Depression and Demotivation.
The last few weeks I’m sure you’ve noticed lack of content. I’ve been suffering depression and demotivation. Feelings of constant exhaustion and emptiness have haunted me the past weeks. I’ve hated everyone and myself. University, relationships and work have stressed me out to the point where I couldn’t take it anymore. If you suffer from depression you’ll know that it’s a battle every single day, and when you’re going well its because you are fighting and winning that battle. Then once you can’t fight any longer, you give in, and depression quickly feeds on your negative energy and you’re back in that unbearable but familiar state of mind.
Demotivation is a closed loop of negative energy. You feel bad and don’t feel like doing anything, which in turn makes you feel worse and then it’s harder to break the cycle. I noticed that once depression sets in, demotivation consumed almost every part of my life. I stopped working on this, I stopped my university studies and I felt no motivation to go to work or exercise. This toxic state feeds on negativity, and negativity breeds when your mind has nothing to focus on, have a look at some ways to break the cycle find that spark again here.
Stress.
I didn’t know what to do, for close to a month I had been off in my own mind, walking a path I was not in control of. If I could have eliminated one factor from all of this it would be the stress. Stress does serious physiological damage to the brain, and too much of it can lead to heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Learn more about stress here.
I have learned to reduce stress along with managing my depression and anxiety through meditation. Meditation covers a variety of different practises relating to observation and examination of thought. Lots of people are uncomfortable with doing nothing, because they are afraid of themselves, or what they may unconsciously be thinking. But becoming the master of your thoughts ultimately leads to happiness, you decide your reality.
If you have found nothing else works for you – try meditation, Google how to meditate. It just got me out of this nearly month-long lull in my life, I used to practise it daily but somewhere along the way forgot to prioritise my mental health. I get so frustrated with people who aren’t willing to at least try it. It is the sun that peeks through the storm clouds and calms the seas. I implore you, this stuff works; introspection is the first step to a happy life.
Using Negative Energy.
I could have easily decided not to write and post all this because life has been hard recently, but I haven’t come all this way for nothing. Take inspiration from the fact that you can channel your negative energy and use it to create something. Use your negative energy, fight back and do something constructive with it. Until now I’d forgotten the whole point of me writing was so when I get like this to use all the darkness for something good. I lost my way a little, depression and demotivation crept in, but I have taught myself to always fight back. I hope you do to, let’s beat this together.
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From the ashes, you will rise.
Liam.