Feeling the slump
Hello dear reader,
Today I want to talk about a bit more somber topic. Being in a depressive slump. :(
It’s February. The weather here in Denver has been extremely cold, overcast, and snowy. This morning it was -7 and we got up to a balmy 12 degrees today. Yuck. We still don’t have a lot of daylight hours. Aside from usual SAD that I tend to struggle with around this time of year, my day job in healthcare has been extremely stressful lately. All that to say, at the end of the day, I’m toast. My tank is empty. I don’t feel like I have much creative juice left to work on A Songbird’s Tale or things for Blacksteel Press.
I’m a firm believer in having a routine, or a habit, to carry you through rather than relying on motivation. Inspiration and motivation will come and go, but if you have a routine that you are consistent with, that’s how you get projects done. That being said, it’s still perfectly normal to feel like you’re in a slump sometimes.
Sometimes you need to step away for a bit and work on some self-care. Take a walk outside. Read a good book. Watch a feel-good film. (May I recommend The Princess Bride if you’re in need of a good one?) Take a hot bath. Talk to a good friend. Enjoy a different hobby for a while, or work on a different project for a time.
In my case, I additionally struggle with depression. I think this is a lot more common than most people believe. I take steps to actively manage my mental health, including seeing a counselor and taking medication when needed. There are a lot of times I wish I could just flip a switch and turn off all the negative, heavy, miserable emotions and anxiety that come along with depression. But there is no off switch, so sometimes you have to just feel the feels, and keep going. For anyone who has never truly struggled with depression, it may be hard for them to understand just how difficult this can be. All of you getting out of bed, and taking a shower, and eating something today, even though it feels like the hardest thing in the world, I see you. I’ve been where you are you. You’ve got this. You’re doing great.
It is my firm belief that emotions are neither right, or wrong, they simply are. Whatever you are feeling at the time is ok, and it’s good to just acknowledge it, sit with it, and then you can send it on it’s way. I feel like emotions are like big dogs. The more you try to push them away, the harder they lean on you. (Anyone who has had a Great Dane knows exactly what I’m talking about.) It can be so hard to sit with feelings like sorrow, or grief, or despair, or anger, but it is so so important to take time to honor what you’re feeling.
It can be really intimidating to talk about things like depression and anxiety. It seems like there is still a lot of social stigma attached. Often times for me, I feel vulnerable, weak, and bothersome. The important thing is to find one or a few trusted friends or family members who are understanding and supportive and to lean heavily on those people when you need them. I constantly struggle with feeling like a burden, especially when discussing some of my more difficult feelings or internal dialog, but people who love you really want to be there for you. You need to let them. I have a supportive spouse and a few close friends who I can rely on to help keep me from getting overwhelmed by darker thoughts. Even when I feel completely empty and hopeless, I try to remember that nothing can last forever. These low spots, too, shall pass.
There are no easy answers for depression. Or for the creative slumps that can come with it. Although sometimes some of the more powerful feelings on the depressive end of the spectrum can spark their own sort of creativity and motivation. It is worth mentioning that artists and creatives also often face overwhelming pressure to produce. (Namely in terms of posting on social media.) I want all of you to know that you can write or make art just for yourself. Not everything you do has to be a product to be consumed by the masses. It is ok to express your feelings through journaling, song, dance, drawing, painting, any creative outlet you want, and it is also perfectly ok for you to keep the resulting art private.
Remember that just like mother nature, we have seasons too. It’s ok to let your creativity and your productivity winter for a while. Until next time dear reader, take some time to honor your needs and care for yourself. The world is better with you in it. <3 Tiff
