Alternative Therapies
At one point in my life, pre-depression, I went to hot yoga every week, without fail. Since moving, and since becoming depressed, I stopped doing that (classic symptom!)When I stopped going not only did I lose having a hobby, I also started gaining weight, which was really not helpful with the whole "feeling good about yourself" aspect.
Last week, as part of my "homework," I forced myself to go to a class, even though it was one of the coldest days of the year here (-46 Celcius in the wind, -34 without), and it was the absolute last thing in the world I wanted to do. The internal fight I had with myself getting ready was almost comical: "Okay, just get dressed for yoga. You don't have to go, but you do have to at least get dressed for it. I know, you don't know where anything is anymore, but just get up and LOOK. Okay, now you have to put on your coat. Which reminds me of how cold it is ... I don't want to go. Just put it on!! Now grab your mat, your water and your keys. Okay, now that you're all dressed up, JUST GO."
I couldn't believe how good it made me feel. If nothing else, I spent 90 minutes NOT thinking about my ruminations of choice. In fact, I didn't really think about anything at all - WHAT A RELIEF. I'm going again this week, even though I would still rather go home and crawl into bed until work tomorrow. I know it will help again, and hopefully making this a regular part of my life will produce some cumulative good effects (both physically and mentally!)
