Release the Kraken!

I think it's okay to be sad. I am a person who has "battled" depression for as long as I can remember. I handle it pretty well and am not medicated but it is still something I have to deal with from time to time. It's disheartening to me that people assume there is something wrong with me or my psyche because I am not a happy-go-lucky ball of sunshine all the time. There is nothing wrong with me. I am human. One could even say that my life is so grand that when I have lull moments, it brings me down because I miss the greatness. Now, I am not here advocating sadness, depression, bitterness, or any other negative emotion, but I do think they are healthy. Is it healthy to dwell on being miserable, no. But is it okay to allow yourself to get down from time to time and have a crying fit, yes. It is completely healthy. If we were not supposed to feel frustrated or down why are our bodies geared for those moments?

There are some people who suffer from chronic depression and need medicinal and psychological help. They are void from this advice because one can have too much of a "good" thing. For the rest of the Universe, do not feel completely discouraged when you have a bad day. Your bad days humble you and allow you to better appreciate the good days. It is okay to get frustrated and cry. Crying is not a sign of weakness and I vehemently despise people who preach that notion, and trust me, I used to be one of those people. I do believe it is to be a private matter but by no means should one feel ashamed. It is a physical release. It allows your body to release all the anger, sadness and tension, letting you reset and start from ground zero. Nothing is more therapeutic than falling asleep after a good scream-into-your-pillow sob fest. So, if crying is supposed to be so bad, why do you feel slightly refreshed afterward?

Stop believing all these notions. Should one dwell on negativity all the time? No, of course not. That is no way to go through life. But if you have someone ask you if you have a "case of the Mondays," tell them "yes" and move on. As a person who fights depression, I struggle on a daily basis to keep myself calm, happy, and content. I have a husband who tries hard but is ignorant to the feelings of depression. You see, Greg suffers from apathy, but that is an entirely different blog. In my fight to "cure" my depression, I felt that I was never allowed to get upset. I wasn't allowed to have a bad day and get down in the dumps because I felt that was a slippery slope to absolute misery. I have never been more wrong. It is a natural state of mind, from time to time, and everyone deserves to feel sorry for themselves, to a certain extent. 

So, do me a favor, and strive to be happy. Look up funny photos, read a book, do something you enjoy to boost your mood. However, if you are just having one of those days where you want to watch a sad movie, eat a box of cookies, and cry yourself to sleep, do it. Make sure it's not a habit and you do not bring down those around you, but give yourself a day to be human. Wallow in your own pity and start the next day refreshed. You are human. You are flawed. You were given emotions. Use them and let your body have that release. If it becomes a problem, I advocate talking to someone; someone without an emotional connection so you can receive clear and concise advice. Otherwise, release the Kraken and let those emotions fly... every once in a while.