Can You Cheer Me Up? I’m Feeling So Down!

How do the chronically ill cope with depression? Well, maybe not full-blown depression. Maybe just down or blah days. Or maybe unusually pain-filled or extra fatigue days.

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? And it’s so helpful to have someone to cheer us up. But, on our “good” days, have we worked out a way to cope with the “bad” days?

I admit I don’t follow my own advice. I do not have a written plan, even though I intend to. Drat that procrastination.  But I do have several ideas for actions in my head! There are too many days when I just don’t want to get up and do anything. And unfortunately, too many days when the pain or exhaustion makes it difficult to accomplish things I want to do.

Have you been there? You can plan strategies for these times on your better days. Or, if you are an observer, have you noticed your friend or family member having more than usual trouble wanting to get up and “do” when they seem to be feeling better? You might be able to help.

If you are the one with chronic illness trying to cope, there are actions to mitigate these hard days. If you are a close friend or family member, there are things you can do to help.

For the dweller

Remember

• This is a common problem for those with chronic illness; you are not alone.
• Review good times from the past.
• If you have worked out and written down strategies for coping, review and implement them.

Rest and relax

• Do something different
• Listen to what ever music relaxes and uplifts you.
• Get in touch with a friend.
• Humor always helps.
  • Watch funny TV shows or movies.
  • Read a joke book.
  • Remember humorous incidents that happened to you or your friends.

Rainbow days

Approaches to turn this “hard” day into a rainbow

• Look forward to the next time of relief, be it ever so short.
• Acknowledge the reality of what is; this can be difficult to do but, surprisingly, does help us relax.
• Turn to God.
• Let friends and family help.
• Forget, if possible, what you HAVE to do and choose something you WANT to do.
• Be creative: scrapbook, journal, blog, take pictures.
• Learn a new skill online.
• Take care of yourself.

NOTE:

• If all else fails and you have many of these days, consider whether you have become depressed.
• Reach out to specialists if down days have turned into depression.

For the observer

First and foremost, be a friend.

• Know your friend and be aware of when they will and won’t welcome a visit or phone call.
• Consider this if unable to be with them in person.
  • Keep up with them on social media or through email.
    • Just a simple contact tells your friend you care.
      • It may be more encouraging and cheering than you will ever be aware of.

Read over above helps for the dweller.

• Do you see something you may be able to do to encourage?
  • Do you have a joke book, or a DVD of funny movies, or music CDs to lend to your friend?
  • Can you share entertaining or silly happenings?
  • How about praying with your friend?
  • Can you help with a hobby or learning something new?
• Again, just contact may be uplifting to your friend.

Summing up

Down days happen more frequently to the chronically ill, but we can combat them. Friends can help, so can pre-planning. Even if we have failed to plan, there are measures we can take to hopefully turn these days into rainbow days.

Blessings on you as you try.

For further consideration

Many emotions may be involved in “hard” days, so see the “Emotions” page.

For more ideas and steps to help the chronically ill cope with depression, see these articles by The Mighty and by WebMD.