3 Things Around $30 That Have Helped Me Cope with Depression
In this month’s Editor’s Letter, I talked about the positive applications of nostalgia, how we can use it to empower our future instead of checking out of the present. This subtle shift in thinking has stopped me from getting stuck in nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake over the years which can lead to inactivity, regretfulness, and depression. However, I couldn’t let our nostalgia issue come to a close without sharing some information about what to do if you are in fact coping with depression.
It’s no secret that living in a post-2020 world has been hard on all of our emotions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 50% of people 18-44 living alone (and in further isolation due to the pandemic) have symptoms of anxiety and depression. Pregnant women have also seen an uptick, according to a recent study by the University of Essex, of 30% in depression and 37% in anxiety. I could keep going, but the point is: we may be in this together, but we feel completely alone.
I had my first bout with depression at the age of 16. It was brought on by a cruel cocktail of Accutane (a drug for clearing acne that wasn’t yet known to be linked to depression & suicidal thoughts) and the fallout of emotions that happened when a boy I liked suddenly withdrew his affection. Back then, I coped with this nearly year-long dip in my mood by crying in secret and falling asleep weekly in Chemistry class. Since high school, however, I’ve developed much better coping strategies.
As anyone who’s ever dealt with depression knows, it’s hard to motivate yourself to do anything when you’re under what feels like a foot of emotional fog. Even getting out of bed can be a feat of massive strength so integrating a new thing into your routine can feel impossible. Add to that lack of motivation a high price tag on many therapeutic tools and it can sometimes feel like the walls are caving in when you’re just trying to seek help.
Let’s get one thing straight: I thoroughly recommend finding a therapist who can walk you through a process to discover how your mind works and how to create a peaceful coexistence with it. However, if for financial or personal reasons that’s not in the cards, here are 3 simple to use, easy on the wallet items that have saved me when I didn’t have the energy to save myself.
Joy-Filled Supplements ($29.95)
I first fell in love with adaptogens years ago while training to become a holistic health coach. According to herbal medicine (and this study), plants known as adaptogens can have a “stress-protective” effect on the body’s nervous system. In nature, these plants have evolved to adapt to environmental stressors in order to survive less than ideal growing conditions. As a supplement, they strive to help you do the same thing. Adaptogens can be purchased in many forms and combinations, but my personal favorite is Joy-Filled by Happy Healthy Hippie. It’s got a blend of herbs and a few different kinds of adaptogens that, for me, create a sweet spot between depression and the neutrality needed to pull myself out of it. As with any supplement, check with your doctor if you’re already taking other medications. This product contains St. John’s Wort which can lessen the efficacy of certain prescription drugs.
The Depression Guidebook ($38)
Sometimes a targeted Instagram ad can save you. At least, that was the case for me when I discovered Therapy Notebooks’s The Depression Guidebook. I purchased this book on impulse when a late night scroll was blessed by the algorithm gods and I will never regret it. This book, written by therapists, is designed as a self-led crash course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other evidence-based tools for depression. It’s written with clearly divided sections and a gentle tone that’s understanding of the fact it likely took monumental effort to just pick up the book and open the cover. I tell people I’m micro-dosing this guidebook because I tend to pick it up just on the verge of feeling blue, read 2-4 pages, then put it back down. The beauty is that in just 2-4 pages there’s usually an activity or a piece of information that really helps so a micro-dose is all I need.
Papa and Barkley CBD** ($34.99)
Papa and Barkley CBD is a full spectrum CBD oil, which means that it contains trace amounts of THC that can produce a very subtle “high.” In my experience, this high is still very similar to the relaxation I’ve felt on other CBD products (when used within the recommended dose). Papa and Barkley has just become my go to for it’s cleaner, more consistent delivery that helps me to predict the resulting relaxation more accurately.
Please note, I share this recommendation with a warning: if you have a history of addiction or just don’t manage the moderation of substances well, this might be one to skip. Though a few studies do back the idea that CBD can help ease depression, for those with addictive personalities, seeking to disconnect from reality through any sort of high is the same as trying to disassociate from the present through nostalgia…they both need to be used in moderation and with the right intentions.
SAMHSA National Helpline - 1 800 622 HELP (4357)
**Author’s Note: I realize that my final offering is only available via the form I take in areas where pot has been legalized. However, NotPot is also a great CBD product available nationwide & you can save 20% on your order with our code: FormerTeen20.
*Affiliation Note: We only partner with products/companies that we truly enjoy or admire. In most cases, we seek them out to see if they’re into teaming up, not the other way around.