Practical Ways to Overcome Depression While Beating Lupus

What the hell? Helpless... Hopeless... Sometimes, I’m just sick of being the adult in this lupus relationship. I don’t know if I’m angry, confident, depressed, anxiety-ridden, happy, sad, or indifferent as I live with lupus. It’s like I am an emotional wreck with no real purpose. I live in a never-ending cycle of depression that makes me tired and anxious that keeps me up half the night. In fact, it weighs heavily on me sometimes.

Depression and lupus

Every now and again, lupus pain creates emotional stress that can’t be denied. It brings on a word that many don’t want to talk about called depression. Tagged along is always her best friend's anxiety to just balance it all out. Depression and anxiety can come out of nowhere and take you by storm. On other days it creeps up slowly with every new pain, issue, or flare. Depression with lupus is real and shouldn’t be denied or ignored. In short, depression is a medical problem that can affect your mood.

Removing the stigma

According to some medical studies, many of those with a chronic illness will experience depression. Even more, in advanced medical studies of lupus warriors, studies have shown that those with lupus may experience more depression due to the way lupus affects the body.

It’s important to identify any periods of depression and remove the stigma that you are weak when you do so. Consequently, you have to look at those periods take inventory, and set an action plan to pull yourself out of it. In turn, you create a solution-driven approach to an issue that makes it difficult to get out of your flares.

Practical ways to overcome depression

Depression and lupus are not just a "get over it"-type of situation. Ultimately, depression and anxiety as you battle lupus need to be addressed so you can live a full life beyond it all.

• Speak to a therapist. It’s okay, they are trained to help you identify your issues, adjust, plan and create an action plan to overcome.
• Express yourself in writing. Journaling is a great way to get your feelings out. It helps relieve stress and stay open about your feelings.
• Get some exercise. Of course, it can be hard to exercise when you aren’t feeling well. In all honesty, once you start, your body creates those "feel-good" hormones called endorphins that improve your mood.
• Keep healthy eating habits. You are what you eat. If you eat healthier it creates a fitter mind, body, and soul.
• Get enough rest. Feeling fatigued and tired exasperates the feeling of depression.
• Change how you talk to yourself. Your mind runs on what you feed it. Be sure you are feeding encouragement and inspiration.
• Take medication. Sometimes depression can be a clinical issue that needs to be helped with medication. Last but not least, don’t feel embarrassed because you need help.

You can keep depression at bay with these practical tips. It’s okay that you feel these feelings. It’s very important that you recognize them and work on relieving depression and anxiety as you battle lupus to help decrease flares.

What is your go-to action to get out of those mental slumps? Let me know in the comments.