Blog- Living with an Unwanted Roommate: Simple Depression

As a 17-year-old high school student with roommates- Depression, and Anxiety- I definitely need some time to get out of the apartment, away from ’em. Many people know these feelings. Tired. Stressed. Drained. Overwhelmed. And, everyone knows this term- “Simplicity.”

When you change your lifestyle to be more simple, it means simplifying everything in your life, understanding it and treating it and feeling it at a basic level. What I learned about Depression is the more you treat it simply the more it acts simply. Here are some “simple Depression hacks” that I found and/or created for myself to help me through my days, and hopefully they’ll help you too.

Drinking Water.

First of all, it keeps you hydrated. So many of us are dehydrated without even knowing- and lack of water could be the reason why you get stressed so easy, why you get agitated around 9 am, and why your acne is so bad (water is Earth’s gift of detox). Secondly, the routine, or motion. Every time you’re feeling stressed or upset or tired throughout your day, take a sip of cold water. It’ll refresh you, wake you up, and start up the systems in your body again. The movement of taking a sip, or even watching, it will send your brain a message to relax. Even take that opportunity to take a few deep breaths to calm your senses a bit more. Lastly, depression HATES water. The more you drink, the more it doesn’t want to stick around- and that’s a good thing!

Cooking hack.

Depression uses all the pots and pans and doesn’t clean them, but you can still cook and eat without dishes. If you have tortillas or bread, use an extra one to catch crumbs and make an extra little taco. Same with pizza or other snacks. And also, you don’t even really need to cook- you can just eat a little of whatever. Want a sandwich but don’t wanna make it? Ok, grab some lunch meat and a piece of cheese- munch on that while binge-watching GoT. As long as you’re getting something down, it’s better than nothing.

New and clean clothes.

Depression loves when you wear those old sweats that haven’t been washed in a few weeks, it stays woven into the fabric. Wash it down the drain or spray it away with some fabric refresher. I like going through Wish and Amazon and looking at all the pretty clothes and imagining how I’d look in them when Depression is around. As well as going to the mall (Depression tends to stay home) and checking out the Kohls clearance section and finding some over-sized, comfy shirts. I find that a new sight on you refreshes your brain- sort of like a hard reset on your view of yourself- and Depression won’t recognize who you are for a while.

Dry shampoo. Baby wipes. Mouthwash.

Can’t find the energy to wash your hair? To shower? Brush your teeth? I completely understand where you’re coming from. Spray a little dry shampoo in your hair, brush it a bit, and go on. Showering is difficult when you have no energy, but just get that top layer of grime off with some baby wipes. And of course, brushing your teeth. Everyone loves a fresh minty mouth, so just swish around a bit of mouthwash. All the mint, none of the work. The best part of all these items- you can get them all for cheap at a dollar store. Depression lurks around the bathroom door and never lets you in, I know. Keep all your little hygiene bottles or containers in your room or in the kitchen.

Contact.

Homeboy, Depression, loves all those unread messages and unanswered phone calls. Along with unopened SnapChats- Depression thrives in your unused phone. Just send a quick text, make a quick call- let your real friends and your family know that you aren’t well, that you need some time. That’s all, just the one response is good enough for Depression to drop your phone, and finish your YouTube video or movie on Netflix.

These are just a few little things to help you with your roommate, but there are plenty more that you can use to help. I use Pinterest to help me find most “hacks,” and it’s even just a good place to scroll though since it’s such a positive place.

About the author:

As a 17-year-old with diagnosed depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and PTSD, it is hard to deal with just the fact of living. Finding the simpler things to do has always been my forte, so I just thought, “What if I simplified dealing with these issues?” And, I tried to- and they WORKED. So of course, I applied these every time that I could. In all honesty, some of these hacks saved my mind, saved my relationships with people, and most importantly, saved my life.