I saw this adorable photo with caption ‘Children join program ‘reading buddies’ where they read to cats in shelters, to soothe the cats’. Oh my goodness, will you look at that cat? He looks soothed for sure. I think the little boy looks pretty into it as well. If you would like to check out more about Reading Buddies it might just be a good fit for you too!
What would be soothing for you? Would a child reading do it? It’s important in recovery from depression to get to know yourself. It’s important to know what soothes you. Mental illness causes our thoughts to be like raspy clouds with raw edges, if that is even possible. Our thoughts aren’t nice, they aren’t helpful, when we are depressed. Soothing can smooth down those raw edges and make rasp into silk. But it helps to know what soothes you. That’s your job.
We all have a part to play. Learning about helpful depression getaways is one part of the job. The second part is up to you. Learning what might be helpful is one thing. How you apply it is another and that is your job. You are an individual. These solutions are not ‘one size fits all’, but they can lead to you getting ideas of something that might help you.
For example, for me, certain music is soothing. Being outdoors (by myself) in nature is soothing, not in the city, has to be the country or a park. Architecture, nice architecture, old buildings, soothe me. Even if I don’t feel like going out at all, even if I don’t feel like a walk, walking down a tree-lined street full of beautiful old Victorian houses, soothes me. Oh and a hot bath! That’s just a start for me. How about you?
Be like that caramel cat being read to. Find out what soothes you and then lean into it for comfort.
My little Yorkie, Casey, soothes me. Also a hot bath and maybe some ice cream. What soothes you?
You need to be careful at this time of year. Fall is notoriously a season where depression comes along.
Don’t give up. I am praying for you. There is hope for depression.
