When the Black Dog Bites

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You will have noticed this blog has been somewhat inactive the past few days. In fact, it's been over a week now since I made the last entry. I haven't done Thankful Thursday or Friday Favourites, and yesterday I was supposed report on how I went with my first week of positivity (I failed, by the way!) and then write up this week's challenge. Whoops.

What gives?

Well, I won't lie. My old friend the black dog has currently got me wedged in its hungry jaws. The past few days have been characterised by irritability, a disinterest in doing anything that needs to be done, an increase in wanting to stay in bed all day and a severe decrease in motivation even to do fun things!

On top of that, it has been our wedding anniversary and we had a fairly busy weekend, which has sapped my energy. Furthermore, we're having property manager issues which are stressful to say the least. Now, I'm not saying it's an excuse for not writing, but at least you now have a reason, right?

In low times like these, it's very tempting to sit about the house (or lie in bed) feeling sorry for myself. I find my mind focusing on things that just serve to make me feel worse: how I'm not thin enough to look nice in the dress my friend bought me, how I'm not currently working because I got ill, reasons why I'm not very good with people, how our house seems to be infested with insects every time we go away, reasons why I shouldn't attempt anything I dream about... you know the drill. When you're down, you somehow find more and more reasons to have an excuse to stay that way.

Yesterday I was thinking about how some people just seem to be so bent on staying negative. I have one friend in particular who I always try to speak positively to so I can encourage and uplift him and help him feel capable of achieving his dreams. But no matter what, he always finds some way, some excuse, to shoot down every positive comment or encouragement or suggestion I give. He is unknowingly sabotaging his chances at doing something good for himself.

Sometimes I think depressed people just want an excuse to stay depressed. I mean, I have done it myself. Far too many times to count. Because let's face it: it's far easier to just pity yourself and your situation than it is to try and pull yourself up out of it and get better.

Now, I'm not at all criticising people with depression. Depression rears its ugly head in a variety of ways and forms. Some people are so deep in their depression they don't have the mental capacity to choose to get better. These people need serious help and support from us. They are often in need of loving friends, good therapy, and in some cases, medication. And that is okay. Everyone gets sick from time to time and everyone has a right to see a good doctor and receive medical treatment.

But what I am saying is, a lot of people do have the ability to choose to get better, and they simply choose not to.

I am not going to be one of those people any more.

If you're feeling like me today, I encourage you to haul your ass out of bed, take a shower, eat something good (preferably get some Omega 3s in your diet!) and get outside for some exercise and sunlight. You will feel better, I promise.

Now, I'm heading out for a long walk!