Surfing the wave of depression
Do you travel through life bottling negative emotions?
Is your job taking your life away?
Are your relationships diminishing and the feeling of being alone increasing?
Do you have a plug to vent and recharge? If not, then the dreaded black dog could be following you in search of his new forever home.
Depression can be a debilitating affliction, the effects of which are also felt by others close to you. Take your family or loved ones for example, they can see and feel your sadness, but they cannot help you.
Your career may be affected…you may be overlooked for job opportunities. Your confidence wins, leaving you doubting your ability and self-worth. Grooves can appear and get deeper to come out with each passing day, leaving you with a trapped feeling.
If you, like me, have ever ridden a negative wave like this, then you know how difficult life can be sometimes. The courage to travel to work can be the hardest thing to extract some days.
Having a passion, a hobby, or a place to go when you’re in that slump can be a real lifesaver. At the very least, a pressure valve for your mind. Mine was (and still is) surfing. When your tank is continually emptying, doing what you enjoy is very important!
There are many words to describe surfing; stimulating, invigorating, exciting, for example. In relation to depression, I describe surfing as healing. It allowed my mind to empty of all negativity. Replaced with positive joy and happiness. Stress and worries melted away with each wave of water on my body.
However, surfing is not an easy sport to master. You will need strength, stamina, courage, patience, and resilience. Usually all at the same time! A sense of accomplishment glows within you every time you step out of the water. Even if all you did was go through the edge without getting a sandpaper spin cycle! You are rebuilding your inner strength and getting in shape at the same time; not a bad byproduct, eh?
Is your day to day exhausting your strength and resilience? Surfing can be a great way to restore your confidence and cleanse your mind and soul. However, if you can’t navigate, there are other alternatives. When I couldn’t go to the beach, I also regularly went for walks with my dog. My psychologist described walking as tricking the brain into thinking there is no danger or stress. You could even try meditation, Tai Chi or Yoga. There are usually free or low-cost local classes.
Whatever you are going through, know that it is only temporary and that life is a series of waves and valleys. It’s helpful to recognize when you’re at a low point; lower your head and row hard. And when to catch the wave and stand up and relax. You can enjoy the experience and ride the wave. Remember that no one can paddle indefinitely, so keep looking for the next wave to catch!