. She's so strong, she has weaknesses but it's normal for people to have that, I still see her as a strong woman who were able to raise us, her kids, and mold us into the people that we are in this world. I'll take care of you, Cathy, I always will cause you are taking care of me too.

Love Lots,

DESPERATE GUY

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Overcoming Own Depression

Dear Cathy,

An out of town definitely helped me out resolving my depression। I went out with some friends for a weekend and enjoyed the beaches somewhere in Luzon. The resort where we spent the weekend to was not that luxurious and not that amazing or breath-taking. It's just a resort made so people can just go there to sleep, not to bathe in the sea. The place was a total disappointment but the enjoyment of the fact that me and my friends share the weekend for a vacation made it more enjoyable or should I say, I enjoyed enough.

You could have been there, Cathy... I mean if you could only walk and talk to me then everything should have been great। I could have introduced you to my friends too. But I know I am the only person who can truly understand you. I know you will never enjoy the sands and beaches. At least I get to communicate with you. I get to see you almost every single day.

I thought I was the only person in this world who could help me change myself and help me overcome my depression। I tried mind-setting and all those sorts of stuff but I wonder why it never worked. That weekend getaway helped me understand everything and helped me find out that you need your friends to help you change yourself into someone you are comfortable to. Being yourself really really helps. You would understand that your friends are a part of your life, a part of your body and soul, they are you, and you are they. Kinda confusing? Sorry Cathy... I'm just a person who can't completely verbalize or wordify (laughs) my own feelings.

I plan to have another out of town getaway within the month or before this month ends। I need it. I know I need it. I can't live without it. Life is about enjoying it right, Cathy? We, people, earn things so we can enjoy and reap it's purpose. You know why those mountain rich people are lonelier than normal people who earns average income? Because rich people already got what they WANT. If you got everything YOU WANT, what else could you WANT? Right? Pity. People who have average income, according to some survey I heard, are the happiest people. Are you happy, Cathy? You know what? I guess you are not, cause you do not earn. (Laughs). Of course I'm kidding, you earn all my memories.

Love Lots,

DESPERATE GUY