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At the height of my battle with lupus, the pain was severe, wrenching, and unrelenting. Unable to wash my own hair or even lift myself out of bed, the depression began to set in very deeply.
I know you can relate.
Looking back on that time, I realize I could have been so much more proactive.
Yet I lacked any sense of motivation or determination. I had succumbed to the pain and allowed it to seep into every crevice of my body and it took over.
Here are the 8 things I wish someone would have told me during my depression:
1. Seek therapy. This could have really helped me out of my funk. It could have allowed someone else to partner with me to guide me out of the darkness.
2. Speak up. Talk to anyone (and I do mean anyone). I stayed silent for so long, thinking I’d be able to handle this on my own, that it was just a passing thing. What a relief it would have been if I had released it all to someone I trusted.
3. Discuss temporary use of anti-depressants with my doctor
4. Testing to find out about what was triggering the pain
5. Eliminated all pro-inflammatory foods from my diet like beef and dairy
6. Taking mega doses of omega 3 fatty acids and Vit D3 (3000 mg and 5000 IU respectively)
7. Kept a food journal to track worsening of pain
8. Slow down and take some time off from working
Even as a medical professional, I found it difficult to grasp the enormity of the illness and its repercussions.
Looking back, I cannot believe that I tried to handle this on my own.
You are not alone.
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There is help available. For example, lupus support groups are now in almost every city. You are not alone. And you cannot do this alone. The good news is that once your body has been replenished, its deficiencies corrected, and repairs are in process, the depression magically lifts.
Initially, you may need to use an anti-depressant in order to stabilize your moods. But, it’s not forever. A body going through a chronic illness becomes extremely depleted. Harmony is created once the deficiencies are corrected and healing begins.
Remember that a large majority of your serotonin (neurotransmitters responsible for making you feel good) is not in your brain but rather in your gut. And the gut is the area most responsible for a stellar immune system. If your gut is in any way compromised, your health will not be up to par and depression will set in.
Do you have any tips that have worked for you?
Did any of these suggestions help you get through a hard time?
Blessings,
