Behind the Mask

Hiding the hurt, hiding the pain
Hiding the tears that fall like rain.
Saying I’m fine , when I’m anything but,
This ache In my soul rips at my gut.
My skin is on fire, I burn from within
The calm on my face is an ongoing sin.
The world must stay out, I’ve built up a wall
My fragile lie will collapse should it ever fall.
Loneliness consumes me, it eats away the years
Until my life is swallowed by unending fears.
Waiting for someone to see I wear a mask
And care enough to remove it, is that too much to ask?

~ Melissa Bernards

In this age of globalization, we find ourselves running through life aimlessly, where we are connected through the internet with several applications, yet disconnected in the real sense. Our minds can empathize with characters on a television show, but fail to turn to comfort a troubled friend. The world today is a smaller place, yet we find ourselves detached from it and ourselves. According to a report by WHO, more than 300 million people suffer from depression worldwide and is the leading cause of disability.

We all have seen the highs and lows of life, but can sometimes find it difficult to outlive a state of depression. While the root cause for this state can vary from one person to another, fighting it is essential to our well being.

1.  ESCAPE YOUR COMFORT ZONE

A mundane routine lifestyle never excites the mind. The first step is to develop interest in an unfamiliar territory beyond your current realm of life. While this may seem difficult to act upon, it does not involve you to take a leap beyond imagination. For example, if you have always been somebody who wished to travel but felt dependent on friends or family, skip the dependency this time and travel solo. Experience the feeling of being with yourself. This action can open doorways to realizing the cause of your problems.

Step out of that comfort zone and learn a completely new skill outside your area of expertise. Take up on a challenging project at work that you always thought wasn’t your cup of tea. Doing this will keep you motivated and distracted from the thoughts that drive you away from life. A new interest will spark enthusiasm to reach beyond your limits, enabling you to live the present moment. Seek for challenges and adventure as opposed to pining over thoughts that keep you from exploring yourself.

2.  POLISH YOUR EXTERNAL SELF 

While depression is all about making your inner self happy, preserving your outer self can be your starting point. Make fitness a lifestyle change and experience the difference you feel internally each day.

Challenge your physical body – to lift heavier weights, to run or swim faster, to complete a marathon or even a triathlon. Strive to look your best and make health your first priority. This in turn will prevent you from comfort eating and drive you to living a healthy lifestyle. This approach can have no side effects, because only good habits lead to a healthy body and mind. The benefits of exercise have been scientifically proven to stimulate positive thoughts, and can prevent further damaging effects of depression. This small change will lead to overall stability, both external and internal. Get Set Go!

3.  UNPLUG THE NEGATIVE

Our thoughts are often a product of our environment. If you surround yourself with people who complain or discuss their problems or problems around the world all the time, chances are that you too will behave in a similar fashion. It is important to recognize if this is also a part of your life and take action. Be it a close friend or a family member, if they are hurting the way you think, unplug yourself for the time being.

Surround yourself with motivated individuals – people who share new ideas, even if they appear impractical or illogical. Such conversations exude hope and the prospect of a brighter future. Having somebody to share and express your feelings of depression can help, but it is imperative to take action utilizing the present. The positive energy will drive you to push your limits and explore areas of your imagination you never thought existed.

4.  LONG TERM GOALS

Making small changes is essential to walk through your daily routine, but having a larger objective in life with a timeline will prevent you from re-lapsing to this state again. For example, a long term goal could be to save a certain sum of money in the next five years. This would motivate you to enhance your skill set in order to achieve this goal. It need not be limited to your day job, and will allow your mind to explore different ways to finding the best solution.

Traveling and exploring the world could also be a major long term goal requiring constant planning and hard work. Traveling often opens doors to free us from preconceived notions and heals the mind with an impact to last a lifetime.

I can say that making some small lifestyle changes can work wonders based on personal experiences. Recognize that it is a passing phase and although it may seem impossible to find any motivation, it greatly depends on your willingness to conquer it.

Nobody owes you anything, you owe it to yourself!

Carpe Diem!