Positive coping skills and finding joy in Life
We all know that the shadow of depression can haunt us for months, years and it feels like a lifetime. What I didn't know back when I was battling my suicidal depression was that I can control the way that I cope. My only coping skill years ago used to be overdosing. I have lost track of how many times I've tried killing myself. I'm alive for a reason but back then I didn't know. Any little thing, a break-up, a bad day, an argument with my sister was just a good enough reason to pop all those pills. I didn't want to deal with it. I have learned now in my journey of mental health recovery that although it may be hard to control all those unbalanced chemicals in my brain, I can control the way that I cope. One of my best coping skills has been my spirituality and meditation, believing and praying to my higher power, exercise, family and friends support, support groups, online networking with other mental health consumers, writing in my journal and taking pictures