It’s ok to be sad!

I’ve seen a rash of depressing posts on here and a little bit of the old one liner’s on FB too. Let me just start by saying THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU! We all fall into “pit’s of disappear,” yet some of us fall too them more often then we’d like to. If anything, there may be something mentally we can’t figure out what’s causing it or a chemical imbalance in our brains. You are an intelligent and interesting individual who is trying their best to find where they fit in this fucked up, crazy world.

Unless you drown kittens & puppies or have sex with relatives…in this case you may be crazy. But if you’re the type trying to figure out why you’re more sad then happy, this is normal. It doesn’t make us failures, where just different.

So what do we do about it? Take baby steps. Not giving a fuck is also a good way about seeing the world. (This is how some are trying to cope with stress, the constant worry of judgment from others, depression and awkwardness.) For anybody who’s struggling with life, let it be getting out bed to having to find a shrink or pills to be in a good mood…I honestly don’t think all ever be happy 24-7.

And that’s ok! Does it still feel sucky? Well yes it does. But think about it…what type of happiness are you trying to achieve? Does friend X seem happier then you? Why does it matter? With a rash of stupid and judgmental people, I feel it’s hard to be happy all the time and I feel more like “grin and bear it then go home and have a drink or 5.” At least at work anyway... But anyway I digress.

I love the fact that I’m not happy all the time. Pain and sadness has always given me a new perspective and when I do see something beautiful and feel happy for whatever reason it probably feel’s 10 times more awesome then it should. I’m not bipolar. (And if you need a good example, ask me! I use to date a guy who was. But I don’t want to get into that now.) Depression is my internal struggle. I guess its better then battling a disease, car loans, being stressed out 24-7 at a job or sword fighting a dinosaur.

Those internal demons telling me I suck, I’m no good, blah blah blah. I guess all always have to fight them back. So be it. I don’t have to fight them alone though. Neither do you if you choose to find help if you think it’s needed.

If your soooooo happy all the time, for one you’ll turn into those yippy little dogs and even they get sad sometimes, you just don’t see it! Not everybody loves the over excited dog who pee’s on the floor when somebody new enters the room. Now if you are as ecstatic as a yippy dog 24-7… I call bullshit. Everybody has something to be unhappy about just as everybody has something to be happy about. Everybody has problems and we find ways to fix or cope with them. That’s life, for everyone. Some people just have less or more to cope with. Some of us can take leaps while other’s need to take baby steps. I found this adorable cartoon strip about “setting up expectation’s for oneself" to not feel guilty. Simple things like “I work/am available from 8-5," "we eat dinner together as a family every night" and my favorite "I need 5 minutes every night too stress out and self loath." The cartoon strip is stuck under my art easel where I paint now. It reminds me that we can’t be perfect, happy fucking human beings. It’s good to set out expectations but unexpected changes can happen and feeling guilty for feeling guilty is something we just gotta do sometimes.

During the winter I fall into weeks of depression sometimes months. (The only energy I’ve had was to go to a job and I know for some that’s imposable.) Only a few times in my life I’ve been so blahhhhh I’ve had to take mental sick days. I usually don’t want to go out as much, I do less healthy things like less exercising and I defiantly don’t want to touch the hobbies I love to do. I worry about where my life is going, how my depression makes my relationship suffer and on and on. But hey, don’t feel like you need to force yourself to be what is considered “human/normal behavior.” So for anybody who’s going through it, I understand how you’re feeling. Take your time getting into the swing of it and for all you non-depressed people out there, respect that some of your friends/loved one’s may just need a few days to a month off to regain happiness to the level they desire. If anything, be a good listener if we need it and maybe try to drag us out, just don’t be surprised if we have to go home early.

As a kid I was always considered a “slow learner.” So taking my time to slump out of my depression is healthier then getting frustrated with myself about being so sad in the first place. We are all searching for that level of happiness which may not exist to the expectations we want it to be at. Thankfully there are love songs/breakup songs, TV and movie shows, zoloft and other drugs to treat depression, deserts & drinks and lastly friends and family that love us for who we are to help us try to return to a happy level that is better than being sad face.

I’m no Doctor, I cope with depression like I have a cold. (Actually when I’m sick I’m at my most depressed.) Eventually you’ll have an euphony or choose to find some help. I also hear having sexy time helps with the happy. :P Maybe we all need to suck it up and get laid more. I just recently got over a few weeks of depression, art was the majority of what pulled me out. Turning to something you find relaxing or comforts you helps.