Disclaimer: These views reflect the author’s personal experiences, not the opinions of a medical practitioner. If you experience mental health issues, contact a therapist or psychiatrist.
Saying “do what you love” to people with depression anxiety sounds a lot like “just be happy!” As someone who has been hearing this for close to a decade now, the daftness of this is not lost on me. Doing what you enjoy, or really participating in any activity feels like a mammoth task when your depression won’t even let you get out of bed.
It is with that caveat that I start my story of how returning to creative pursuits I once I enjoyed added a little colour back into my life. Call it an escape if you will, but dancing, photography, and makeup helped me express myself when my brain was too muddled for me to use my words.
Creative pursuits like photography and makeup give my overactive mind a release
Image credits: Tarun Chawla
Everyone’s mental health issues manifest themselves in different ways. Art, especially that involving colour, is never a bad idea for anyone, though, because when the emotions get overwhelming, you can channel your mood through it. In fact, many a time, we do it unconsciously. That is probably why art therapy is a thing, and why many people with mental health conditions are encouraged to draw and colour by therapists, who analyse the patient’s mind’s inner workings via their artwork.
Image credits: Stuti Bhattacharya
Think about it. On days we feel low, we might pick a lot of blue clothes. When we’re feeling confident, we might put on a darker lipstick. The filter we add on a picture we took of flowers could vary depending on how we ultimately want the image to express our mood. Maybe the “Lagos” filter is a mark of tranquillity and softness, while “Oslo” is a marker of the fact that we are trying to manifest clarity in life. For example, these two photos are the same. But, they reflect different moods and energies because one has warmth and more saturated colours, while the other is more muted and cold.
Image credits: Stuti Bhattacharya
When I feel too numb or overwhelmed to cry and let it out, sometimes the way I express myself with photography, fashion, and makeup, allows my mood to be expressed, and acts as a release without me even realising it.
Dancing releases endorphins, which we can all agree are in short supply these days
Many recommend exercise for people with depression, even though it’s not usually possible to get up and move when your brain is making you want to lie in bed all day. That’s why it’s important to find a form of physical activity that you like.
Some people find running freeing. Some find kickboxing a satisfying way to release energy. I like dancing, but most of the time, feel too unhappy to actually dance. On the rare occasions when I do attempt to do it, my mood is massively better, maybe because it reminded me of the old times when I used to dance every day and enjoy it, or maybe due to the endorphins released by exercise.
So what do I do to help motivate myself to do this exercise? I never set tall goals or incorporate complicated elements. The shorter task, the more limited the time I need to spend on it, the easier my mind finds it. I tell myself, “Let’s just get up and do the hook step to XYZ song.” When I keep up with this, I soon want to learn the moves to the whole song. Then, I feel encouraged to add another song to the routine. Ergo, it’s always important not pressure yourself to overdo something you’re already struggling with.
Why it’s important to do what makes you feel good when you have depression or anxiety
Some might find my creative pursuits self-indulgent, but having a routine which somehow incorporates something I enjoy is like a daily affirmation. It gives me something to look forward to. It’s also an “I love you” to yourself and your life, when you do something that makes you happy (or as close to happy as one can get). When you do something for yourself, it’s a reminder to yourself that you haven’t given up on life.
Lead image credits: Stuti Bhattacharya
