Beat Depression by Learning How to Love Yourself
Do you ever feel like you’re your own worst enemy? Join the club! When you’re experiencing the blues or trying to learn how to treat anxiety, it’s easy to fall into the trap of beating yourself up. Don’t! Instead, follow these guidelines for learning how to love yourself again so you can beat depression in its tracks.
• Forgive Yourself
We all make mistakes, but not all of us deal with them the same way. If you’ve done everything you can do to correct the misstep and make amends to anyone you may have hurt, then it really is time to move on. Replaying your failures over and over again in your mind won’t change the past and in fact, it may very well keep you from being your best self in the future. Of course, making up your mind to forgive yourself and actually doing it are two very different things. You may find yourself slipping into negative thought patterns almost unconsciously. Rest assured that this is a completely normal part of the growth process. Don’t let it get you down! Simply acknowledge the thoughts as irrational as soon as you are aware of them, and try not to give them too much of your attention. Pretty soon, they’ll realize their powerlessness over you and go away. Once they do, you’ll be that much closer to being able to beat depression once and for all.
• Love the Child Within
If you’ve found yourself researching how to treat anxiety and beat depression, then you most likely need to get in touch with your inner child. No, I don’t mean finding a swingset to play on or breaking out the Play-Doh (though that may help as well!)What I mean is honoring the child within you by treating yourself kindly. Think about the things that you tell yourself on a daily basis. Would you ever say such things to your own children or even a stranger’s children? If the answer is no, then you need to re-examine your self-talk. Learning how to love yourself means acknowledging that you’re still growing up—we all are! Once you really understand that, then it will be much easier to treat yourself with love and care.
• Keep Yourself in Mind
If you’re a mom or a dad or even an aunt or uncle, then you know what a grip-hold a child can have on your heart and your mind. No matter what you do, you’re always thinking of them, right? It’s time to start doing the same for yourself. It may seem selfish at first, especially if you’re a natural people pleaser, but remember that when you treat yourself well, everyone in your life benefits! Take advantage of opportunities to reward yourself for accomplishments or give yourself some much needed R&R after a long week. Don’t spread yourself so thin that you have no time to enjoy yourself and your life. That’s a recipe for failure, especially if you’re actively trying to beat depression.
Learning how to treat anxiety and maintain a stable mood isn’t always easy. But sometimes, a shift in perspective can make all of the difference. If you’re having trouble acknowledging the child within, break out some old pictures. It will remind you that the little one in the photo deserves a lifetime of love and happiness.