Depression can hit hard, especially in the common experience waking up and feeling run over by a truck. Whether expected or unexpected, it is past morning and you (or someone you know) are still in bed unable to find the energy to get up. I don’t think people realize how hard it is to experience that icky-morning-slump where every fiber of your being does not want to move. It is no trivial thing and should not be treated as such. Then the thoughts come about needing to get up to tackle the insurmountable pile of chores and responsibilities needing attention. Why aren’t they being done? What is wrong with me that I can’t get up to do what obviously needs to be done?
The battle between wanting to lay in bed and do nothing, versus seeing everything needing to be done RIGHT NOW, begins. “Snapping out of it” rarely works. Please, please do not say “snap out of it” to yourself or someone else experiencing depression.
How about finding a compromise? Instead of only laying in bed all day versus only running around to fulfill duties and responsibilities while feeling awful, what would it look like to show compassion to yourself while setting a SMALL goal to meet? If you have to get up to go to work/school, where can you get your favorite coffee or breakfast to show kindness to yourself and find the time to enjoy it? If you have homework or job searching to do, can you do it while curling up and watching a favorite movie with a soothing cup of tea?
There’s room for creativity here to find the middle ground that engages in meeting responsibilities AND taking the time to rest with compassion and kindness towards yourself in what you are experiencing. What could this look like for you?
Volcanoes and Diamonds 