How to take care of a Jessica (Part two)
- Clean a lot
- Depression makes it hard to stay neat but clutter doesn't help at all
- Dishes, laundry, things like that
- Get me some healthy food
- I pretty much live off of pasta during bad depression dips
- It's probably not the best for me but I never feel like cooking
- So it's a good idea to get an actual nutritious meal into me every once in a while
- Don't make me self-conscious about staying home all day
- When you get home and see that I didn't make it to class or work or to hang out with friends/family, don't make a big deal
- Don't ask if I went
- I obviously didn't
- And I probably already feel terrible about it
- Just come hug me
- And maybe volunteer to......
- Help me to get out of the house
- This was on the last list but it's another tendency I have
- I just sit there all day and don't do anything
- Don't make me feel guilty or lazy, because I promise it's not laziness
- Just help me get out and about even for just a couple hours
- Retail therapy
- It sounds fake but it weirdly helps
- Getting a new pair of flip flops or a new swimsuit or something
- It just makes me feel a little better about myself
- I don't know??
- Help me manage my schoolwork
- I may refuse to accept help on this but...
- I get overwhelmed really easily when depression is bad and school is busy
- It helps to break the assignments into bite-sized chunks
- But if I really feel like I can't do something, don't make me. And help me feel better about taking care of myself instead of my grade
- Give me space
- Again, a version of this was on the last list but it's so freaking important
- A lot of the time I don't want company and I don't want to chat or laugh or joke
- I just need to be sad for a little bit
- Don't keep asking me what's wrong or how you can help
- Just leave me be for a little bit
- But don't leave me alone
- Depression and alone time don't mix very well
- You can give me space and still be home with me
- I know it's a hard balance, sorry
- Help me set up a therapy appointment
- Something I probably won't want help with again...
- But if it's been bad for a while and it's not getting better, one session might not be a bad idea
- I just get anxious about talking on the phone to people, so it's hard for me to set appointments
- Plus I technically don't have a therapist right now so that's a whole issue I don't want to deal with
- Take me to the library
- I love books and quiet zones
- And randomly grabbing books off the shelf and reading them in one sitting without even checking them out
- Binge watch Netflix with me
- Help me not feel alone doing something that is very typical of me during depression dips
- Watch stupid youtube videos with me
- Jimmy Fallon recommended
- Just because he always makes me laugh
- Remind me to write it out
- Buy me my favorite pens
- And help me to process my crap by writing it down
- I'll go months without writing when things get bad
- But it really does help, so just help me get started
Please hang on through the bad depression dips and know that, no matter how bad depression gets, I love you.
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