Tag: making ourselves presentable

O.k., today’s post may seem silly. What does hair have to do with depression?

Actually, more than you might know.

I got to thinking over these years of depression-free years what has been my one constant? The one constant was my hair. It’s wild, unruly, and I have a lot of it. I’ve colored it for years but somewhere over the years, I gave that up. At least the permanent color. Sometimes I still add a temporary color that fades away in a few short washings. All it really does it tone down my too-bright hair.

I guess I’m bringing this up because I just looked at some recent pictures of myself when I thought my hair looked good and, some when, well, it didn’t. Our hair humbles us like nothing else and we need to make peace with our constant dissatisfaction. It’s just hair, after all.

I can actually gauge what my mood is going to be like by what my hair looks like. Every woman alive knows that “a good hair day” is a good day in general. But when you deal with low moods it’s even more important. I take great care to make myself and my hair presentable every day. It helps set the tone for the rest of the day.

That’s why hair is important. The last thing a depressed person needs is to look in the mirror and see a disheveled wild person staring back at them. I’m not saying that if I’m weeding my garden or painting a room that my hair never looks messy. I’m talking more about the effort than the result.

So if you’re having a bad day, do this one thing for me. Go wash your hair and do something with it. It’s kind of amazing how mild to moderate depression responds so well to the little things we do.

When you’re really down, I know, I know, it’s an effort to even get off the couch and move. But, please, do it anyway. It doesn’t cost much (unless you use really expensive shampoo). It requires very little time.

Our concern with our appearance is an important part of managing our depression. Think about it. If you’re in the hospital, don’t you feel so much better when you get wash up and brush your hair.

It’s kind of like you’re telling yourself that you at least care enough to make yourself presentable and then that might translate to telling yourself you can take the next step. One step leads to another and you find yourself moving and feeling a bit better.

Do you find that if you look better, you feel better? Or are you wanting to look bad so people will feel sorry for you? Good question, huh?

Make sure that person looking back at you in the mirror is someone you’d like to know if you were meeting you for the first time.

God bless and have a safe day.

The post, “What do hair and depression really have in common?” appeared first on faithsighanddiy.com/Under His Wings.