Boy, it can be hard, huh? Getting out of bed when you’re depressed. It’s the hardest part of the day if you also deal with anxiety,
So here’s some ideas that you might find useful.
- Tell yourself, “I can be depressed out of bed as easily as I can in bed.” In other words, talk yourself into moving. A day of sleeping-in now and then is perfectly fine, when you are the one making the decision.
Depression has a BIG voice. Don’t let it call the shots from the minute you open your eyes. Exercise control.
- Bribe yourself with something. At this point, even the promise of a jelly doughnut is a better choice than staying in bed.
- Have a plan for how you are going to spend your morning. For some of you who have a job or young children, you are fortunate because you have obligations you have to meet. But if you don’t, then you really need a plan.
Will you set the clock and get up right away? That’s what I do. It is rare for me to hit the snooze alarm. Remember, the easy choices are almost never the best choice. If you take the path of least resistance in the mornings, you will do it all day.
- Have your coffee pot scheduled to come on thirty minutes before you get up. Maybe the smell will help.
- Just take one physical step at a time. Tell yourself, “I only have to get to the shower”. “I only have to get to the kitchen for coffee.”
- MAKE THE BED. I’ve been saying this long before it became a “thing” because a general said it at a graduation ceremony.
- Get dressed as soon as you can. It will trick your mind into thinking all is well. It will make you feel normal.
Back to depression’s voice. Depression really does have a voice and it’s never a good one. Depression’s voice is loud, persistent, determined. If you can see depression and anxiety as something “outside yourself”, you can address it like you would any enemy.
Whether or not you are a believer in Christ you might like this little verse that many Christians use as a mantra for their mornings. “This is the day the Lord has make, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.” Emphasis on the word “will”.
The journey out of depression is not easy. It is fraught with setbacks and hurdles. But depression is at the very least manageable and at the very best, curable. God does not judge you for it. I know that because that what He says over and over again in His word.
God bless and have a good day.
The post, “How to get out of bed when you’re depressed.” appeared first on the giftofdepression.com.
