All Blog Postings by Mary
Low Grade Depression
Archive notice: This is a historical post from Mary’s years of blogging. Some older posts may mention products, courses or shop items that are no longer available, as Mary now focuses her time and energy on supporting widows inside her private Facebook community. The guidance and stories remain here as a free resource for widows.
For current ways to connect with Mary’s work, you can:
- Read her book on Amazon .
- Request to join her private Facebook group for widows .
Are you pessimistic, grouchy and bored? Chronic low grade depression can feel so familiar to a widow that they don't even know they have it. But it's rampant among widows and it's under diagnosed.
Widows cope day after day, just getting by and after a while life is tolerable. That consistent "not feeling really bad", is interspersed with a few moments of genuine joy. If someone asked them, "Are you okay?" they wouldn't know what to say. Unfortunately, many widows get worse before they get better. But there will come a moment when each widow will realize that just "not feeling really bad" isn't normal.
Once diagnosed, low-grade depression can be a wake up call to take a hard look at your life. It can force a widow to acknowledge her pain and take on the job of figuring out what she needs and wants.
People don't judge you by your appearance, shape or style as much as your attitude. Having an attitude of hope is amazing. Be grateful when doing activities that you can lose yourself in, where you forget about time and just live in the moment.
You understand that you don't have to be accomplishing something every minute of the day. You are comforable with enjoying your choices and no self help books are needed at this time of your life.
You can't leave life - it keeps on going. But you can free your mind to enjoy, to love and to be curious. Move into the present, enjoy what your doing and thats all. No phone, no email, just the moment. Moments of connections are free moments - time to use all your senses to enjoy the present moment.
Life is about opening doors, not closing them. It's about the ability to forgive, even if we don't forget. Talking out our feelings is better than holding a grudge or ending a relationship.
Are you ready to be well, happy and passionate?
If you can live with a sense of gratitude by daily writing down five things or moments you are thankful for, your life will change immensely. Remember that what you focus on will expand and your low grade depression will lessen.
Early Intervention Field Traumatology (EIFT) and Author/Founder of “The Sisterhood of Widows”